FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STATEMENT
On behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Dick Harris, Member of Parliament (Cariboo-Prince George), today announced funding for the Cercle des Canadiens Francais de Prince George.
With this funding, the Cercle will implement the final phase of its 50th anniversary celebrations, which are taking place under the theme "50 Years of History: the Promise of the Past - Looking To the Future!" The program will include an exhibition on the development of the organization and a series of celebrations that began in May and will end with an anniversary banquet on November 6, 2010.
"Our Government is very proud to support this project," said Minister Moore. "We are committed to promoting the vitality of official-language minority communities and ensuring their full participation in Canadian society."
"Thanks to the Cercle des Canadiens Francais de Prince George, francophones and francophiles of the region have access to activities in their language of choice," said Harris. "This will allow the community to develop, and this exhibition, together with the festivities, will help newcomers discover francophone culture in northern British Columbia."
"A 50th anniversary for a minority francophone organization can only come about through the efforts of pioneers and volunteers who believed, and still believe, in a Canada where both official languages are important in the lives of citizens. On behalf Prince George's francophone association, the Cercle des Canadiens Francais, I would like to highlight the generous contribution from Canadian Heritage toward our 50th anniversary celebrations," said Robert Doyon, president. "The support of Canadian Heritage is vital for the survival of the French language and culture in our community."
The Cercle des Canadiens Francais de Prince George brings together the region's francophones and francophiles with the goal of promoting the French language, celebrating their French-Canadian culture and heritage, and expanding the Francophone community. It organizes socio-cultural and educational activities, helps create new services in French, promotes the French language as well as francophone products and services, and welcomes newcomers and facilitates their integration.
The Government of Canada has provided funding of $20,000 through the Cooperation with the Community Sector 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.
