November 8, 2004 Winnipeg, MB -- Manitoba’s vibrant francophone culture and heritage will be enhanced and promoted with $2.025 million in funding under the Canada-Manitoba Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) for tourism development in bilingual communities as well as improvements to the Centre culturel franco-manitobain (CCFM) and a new theatre for Cercle Molière. The Honourable Greg Selinger, Minister of Finance and minister responsible for French Language Services in Manitoba, and the Honourable Raymond Simard, MP for St. Boniface, on behalf the Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport), made the announcement today. "Much of Manitoba's heritage was built by our Francophone forbearers, and the Métis exhibit that was recently opened at the Smithsonian is proof of the renewed interest in Francophone tourism," said Minister Selinger. "Cercle Molière is Canada's oldest theatre, and their new theatre and other improvements at the CCFM will see them thrive for generations to come." Manitoba’s francophone communities are a source of pride and an important part of the province’s identity,” said Raymond Simard. “The Government of Canada is committed to working with provincial governments and other partners to ensure that communities, large and small, are socially and economically sustainable.” The EPA will provide $1,425,000 to help construct a permanent home for Cercle Molière at CCFM and complete other upgrades to the 30-year-old facility. The project will also receive $500,000 through the Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Program. We welcome this important support. We are very pleased that for more than thirty years, CCFM has contributed to the richness and the growth of Manitoba’s Arts and Culture,” said Gilbert Savard, Board Chair, CCFM. “We are confident that today’s funding announcement will enable the Centre to provide even better quality programming and better culture for our public, and promote new initiatives.” “The theatre for the Cercle Molière is important for Manitoba’s Francophone community and for the arts in general,” said Paul McKenna, President, Le Cercle Molière. “I would like to extend our gratitude and recognize the support we have received from the Canada-Manitoba Economic Partnership Agreeement and the Infrastructure Program.” As a separate initiative, the Conseil de d é veloppement des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba (CDEM) and Entreprises Riel Manitoba will receive $600,000 under the EPA for research, training, and marketing activities to promote tourism and economic development in their 16 member communities. This announcement is very exhilarating for Manitoba’s Francophone communities,” said Denis Tétrault, President of the CDEM. “Based on past experiences, I am confident that the CDEM will unquestionably be able to rise to this challenge.” In December 2003, the governments of Canada and Manitoba entered into a new four-year $50 million Canada-Manitoba Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). The two strategic priorities of the agreement are "building our economy" and “sustainable communities." Together, and in partnership with community stakeholders, Canada and Manitoba are working to strengthen and diversify Manitoba's economy, build on existing economic strengths, enhance the skills of Manitoba's workforce and promote regional development. For more information on this and projects funded under EPA, please visit: www.confirmwebsite.com. - 30 - For additional information, contact: Terri Hooper Communications Coordinator, Canada-Manitoba Economic Partnership Agreement (204) 945-7805 http://www.confirmwebsite.com/ Graham Gork Communications Coordinator, Communication Services Manitoba (204) 945-5795 www.gov.mb.ca Jacquie Sippola Communications Officer Western Economic Diversification Canada Tel: (204) 983-0280 Winnipeg, Manitoba WD Toll-Free Number 1-888-338-WEST (9378) World Wide Web Site: English: http://www.wd.gc.ca French: http://www.deo.gc.ca Backgrounder Cercle Molière at the Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain (CCFM): Le Cercle Molière was first established in 1925 by a group from St. Boniface. For the past four decades, the Cercle has presented countless theatrical offerings as a professional theatre group in order to promote French-language dramatic arts in Manitoba. In addition to providing a new home for Le Cercle Molière, the new 100-seat theatre combined with the existing multi-function Salle Pauline-Boutal will accommodate a wider range of theatrical productions and enable CCFM to become a venue for performing arts companies from around the world. Improvements to the Salle Pauline-Boutal are planned as part of the renovations to the CCFM building along with construction of a new dance studio and upgrades to the Salle Antoine-Gaborieau, meeting rooms, entranceways, storage spaces and parking area. The cost to construct a permanent 100-seat theatre for Cercle Molière and renovate the 30-year-old CCFM building at 340 Provencher Boulevard is estimated at $5.4 million. The project will receive $1,425,000 from the Canada-Manitoba Economic Partnership Agreement and $500,000 from the Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Program. The balance of the cost will be covered by other project stakeholders. Conseil de développement des municipalities bilingues du Manitoba (CDEM) - Tourism and Entreprises Riel Initiatives CDEM and Entreprises Riel will share funding of $600,000 provided under the Canada-Manitoba Economic Partnership Agreement for tourism and economic development initiatives which promote the unique cultural, linguistic and Métis heritage of these communities. Created in 1996, CDEM assists its 16 member municipalities with community and business development in five key areas: tourism, trade, youth, community economic development and the knowledge-based economy. Entreprises Riel Inc. was created in 2002 by the merger of the Riel Community Development Corporation and Entreprises St. Boniface to focus specifically on francophone communities within the City of Winnipeg. The organization is the economic development and tourism development agency for the bilingual district of the City of Winnipeg (St. Boniface, St. Vital and St. Norbert). The communities involved are the Rural Municipality (RM) of Ellice; RM of St. Laurent; Local Urban District (LUD) of Lorette; Village of St. Lazare; RM of La Broquerie; LUD of St. Léon (Lorne); RM of Montcalm; Village of St. Pierre-Jolys; Village of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes; RM of DeSalaberry; RM of Ritchot; Village of Somerset; Village of St. Claude; City of Ste. Anne; Village of St. Georges; and the Riel Quarter of the City of Winnipeg (includes St. Boniface, St. Vital, and St. Norbert).
