CASSELMAN, Ontario, May 17, 2007 - The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages, and Pierre Lemieux, MP for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, on behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health and Minister for FedNor, today announced support of up to $195,000 for L'Écho d'un peuple, a non-profit community organization in Eastern Ontario.
The organization will use these funds for its main initiative, L'Écho d'un peuple, a theatre production celebrating the history of Ontario's Francophonie in all its diversity, to be presented during the 2007 summer season.
"Canada's New Government is committed to promoting the vitality of minority-language communities and organizations by meeting their needs. The funding is recognition of the important contribution of L'Écho d'un peuple, which attracts crowds of Franco-Ontarians and Francophiles in Eastern Ontario," said Minister Verner. "Our government recently allocated an additional $30 million for Official Languages in Budget 2007 over two years to support linguistic duality programs for our youth, a strong Canadian Francophonie, enriching community life and delivery of key services. We remain committed to supporting linguistic duality and official language minority communities across Canada."
"This investment will help ensure the immediate and future prosperity of the francophone culture, while strengthening our understanding of centuries of French traditions in North America and in Ontario," said Mr. Lemieux. "The announcements made today reinforce the vital role FedNor has played, and continues to play, in strengthening our region."
"Through its very generous contribution toward the production of L'Écho d'un peuple, the Government of Canada is helping to ensure that the history and beauty of the Franco-Ontarian community can become better known to Francophones and Francophiles throughout Canada and internationally," said L'Écho d'un peuple President Ronald Caza. "The new programming of L'Écho d'un peuple is designed to celebrate artists and craftspeople from every region of Ontario. It's an event not to be missed."
L'Écho d'un peuple is a stage presentation depicting 400 years of Francophone history in Canada, with a cast of 2,000. It has been performed since 2004 on the historic grounds of the Drouin Farm in Casselman, Ontario, a community of 3,300 people located 65 kilometres from Ottawa. The show is presented evenings during July and August at the Théâtre Desjardins. This is a community production staged by amateur performers who hail from Eastern Ontario.
Canada's New Government has provided this support through the Community Life component (Strategic Funds sub-component) of the Development of Official-Language Communities Program. This program of the Department of Canadian Heritage seeks to promote the vitality of Canada's Francophone and Anglophone minority-language communities, and to enable them to take full part in all aspects of our country's life.
FedNor funding of $95,000 is provided through its Northern Ontario Development Program, which supports local and regional projects benefiting a variety of sectors, including tourism, community economic development and business entrepreneurship.
To find out more about FedNor, visit us at: http://fednor.ic.gc.ca
Information:
Richard Walker
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages
819 953-6238
Erik Waddell
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
613-957 0200
Donald Boulanger,
A/Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 984-9101
Barclay Babcock
Communications Officer
FedNor
705-671-0715 or 1-877-333-6673
