PRINCE GEORGE, British Columbia, June 17, 2008 - Central British Columbia residents and visitors will have more opportunities to learn about the region's local heritage, thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada.
The Honourable Jay Hill, Secretary of State and Chief Government Whip and Member of Parliament (Prince George-Peace River), 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 for the Central British Columbia Railway and the Forest Industry Museum Society.
The Society, which operates the Central British Columbia Railway Museum, will use $12,500 in funding to support the On the Right Track Strategic Collections Plan. This project is intended for guiding collections management over the next five years. This includes improving collections care and storage, aligning all collection-related planning, practices, policies, and procedures with accepted museological standards, and improving public accessibility to the collection. The museum is a key attraction in Prince George and welcomes more than 14 000 visitors every year.
"Local heritage institutions are important to the vitality of communities across Canada," said Minister Verner. "Museums help strengthen Canadians' awareness of our rich cultural heritage, and improving collections management will result in increased access to collections for all Canadians to enjoy."
"We are proud to invest in the Central British Columbia Railway Museum, which is a key attraction in this region," said Secretary of State Hill. "The Government of Canada is committed to supporting facilities that enrich the cultural life of our communities and create a legacy of excellence."
"We are very grateful to the Department of Canadian Heritage for its support to the Prince George Railway and Forestry Museum," said Ranjit Gill, General Manager of the Museum. "The Museums Assistance Program will enable us, under the direction of our curator, to write new policies for how we acquire, store, and maintain our valuable artefacts. This is a huge step forward and will ensure that the artefacts entrusted in our care will be available for future generations."
The Government of Canada has provided this funding through the Museums Assistance Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program provides financial support to Canadian museums and related institutions for projects that foster excellence in museum activities and that facilitate access to the treasures of our collective heritage.
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
Ginette Montreuil
Regional Manager
Communications
Western Region
Canadian Heritage
604 666-6504
Donald Boulanger
A/Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 994-9101
