HALIFAX, September 20, 2005 -- Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Member of Parliament (Halifax West), the Honourable Geoff Regan, on behalf of Minister of State (Multiculturalism), the Honourable Raymond Chan, today announced $95,000 in funding for Dalhousie University's James R. Johnston Chair in Black Canadian Studies. The funds will enable the Chair to hold a national conference on Black Canadian identity called "Multiple Lenses: Voices for the Diaspora Located in Canada.""This conference will bring together experts to share ideas on the contributions made by the Black Canadian community to the building of our country," said Minister Regan. "It is fitting to hold this important conference in Halifax, where Black people have made a unique contribution to the development of our society.""By supporting this conference, the Government of Canada gives Canadians an opportunity to learn about our multicultural heritage and discover new aspects of our society that highlight the important role of the Black Canadian community," said Minister of State Chan.This three-day conference, the first of its kind, will facilitate the largest gathering of experts on Black Canadian studies from the academic, cultural, political and non-governmental organization communities. The purpose of the conference is to explore the complexity of being Black and Canadian, and how this relates to the notion of "citizenship". It will also provide a unique opportunity to mark the 400th anniversary of the first recorded presence of a Black person on Canadian soil, Mathieu Da Costa.Financial assistance is provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage through its Multiculturalism Program. Canada's Multiculturalism Policy, which falls under the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, promotes the full and equitable participation of people of all origins in Canadian society, as well as interaction between diverse individuals and communities. It also encourages public institutions to respect and promote Canada's multicultural character.Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2005 federal budget.Information: Roy BornmannOffice of the Minister of State (Multiculturalism)(819) 997-9900Sujata RaisinghaniOffice of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans(613) 992-3474Jean-Guy BeaupréChief, Media RelationsCanadian Heritage(819) 997-9314
