WINNIPEG, September 3, 2008 - The construction of the new Cercle Molière Theatre, which will be an outstanding gathering place for Francophones and those who want to share the French language and culture from Winnipeg and throughout Manitoba, will be made possible thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada.
Rod Bruinooge, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians and Member of Parliament (Winnipeg South), on behalf of the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women and Minister for La Francophonie, and the Honourable James Moore, Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific Gateway) (2010 Olympics) (Official Languages), today announced funding while taking part in the ground-breaking ceremony for the new Cercle Molière theatre.
"The Government of Canada is proud to support the arts and culture in Manitoba," said Secretary of State Moore. "Funding for construction of the new theatre contributes to the cultural vitality of our country by giving the public more opportunities to attend high-quality exhibitions and performances intended to promote local arts and heritage."
"The Government of Canada is pleased to take part in this ceremony, which marks a milestone for the Francophone community of the city and province," said Mr. Bruinooge. "This support is evidence of the Government of Canada's determination to foster the artistic and cultural dynamism of the Franco-Manitoban community."
"A dream of ours is about to become reality. It is a dream we've been nurturing for more than 10 years, which we would not have been able to bring about without the support of our federal and provincial partners," said Paul McKenna, President of Cercle Molière. "This new theatre, with its modern, dynamic architecture, will be an important symbol of the ongoing vitality of our community and the Francophone culture in Canada. Thank you for this essential support!"
The Government of Canada has provided $3.446 million for the construction of the new Cercle Molière Theatre. Of this amount, $1.646 million has been allocated through the Cultural Spaces Canada program and $1.8 million through the Development of Official-Language Communities Program under the Canada-Manitoba Agreement on French Language Services.
As with the Roadmap for Linguistic Duality in Canada 2008-2013: Acting for the Future, announced June 19, 2008, this project has reaffirmed the Government of Canada's commitment to linguistic duality and the vitality of official-language minority communities. The Roadmap is an unprecedented government-wide commitment of $1.1 billion over five years.
The Department of Canadian Heritage's Cultural Spaces Canada program seeks to improve physical conditions for artistic creativity as well as for presentation and exhibition. It is also designed to increase access for Canadians to performing, visual, and media arts, museum collections, and heritage displays. The Department's Development of Official-Language Communities Program is intended to foster the growth of Canada's Anglophone and Francophone minorities and to enable them to take full part in all aspects of Canadian life.
Information:
Dominic Gosselin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and
Status of Women and
Minister for La Francophonie
819 997-7788
Deirdra McCracken
Director of Communications
Office of the Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific Gateway) (2010 Olympics) (Official Languages)
819 956-4000
deirdra_mccracken@pch.gc.ca Angela Cassie
Director, Communications and Executive Services
Prairie and Northern Region
Canadian Heritage
204 983-4367
