REGINA, August 28, 2008 - The book publishing industry in Saskatchewan will be better able to offer Canadian-authored books that reflect our country's cultural diversity, thanks to an investment from the Government of Canada.
Tom Lukiwski, Member of Parliament (Regina-Lumsden-Lake Centre), on behalf of the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women and Minister for La Francophonie, today announced funding for the Saskatchewan Publishers Group.
Funding of $32,918.75 will be used by the Group to support its annually funded marketing and promotional projects, which include several elements that are designed to promote its roughly 60 member publishers.
"Our Government is proud to support the Saskatchewan Publishers Group," said Minister Verner. "These publishers contribute to the vitality of our culture and economy by producing high-quality printed books that showcase the talent of our authors and illustrators."
"Our Government is pleased to support the efforts made by these publishers to produce, promote and distribute books by authors from Saskatchewan and across Canada," said Mr. Lukiwski. "I encourage them to continue working to offer Canadian readers a wide range of books with which they can identify."
"The Book Publishing Industry Development Program is very important to the Saskatchewan Publishers Group. Without its funding, we would not be able to have our annual professional development sessions, which keep our members up to date on current publishing protocols and new trends in publishing," said Darren R. Préfontaine, President, Saskatchewan Publishers Group. "On behalf of the Saskatchewan Publishers Group and the book publishing industry in Saskatchewan, I would like to thank the Department of Canadian Heritage for this funding. We very much appreciate our partnership and look forward to continuing it into the future."
The Government of Canada has provided this funding under the Collective Initiatives component of the Book Publishing Industry Development Program. This program of the Department of Canadian Heritage seeks to increase the capacity of the Canadian-owned and -controlled sector of the industry to publish and market Canadian books, domestically as well as internationally.
Information:
Dominic Gosselin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women and
Minister for La Francophonie
819 997-7788
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 994-9101
1 866 569 6155
