OTTAWA, May 31, 2011 - The Nova Scotia Highland Village Society will receive funding from the Government of Canada to launch a new Gaelic language Web portal. This was announced today by the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament (Central Nova), on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.
This funding will help the Society launch An Drochaid Eadarainn (The Bridge Between Us), an interactive Web portal for Gaelic language renewal and cultural restoration. The online social experience designed for Canada's Gaelic community will serve as an interactive gathering place, to foster conversation and promote Gaelic culture across Canada.
"Our Government is proud to support innovative approaches and partnerships to preserve and share cultural identity," said Minister MacKay. "An Drochaid Eadarainn will harmonize cultural heritage with modern technology to foster and preserve Nova Scotia's Gaelic traditions and values."
"Our Government is pleased to support the creation of An Drochaid Eadarainn, an interactive space where Canada's Gaelic community can share its culture," said Minister Moore. "This project is a good example of how interactive technology can support Canada's cultural development."
The Nova Scotia Highland Village Society initiated the project in collaboration with community partners: the Municipality of Victoria County, NSCAD University, the Provincial Office of Gaelic Affairs, and St. Francis Xavier University. A prototype website was funded by the Nova Scotia broadband initiative Building a High Speed Future and by community partners.
The Government of Canada has provided funding of $151,800 through the Canada Interactive Fund. The Fund supports the creation of online Canadian cultural interactive content and applications developed by official-language minority, Aboriginal, ethnocultural, and other not-for-profit cultural organizations. It seeks to support projects that enhance interactive digital cultural content and applications, presented originally and creatively using the latest technologies and platforms.
Codie Taylor
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
819-997-7788
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
media@pch.gc.ca
