Application Guidelines – Community Life component – Community Cultural Action Fund subcomponent
Development of Official-Language Communities Program
On this page:
- Objectives and expected results for the Community Life component
- Objectives and expected results for the Community Cultural Action Fund subcomponent
- Application deadlines
- Who can apply
- Eligibility
- Eligible projects
- Eligible expenses
- Limits of government assistance
- Applying for more than 12 months
- How to apply
- Application process
- How applications are evaluated
- Evaluation criteria
- Application processing time
- Funding decisions
- How funding is provided
- Funding conditions
- Workplace well-being
- Public Health Guidance
- Official languages requirements
- Acknowledgement of financial assistance
- Access to information requests
- Disclosure of information
- Audits of recipients and evaluation of the program
- Contact us
- Glossary
Objectives and expected results for the Community Life component
The Community Life component enables the federal government to work with partners to offer official-language minority communities (Anglophone communities in Quebec and Francophone communities residing outside Quebec) access to services in their own language, as well as the infrastructure necessary to ensure their growth and development.
The objectives of the Community Life component include the following:
- to foster the implementation of activities and projects or programming that ensure the long-term development of official-language minority communities in key sectors;
- to help expand and diversify the range of partners working together towards the development of official-language minority communities;
- to help make official-language minority communities more inclusive;
- to help provincial and territorial governments and their creations foster the growth of official-language minority communities by providing them with, in accordance with the development priorities identified by the communities, services in English in Quebec and in French outside Quebec, as well as the necessary infrastructure to provide these services.
The expected results of the Community life component include the following:
- Offer of activities and services designed for official-language minority communities by community organizations;
- Offer of activities and services designed to strengthen and ensure visibility of official-language minority communities’ action in the areas of arts, culture and heritage;
- Offer of minority-language services by provincial and territorial governments, in areas other than education.
Objectives and expected results for the Community Cultural Action Fund subcomponent
The objectives of the Community Cultural Action Fund subcomponent are to support and strengthen the cultural, artistic and heritage actions of official-language minority communities; and ensure outreach of the wealth and diverse cultural, artistic and heritage expressions of official-language minority communities.
The expected result of support provided by the Community Cultural Action Fund subcomponent include the following:
- Offer of activities and services designed to strengthen and ensure visibility of official-language minority communities’ action in the areas of arts, culture and heritage.
Application deadlines
| Organizations | Letter of intent deadline (New) | Funding application deadline |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A | April 6 |
| Regions | ||
|
February 1st | April 6 |
When an application deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or statutory holiday, it is extended to the following working day.
Who can apply
To be eligible for funding, your organization must be:
- a Canadian not-for-profit institution or organization, duly registered;
- a provincial or territorial government, and their creations.
Eligibility
We are responsible for determining the eligibility of each applicant, its project and project-related expenses. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee funding.
Eligible projects
To be eligible for funding under the Community Cultural Action Fund subcomponent, your project must foster:
- an active participation of members of official-language minority communities in artistic and cultural activities (action in the areas of culture and arts);
- i.e. . Webcast of vignettes on cultural heritage produced by seniors following an introductory video production activity for this target audience.
- the presentation of the heritage of official-language minority communities through artistic or cultural activities that involve the participation of the targeted community (action in the area of heritage);
- an increased visibility of official-language minority communities’ arts and culture (outreach).
The Community Cultural Action Fund subcomponent does not support passive consumption of cultural products (i.e. attending a performance by a professional artist).
Eligible expenses
Only project-related expenses, which can be of cash and in-kind value, are eligible; these may include:
- implementation costs to help the long-term development of official-language minority communities in the area of arts, culture and heritage.
The following expenses are not eligible:
- capital projects;
- operation of organizations;
- regular coordination, networking and strategic planning;
- needs analyses and research;
- professional training;
- activities with an international scope.
We cannot fund expenses incurred before we receive your application. If you incur expenses for your project before receiving written confirmation of your funding approval, you will be doing so at your own risk.
Limits of government assistance
To ensure the success of your project, we encourage you to have other funding sources. This may include contributions from your organization, the private sector, or other levels of government.
The total financial assistance received from the Community Cultural Action Fund subcomponent and other levels of government (federal, provincial, territorial and municipal) cannot exceed 100% of the total costs of your project.
We can fund up to 100% of eligible expenses or $300,000 per fiscal year in the case of grants and 100% of eligible expenses or $7 million per fiscal year in the case of contributions.
The maximum contribution amount payable to the initial recipient in the case of further distribution of funding is $7 million per fiscal year. The maximum amount payable by the initial recipient to the final recipient is $2 million per fiscal year.
