OTTAWA, June 3, 2008 - The Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique (APCM) will be able to offer numerous projects and training activities to Franco-Ontarian artists, as well as promote their work, thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada.
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 and Minister for La Francophonie, today announced funding of $116,500 for the APCM.
"The Government of Canada is proud to support groups that foster the development and promotion of Francophone culture by helping advance the careers of Franco-Ontarian singers and musicians," said Minister Verner.
"Our Government supports this organization's important work, and we are very pleased to be giving them concrete assistance," said Mr. Lemieux. "This funding is one of many ways in which we are supporting Francophone organizations in our communities."
"The funding from Canadian Heritage will enable our organization to carry out many activities, mount large-scale events, and provide numerous services to our members and our community," said Jean Michel Ouimet, President of the APCM.
Founded in 1990, the Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique has a mandate to disseminate cultural products, promote its member artists (songwriters, composers, and performers), and encourage the development of French-language songs, as well as music, in Ontario and Western Canada.
The Government of Canada has provided part of this funding through the Development of Official-Language Communities Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program seeks to foster the vitality of Canada's French and English minority-language communities to enable them to fully participate in all aspects of Canadian life.
The Government of Canada has also provided funding from the additional $30 million over two years announced in its 2007 Budget to support official-language minority communities and linguistic duality.
Information :
Dominic Gosselin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage,
Status of Women and Official Languages and Minister for
La Francophonie
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
