DEBDEN, July 13, 2009 - On behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Rob Clarke, Member of Parliament (Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River), today announced funding for the Comité culturel fransaskois de Debden. This support will enable the organization to implement its 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 programming.
"Our Government is committed to ensuring the vitality of minority Anglophone and Francophone communities," said Minister Moore. "Linguistic duality is an economic, social, and cultural asset for all Canadians."
"I applaud the work of the Comité culturel fransaskois de Debden," said Mr. Clarke. "The Government of Canada is proud to support this organization, which allows Francophones in Debden to flourish in their own language and participate fully in society."
"This financial support from the Government of Canada will allow us to retain and improve services in French for Francophones in the Debden region," said Chantal Bisson, President of the Comité culturel fransaskois de Debden. "We will be able to pass on the French language and culture and preserve our heritage."
For more than 20 years, the Comité culturel fransaskois de Debden has worked with many partners that are active in the fields of education, early childhood, health, the well-being of seniors, and communication. The organization's programming aims to increase access to services in French, strengthen the ability of Debden's Francophone community to come together, and ensure visibility of the French presence.
The Government of Canada has provided funding of $99,800 under the Community Life component of the Development of Official-Language Communities Program. This program of the Department of Canadian Heritage aims to foster the development of Canada's minority Anglophone and Francophone communities and enable them to participate fully in all aspects of Canadian life.
Like the Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality 2008-2013: Acting for the Future, support for this organization 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.
Deirdra McCracken
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and
Official Languages
819-997-7788 deirdra.mccracken@pch.gc.ca
Francine D. Lefebvre
A/Director
Regional Communications
Prairies and Northern Region
Canadian Heritage
Tel: 204-983-4367
Cell: 204-229-5283
francine.lefebvre@pch.gc.ca
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