Applying for more than 12 months
You may request funding for a project spanning more than 12 months. You must then show that there is a need for a multi-year commitment and that you have the capacity to complete the project. This is demonstrated with a realistic project timeline and budget projections as well as sound governance.
How to apply
For a project funding application at the national level.
Read the Application Guidelines in their entirety before completing your application.
You must meet all of the eligibility requirements and submit a complete funding application package for your application to be considered. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
A complete funding application package includes the Application form – Official Languages Support Programs for the Community Cultural Action Fund subcomponent and the following supporting documents:
- a document describing the links with the objectives of the Community Cultural Action Fund subcomponent:
- the official-languages issue(s) that led the organization to submit an application (an official-language issue is defined as what fosters or restricts the use of the minority language);
- what must be changed, improved or maintained?
- a description of the proposed project and implementation schedule;
- a clear statement of expected results along with performance indicators for the entire project;
- if applicable, a description of priorities linked to the development of official-language minority communities;
- an implementation schedule;
- a budget that provides a breakdown of the estimated expenses and financial contributions for each section of the proposed project;
- if applicable, a description of measures taken with respect to communication and outreach activities targeting the other official-language group;
- a statement of projected revenues and expenditures for proposed programs, services, activities or projects;
- a copy of your organization’s documents of incorporation or the application for incorporation (if in progress);
- a copy of the articles and by-laws;
- a copy of your organization’s most recent financial statements, audited, if available;
- a proof of authority and delegation of signing authority;
- an acknowledgment confirming an absence of conflict of interest; and
- a letter confirming your organization’s commitment to provide information on results.
For a regional project funding application New
Read the Application Guidelines in their entirety before completing your application.
Contact your respective regional office to request the Letter of Intent form.
A two-step process
The first step consists of completing the Letter of Intent form. The information provided in your Letter of Intent form will allow us to determine the eligibility of your project proposal and its relevance to the current program subcomponent priorities.
We will acknowledge receipt of your Letter of Intent form within 10 business days after reception. If you do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 10 business days, you must contact us. We will assess your project proposal based on program evaluation criteria.
We will contact you within 15 business days of receipt of your form to inform you of the results of the evaluation of your project proposal as part of the first step.
The second step, if your project proposal is retained, consists of submitting an application form.
Only organizations whose project proposals are retained will be invited to present a funding application. Presenting an application form does not guarantee funding.
You must meet all of the eligibility requirements and submit a complete funding application package for your application to be considered. Incomplete applications will be rejected. A complete funding application package includes the Application form – Official Languages Support Programs for the Cooperation with the Community Sector subcomponent and the supporting documents listed above.
Application process
For a project funding application at the national level.
You must complete and sign the Application form – Official Languages Support Programs by selecting the Community Cultural Action Fund subcomponent from the drop-down list, affix the date, and attach all the required supporting documents.
To apply for project funding at the national level, please submit your complete funding application package by email to dglo-olsp@pch.gc.ca.
When an application deadline is identified, the email must be sent no later than 11:59 p.m. local time on the date of the application deadline for your application to be considered.
For a regional project funding application New
Step 1
Contact your respective regional office to request the Letter of Intent form.
- You must complete and submit your Letter of Intent form by email; and
- Indicate the name of your organization and the name of the project in the subject line of your email.
Step 2 (only for project proposals that are retained)
You must complete and sign the Application form – Official Languages Support Programs by selecting the Community Cultural Action Fund subcomponent from the drop-down list, affix the date, and attach all the required supporting documents.
To apply for project funding at a regional level, please consult the list of the regional offices of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
When an application deadline is identified, the email must be sent no later than 11:59 p.m. local time on the date of the application deadline for your application to be considered.
How applications are evaluated
We fund projects that have clear objectives and measurable results. Funding decisions are based on the number and quality of applications received for each Community Cultural Action Fund subcomponent application deadline. Your application will be evaluated based on the Evaluation criteria below.
Failure to comply with any conditions of a previously funded project will be considered in the evaluation of your new application and could result in a rejection of your new application.
Evaluation criteria
- Links with the Community Cultural Action Fund subcomponent objectives, while referring to the definitions of action in the areas of culture, arts and heritage, and outreach.
- Project that provides contribution to the development of official-language minority communities through action in the areas of culture, arts and heritage.
- Evolution of achievements in the areas of culture, arts or heritage within official-language minority communities.
- The activities are funded from various funding sources.
- The activities are supported by a variety of quality partners.
- The project is innovative or develops best practices.
