MONCTON, January 16, 2009 - The 2009 World Acadian Congress will be able to better reflect Canada's linguistic duality in its artistic and cultural activities and obtain greater participation from young people, thanks to support from the Government of Canada.
The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, today announced additional funding to the organizing committee of the 4 th World Acadian Congress. This event will bring thousands of Acadians together in northeastern New Brunswick from August 7 to 23, 2009. The funding announced today will allow the organizing committee to present cultural activities that target young people and attempt to bring the two linguistic groups closer together.
Minister Moore also announced funding for the Société nationale de l'Acadie (SNA) to support the 2009 Grand rassemblement jeunesse , which will take place as part of the World Acadian Congress. This rally will allow young Francophones from Canada and elsewhere in the world to meet one another and strengthen their sense of belonging to Acadian culture.
"The Government of Canada is proud to be a partner of the 2009 World Acadian Congress. This international event will allow the rich Francophone and Acadian culture of New Brunswick's Acadian Peninsula to shine," said Minister Moore. "This is an excellent time for our Government to recognize the exceptional contribution of the Acadian people to the development of our country."
"We would like to thank Canadian Heritage for its unwavering support and its contribution to the organization and success of the 2009 World Acadian Congress. We attach a great deal of importance to this collaboration, as well as the support received from the Atlantic Regional Office in Moncton," said Jean-Guy Rioux, President of the 2009 World Acadian Congress. "The 2009 Congress is an opportunity to celebrate the wealth and vitality of the Acadian culture, and to show the entire world the potential of the Acadian Peninsula and Acadians' savoir-faire . We are certain that this funding will allow the Acadian Peninsula to put on a colourful event whose influence will be felt throughout Acadia!"
"The Société nationale de l'Acadie is pleased with this investment in Acadian youth by the Department of Canadian Heritage, which is a close partner of Acadia," said Françoise Enguehard, President of the SNA. "The SNA, through its Commission jeunesse de l'Acadie –the driving force behind the 2009 Grand rassemblement jeunesse–is grateful for the confidence that the federal government is displaying."
The Government of Canada is providing funding of $250,000 to the organizing committee of the 2009 World Acadian Congress and $45,000 to the Société Nationale de l'Acadie through the Department of Canadian Heritage's Official Languages Support Program.
As with the Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality 2008-2013: Acting for the Future , announced on June 19, 2008, support for these two projects reiterates the Government of Canada's commitment to linguistic duality and the vitality of official-language minority communities. The Roadmap is an unprecedented government-wide investment of $1.1 billon over five years.
Information:
Deirdra McCracken
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and
Official Languages
819-997-7788
deirdra.mccracken@pch.gc.ca
Claudine Daigle
Director,
Regional Communications
Atlantic Region
Canadian Heritage
506-851-3980
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
