OTTAWA, August 20, 2008 - Residents and visitors to Ottawa will benefit from better access to the collections of 11 Ottawa-area museums, thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada.
Local Member of Parliament for Ott tawa West-Nepean and Canada's Environment Minister, John Baird, along with the Member of Parliament for Nepean-Carleton Pierre Poilievre, today announced funding for the City of Ottawa museums collections management project. The announcement was made on b ehalf of the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women and Minister for La Francophonie.
Funding of $61,100 will support the City of Ottawa's centralized collections management system project for 11 Ott awa area museums: Billings Estate National Historic Site, Nepean Museum, Bytown Museum, Diefenbunker Museum, Goulbourn Museum, Watson's Mill Museum, Osgoode Museum, Muséoparc Vanier, the Ottawa Worker's Heritage Centre, Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, and Pinhey's Point Historic Site. Part of the funding will also be used to preserve a collection of 4000 historic books belonging to the Billings Estate National Historical Site.
"By investing in our heritage, we provide Canadian s with opportunities to learn about our shared history," said Minister Verner. "The Government of Canada is pleased to support this project, which will improve access to the collections of these valuable cultural institutions."
"I'm pleased to be here today at my home-town museum, the Nepean Museum, to announce funding that will aid in preserving the rich cultural history of our City," said Minister Baird. "It is a priority for me personally, as a life-long resid ent of this City, to ensure that Ottawa's treasures remain well preserved and protected."
"It is essential that we take special care to preserve the documents and objects that tell our country's stories," said Mr. Poilievre. "The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of investing in museums."
"The support of the Department of Canadian Heritage is essential and much appreciated. As a result of this project, museum staff, researchers, resident s, and visitors from all over the world will be able to browse the city's collective heritage on-line," said Gilles Séguin, Heritage Program Manager, Cultural Services and Community Funding. "This will greatly improve access to Ottawa's h eritage and accomplishments."
The Government of Canada has provided this funding through the Department of Canadian Heritage's Museums Assistance Program. This program provides funding to Canadian museums and related institutions for pro jects 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 Cana dian Heritage and Status of Women
and Minister for La Francophonie
819 997-7788
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 994-9101
1 866 569-6155
