ALFRED, Ontario, March 25, 2008 - Rural Franco-Ontarian young people will benefit from Government of Canada support to encourage their participation in community life. This support will also help adolescents who are deaf or hard-of-hearing integrate into rural life, so they can have access to the resources necessary to reach their full potential.
Pierre Lemieux, Parliamentary Secretary for Official Languages and Member of Parliament (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell), on behalf of the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women, and Official Languages, today announced funding of up to $169,670 for three organizations dedicated to the development of Franco-Ontarian young people.
"I applaud the work and the determination of these three organizations," said Minister Verner. "I am pleased to support groups who promote the involvement of Franco-Ontarian young people in rural life and contribute to the vitality of the Franco-Ontarian community."
"Our Government supports the important work these organizations do and is pleased to be able to help in concrete ways," said Mr. Lemieux. "This financial support is just one of the many ways in which we help Francophone organizations within our communities."
"This important contribution will enable the Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens to fulfill its mission and to energetically support young people from rural, Franco-Ontarian communities," said Simon Durand, Director General of the Union des cultivateurs franco-ontarien. " These young people are the leaders of the future and will guarantee the development of Franco-Ontarians in Ontario. They truly represent a value-added to the whole Ontarian community, and, thanks to this support, we can now help them reach their potential."
The funding will be divided among the following groups: the Regroupement des parents et amis des sourds et malentendants franco-ontariens will receive up to $35,170; the Association canadienne-française de l'Ontario Prescott-Russell will receive up to $60,000; and the Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens will receive up to $74,500.
The Regroupement des parents et amis des sourds et malentendants franco-ontariens is a not-for-profit organization in the Clarence Creek area, which encourages the involvement of deaf or hard-of-hearing adolescents and young adults in community life.
The Association canadienne-française de l'Ontario Prescott-Russell facilitates career training for rural young people.
The Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens, through its Fier d'être jeune...et Franco! project, aims to increase the participation of rural young people in the social and economic life of the Franco-Ontarian community.
Funding comes from the additional $30 million, over two years, announced by the Government of Canada in its 2007 Budget to support official-language minority communities and linguistic duality. These funds from the Department of Canadian Heritage seek to foster the vitality and development of the country's Anglophone and Francophone minorities and enable them to participate fully 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
Maya Kane
Manager of Regional Communications
Ontario Region
Canadian Heritage
416 954-6615
Donald Boulanger
A/Chief,
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 994-9101
