WATERLOO, Ontario, May 28, 2009 - On behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Peter Braid, Member of Parliament (Kitchener-Waterloo), today announced funding for the Association des francophones de Kitchener-Waterloo.
This funding will help the Association expand its programming into Guelph and implement a series of French-language cultural and social activities for its residents. Planned activities include outdoor excursions, child and adult classes, film screenings, family-friendly concerts, an opera, and a play.
"Our Government is proud to support Ontario's Francophone organizations," said Minister Moore. "Organizations such as the Association des francophones de Kitchener-Waterloo strengthen the cultural vitality of French-speaking communities in Ontario."
"The bilingual character of our country is a fundamental part of our national identity," said Mr. Braid. "This organization promotes the French language, deepens our understanding of Francophone culture within our community, and enriches our society."
"The Board of Directors of the Association des francophones de Kitchener-Waterloo is proud and pleased to be able to expand its educational, cultural, and artistic activities to the Guelph area," said Yves Béretta, member of the Association's Board of Directors. "The Association will now be able to meet the needs and expectations of French-language and French immersion schools in the region and will also try to fill a void often felt by Guelph's Francophone population. We are ready to take on the challenge!"
The Association des francophones de Kitchener-Waterloo is a non-profit organization that serves the region's Francophone population by representing it at various levels of government and by raising awareness about French-language culture and services in Kitchener-Waterloo.
The Government of Canada has provided funding of $10 000 under the Development of Official-Language Communities Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program aims to enhance the vitality of Canada's official-language minority communities and enable them to fully participate in all aspects of Canadian life.
As with the Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality 2008-2013: Acting for the Future, announced last June 19, support for this project re-emphasizes 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 billion 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
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