Application processing time
Please refer to the Service standards for Canadian Heritage funding programs or contact the program.
We will acknowledge receipt of your application within two weeks of receiving your application in our office.
Funding decisions
We reserve the right to target our funding to specific projects. Please note that all decisions regarding eligibility and funding amounts are final.
How funding is provided
We will determine whether funding will be disbursed as a grant or as a contribution.
A grant is a payment issued to a recipient for a project. The conditions you agreed to at the time of application will apply. At the end of your project, you may be required to submit a report and/or participate in the evaluation of results.
A contribution is a conditional payment issued for a specific purpose, as outlined in a funding agreement. The agreement is signed by your organization and by us and specifies the terms and conditions to receive payment. At the end of your project, you must submit a final report.
Funding conditions
You may be required to submit interim reports during your project.
If you receive $250,000 or more as a contribution for your project, you are required to submit an audited financial report.
Additional conditions may apply and, if applicable, will be included in your funding agreement.
Workplace well-being
The Government of Canada is strongly committed to promoting healthy workplaces where harassment, abuse and discrimination are not tolerated. Organizations that receive funding from Canadian Heritage must take measures to create a workplace free from harassment, abuse and discrimination.
Public Health Guidance
We expect that you will act in compliance with applicable statutes, laws, bylaws, regulations, orders, codes, standards, directives and guidelines governing the activities for which funding is being sought, including those related to public health and safety due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Official languages requirements
We are committed to taking positive measures to enhance the vitality of official language minority communities and to promote the use of English and French in Canadian society. If you receive funding, you agree to comply with the official languages requirements set out in your application and in your funding agreement.
Acknowledgement of financial assistance
If you receive funding, you must publicly acknowledge, in English and in French, the financial support received from the Government of Canada in all communications materials and promotional activities related to the funded project. Additional requirements may be included in your funding agreement.
For additional information, please refer to our Guide on the public acknowledgement of financial support – Canadian Heritage.
Access to information requests
We are subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. The information you submit in your application may be disclosed in accordance with these acts.
Disclosure of information
By submitting your funding application, you authorize us to disclose any information submitted with this application within the Government of Canada or to outside entities for the following purposes:
- to reach a decision;
- to evaluate the results of the project; and
- to promote transparency, accountability and citizen engagement.
Audits of recipients and evaluation of the program
We reserve the right to audit your accounts and records to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of your funding agreement. We also conduct periodic program evaluations, during which you may be required to present documentation.
You must keep any records, documents or other information that may be required to perform the audit or the evaluation for five years. Demonstrated failure to maintain such records may result in the repayment of amounts previously received.
Contact us
- Address
- Official Languages Branch
Department of Canadian Heritage
Community Cultural Action Fund subcomponent
15 Eddy St, 7th Floor
Gatineau, Quebec J8X 4B3 - Contact
- Regional offices of the Department of Canadian Heritage
- dglo-olsp@pch.gc.ca
- Telephone
- 1-866-811-0055 (toll-free)
- TTY
- 1-888-997-3123 (for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired)
Agents are available to answer your questions, Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (ET).
Glossary
- Audited financial report
- An audited financial report includes a statement of operations for the given period with regard to the Project and is prepared by a certified accountant who is not part of your organization.
- Audited financial statements
- A complete set of financial statements, including a statement of financial position; a statement of operations; and a statement of changes in financial position. Audited financial statements are completed by a certified accountant who is not part of your organization. The certified accountant performs auditing activities in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
- Final recipient
- Refers to an individual or organization that benefits directly from the recipient’s activities.
- Final report
- A final report is submitted at the end of your project based on the requirements in the funding agreement. Your final report needs to provide the results of the activities you have undertaken for the duration of your project.
- Financial statements
- A complete set of financial statements, including a statement of financial position; a statement of operations; and a statement of changes in financial position. Financial statements may be audited or unaudited.
- Initial recipient
- Initial recipient refers to an organization that is eligible to receive a contribution under the Community Cultural Action Fund subcomponent and is to further distribute funds to final recipients.
- Innovative project
- Introduces a new idea or practice to improve a service or create opportunities for gatherings involving both official-language communities on a linguistic and cultural level. This innovative practice can be a new best practice or may address current issues.
- Interim report
- Interim reports are submitted during your project based on the requirements in your funding agreement. These reports indicate the results of the activities undertaken for a specific period. In addition, they include a status report on the work to be accomplished and updated revenue and expense reports.
- Official-language minority communities
- The official-language minority communities are the Anglophone communities residing in Quebec and the Francophone communities residing outside of Quebec.
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