Celebrating Culture and Heritage in Lunenburg

News Release

Government of Canada supports the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival

July 16, 2015 – Lunenburg, Nova Scotia – Department of Canadian Heritage

On behalf of the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Gerald Keddy, Member of Parliament (South Shore–St. Margaret’s), today announced $8,000 in funding for the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund.

The funding will allow the organization to present the Folksteps Pan-American Community Celebration at the opening of the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival. The Festival will take place August 6–9, 2015. The Folksteps event is part of cultural celebrations to highlight the Toronto 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games.

Quick Facts

The Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society is a non-profit organization based in Lunenburg that specializes in presenting traditional and contemporary folk music. The organization offers many community activities in addition to performances.
The Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival is the longest-running folk- music festival in Nova Scotia.
In addition to funding the Folksteps Pan-American Community Celebration, the Government of Canada is providing $23,000 for this year’s festival and concert series.
The festival will feature more than 100 performances by artists from various provinces and territories, as well as from the United States, and nearly 40 community outreach activities.

Quotes

“Our Government is proud to support cultural initiatives as part of the 2015 Toronto Pan and Parapan American Games. Investments in community celebrations offer an exceptional opportunity to strengthen Canadians’ pride and sense of identity as a nation in the lead-up to the 150^th anniversary of Confederation, in 2017.”

- The Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

“This investment demonstrates our Government’s commitment to supporting organizations that highlight our rich culture and heritage as Canada proudly hosts the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan American Games. The Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival is a popular annual event that contributes to the quality of life and the economy of this community.”

- Gerald Keddy, Member of Parliament (South Shore-St. Margaret’s)

“The Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival is the largest annual public event in this UNESCO World Heritage town. Funding from Canadian Heritage allows us to maintain a year-round operation, crucial to such a busy festival. Thanks to Canadian Heritage, every August, the moment the curtain comes down and the rosin settles from the bow, the lines of communication open again as we plan another summer of fabulous music.”

- Chris Heide, General Manager, Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society