CHARLOTTETOWN, November 19, 2007 - On behalf of the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, Senator Gerald J. Comeau today participated in the opening of the Centre acadien de Prince-Ouest in DeBlois.The Government of Canada provided $2,410,602 for this project over three fiscal years, from 2005-2006 to 2007-2008. This funding made the construction of the community centre component possible. The Government of Prince Edward Island invested $2.5 million in the Centre's school component."For close to 30 years, school-community centres have helped official-language communities all across the country to flourish," said Minister Verner. "The Government of Canada intends to continue working with provincial and territorial governments to ensure the development of official-language minority communities and their participation in Canadian society.""The Government of Canada is proud to have contributed to this project, which fosters the vitality of the region's Francophone and Acadian communities," said Senator Comeau. "The Centre acadien de Prince-Ouest is an excellent place for young Francophones to have enriching experiences and acquire the tools needed for success within their community."Premier Robert Ghiz advised that the Government of Prince Edward Island is pleased to be part of this partnership. "The new school and community centre has created more French first-language educational opportunities in the province, as well as new opportunities to preserve and promote the French culture in Island communities."The Centre acadien de Prince-Ouest provides French-language education from Grade 1 through Grade 12 for about 100 students from the region's Francophone and Acadian community. The community-centre component meets various needs of this community, including early childhood services and support for the area's social, cultural, and economic development.The Government of Canada provided this funding under the Development of Official-Language Communities Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program seeks to offer English and French minority-language communities access to services in their own language, as well as the infrastructure necessary for their development.Information: Dominic GosselinPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages819 997-7788Donald BoulangerA/Chief, Media RelationsCanadian Heritage819 994-9101
