SHIPPAGAN, New Brunswick, March 28, 2008 - In 2009, thousands of Acadians, Francophones, and Francophiles, from across Canada and abroad, will have an opportunity to celebrate Acadian culture at the Congrès mondial acadien, thanks s to an investment by the Government of Canada. The event will take place in northeastern New Brunswick from August 7 to 23, 2009.
On behalf of the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official La nguages and the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Pierre Lemieux, Parliamentary Secretary for Official Languages and Member of Parliament (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell) tod ay announced funding for the 4th Congrès mondial acadien.
The Government of Canada will provide $3,275,000 to the organizing committee of the 2009 Congrès mondial acadien: $1,750,000 from the Department of Canadian Heritage and $1,525,000 from ACOA.
This funding, along with that of a number of other partners, will support the development, planning, promotion, marketing, and hosting of the event. It will include opening and closing ceremonies, a celebration of Natio nal Acadian Day, the building of Espace 2009, conferences, and family gatherings.
Of this funding, $225,000 will help produce L'Acadie à Québec 2008, a major event to be held in Québec City on August 15, 2008, to celebrat e the 400th anniversary of the founding of Québec City and to promote the Congrés mondial acadien.
"Acadians are among those who have entrenched the French language and culture as part of the soul of our country," said Minister Verner. "The 4th Congrès mondial acadien provides the Government of Canada with an occasion to recognize the exceptional contribution of Acadian people to the development of our country."
"The Government of Can ada is working with its partners to support the people of the Acadian Peninsula and all of New Brunswick," said Minister MacKay. "The Congrès mondial acadien 2009 will enable local residents to benefit from a world-class event, which grea tly assists the development of the region's tourism industry and provides oppportunities for economic growth and greater prosperity."
"This major international event will highlight the rich Francophone and Acadian heritage of the Ac adian Peninsula," said Mr. Lemieux. "I wish every success for the many activities organized for this occasion!"
"We greatly appreciate receiving this significant contribution from Canadian Heritage and ACOA to organize th e Congrès mondial acadien 2009, and we are hopeful that other federal departments will invest in this celebration," said Jean-Guy Rioux, Chair of the Congrès mondial acadien organizing committee. "Acadians from the Peninsula and ar ound the world are pleased that the Government of Canada is supporting the development and vitality of Francophone and Acadian communities."
The Government of Canada has provided support through the Department of Canadian Heritage's Deve lopment of Official-Language Communities Program and ACOA's Innovative Communities Fund (ICF). The former is aimed at developing official-language minority communities to enable them to fully participate in all aspects of Canadian life. The latter invests in strategic projects that create community capacity for sustainable economic growth by building on their strengths.
Information :
Dominic Gosselin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage,
Status of Women and Official Languages
819 997-7788
Stéphanie Bilodeau
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506 452-3034
Donald Boulanger
A/Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 994-9101
