EDMONTON, March 26, 2008 - Francophone communities in Alberta will be able to undertake a number of major initiatives to strengthen their vitality thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada.
On behalf of the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, Rahim Jaffer, Member of Parliament (Edmonton-Strathcona), today announced funding for seven organizations representing the Francophone communities of Alberta.
This funding of $714,970 will be shared by the Association canadienne-française de l'Alberta (ACFA), the ACFA Calgary Regional Branch, the Regroupement artistique francophone de l'Alberta, the Institut Guy-Lacombe de la famille, Francophone jeunesse de l'Alberta, the Association La Girandole, and the Fédération du sport francophone de l'Alberta.
"The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring the prosperity of minority Francophone and Anglophone communities and to recognizing the importance of linguistic duality as an economic, social, and cultural asset for all Canadians," said Minister Verner.
"These announcements demonstrate the Government of Canada's determination to strengthen the Francophone character of Alberta and to contribute to the vitality and growth of Francophone communities," said Mr. Jaffer
"We are very please to receive this funding," said Jean Johnson, President of the ACFA. "This will allow us to tackle some important issues, such as social services, promotion of the Francophonie in Alberta, and our relations with the Métis people."
For a list of the initiatives that benefit from the funding announced, see the attached backgrounder.
The Government of Canada has provided this funding under the Development of Official-Language Communities Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program is aimed at developing minority-language Francophone and Anglophone communities to enable them to fully participate in all aspects of Canadian life.
Information: Dominic Gosselin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage,
Status of Women and Official Languages
819 997-7788
Ginette Montreuil
Regional Manager
Communications
Western Region
Canadian Heritage
604 666-6504
Donald Boulanger
A/Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 994-9101
BACKGROUNDER The Government of Canada has provided funding to the following organizations under the Development of Official-Language Communities Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. To learn more about this program, visit
www.canadianheritage.gc.ca The Association canadienne-française de l'Alberta (ACFA) is receiving $215,750. Of this amount, $50,000 is dedicated to a turnkey bilingual exhibit that can be transported to every region of the province. The traveling exhibit will enable young people and the general public to learn about the French presence in Alberta through historical information panels on various topics relating to the Francophone community. The sum of $76,750 will be used to build closer ties and cooperation between the Francophone and Métis communities of Alberta. Two roundtable discussions will be organized to foster dialogue between the two communities, which are facing numerous challenges in common. The remaining $89,000 will be used to fund a study identifying the services that are currently offered as well as deficiencies. This study will provide an overview, with up-to-date statistics, of the needs of Franco-Albertans in terms of social services.
The
ACFA Calgary regional branch is receiving $150,000 to survey Calgary community stakeholders and Francophones regarding their needs in terms of services. Once completed, it will serve ACFA Calgary as a benchmark and a development tool, allowing it to target its interventions with the three levels of government more effectively.
The
Regroupement artistique francophone de l'Alberta (RAFA) is receiving $38,720 in 2007-2008 and $60,000 in 2008-2009. This funding will be used for key activities to implement the revitalization plan for Francophone theatre in Calgary.
The
Institut Guy-Lacombe de la famille is receiving $83,500 to create a virtual network of Francophone libraries throughout the province. This network will not only make it possible to share all of the French-language materials available from Alberta's various resource centres, it will also allow individuals to consult, reserve, and renew these materials from a computer, regardless of where they are located.
Francophone jeunesse de l'Alberta is receiving $10,450 in 2007-2008 and $54,550 in 2008-2009 to redevelop the organization's leadership program and the resources associated with it.
The
Association La Girandole is receiving $22,000 in 2007-2008 and $40,000 in 2008-2009 to coordinate Franco-Albertan dance troupes.
The
Fédération du sport francophone de l'Alberta is receiving $40,000 to develop Francophone sports in Alberta through the creation of a sports database and provincial leagues and to increase the number of athletic programs throughout the province.
