NICKEL BELT – GREATER SUDBURY- Investments in commemorative cultural infrastructure, anniversaries and local arts and heritage bring communities together, making them better places to live. Local festivals all across Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury, meant to promote tourism and community spirit, have been hard hit through the pandemic.

Marc G. Serré, MP for Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources today announced that the French River visitor centre First Nation and Aboriginal Advisory Committee is receiving $23,500 to fund the Festival of Peoples - Journey 2021- Honouring the White Buffalo in Alban under the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program (BCAH). MP Serré made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage.

Quotes

“Investments in arts and culture help build strong communities. We are proud to support the Festival of Peoples - Journey 2021- Honouring the White Buffalo that bring people together to celebrate local arts and heritage. This funding is part of our government’s commitment to promote our artists and artisans and ensure that Canadians get opportunities to learn about and experience the heritage in their communities.” - The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage

“Through arts, culture and teachings we can celebrate and honour Indigenous people and longstanding traditions. I know so many of us are looking forward to in-person events and hoping to participate in the Festival of Peoples. Thank you to all planning members and volunteers who are working diligently and adhering to public health measures to make this event a reality and a true success.”- Marc G. Serré, MP Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources

“The French River Visitors Center First Nations and Aboriginal Advisory Committee is pleased with the announcement that it will receive funding for its annual events from Heritage Canada.  This year with COVID restrictions, the committee is planning a series of Tipi Teachings to ensure our moving forward, in accordance with Ontario's reopening plans. It is hoped that the Committee will host its Annual Pow Wow at a later date in consultation with Parks Ontario. When tentative dates are set, they will be announced and updated as needed on our Facebook Page: French River Pow Wow.  It is with great pleasure that the Committee has been recognized through its project being approved by Heritage Canada.  On behalf of the Committee we say miigwech, thank you and merci!” - Donna Longlade, Chairperson, FRVCFNAAC

Quick Facts

• The French River Visitor Centre First Nation and Aboriginal Advisory Committee received $13,000 in Celebrate Canada funding which allowed them to present their 11th annual gathering and pow wow.
• The Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage (BCAH) program increases opportunities for local artists, artisans, heritage performers or specialists to get involved in their community through festivals, events and projects. It also allows local groups to commemorate their local history and heritage. It has three components: Local Festivals, Community Anniversaries and Legacy Fund.
• The Local Festivals component of BCAH provides funding to local groups for recurring festivals that present the work of local artists, artisans and heritage performers. In 2017–18, 700 festivals received more than $13,000,000.
• The Community Anniversaries component provides funding to local groups for non-recurring local events, with or without a minor capital project. Eligible events and capital projects are those that commemorate the 100th anniversary or greater (in increments of 25 years) of a significant local historical event or personality.
• Eligible capital projects such as community art projects, restoration of objects, community history books, statues and murals can be funded up to a maximum $25,000. In 2017–18, more than 25 anniversary projects received almost $800,000 in funding.
• The Legacy Fund component provides funding for community-initiated capital projects that restore, renovate or transform an existing building or exterior space (such as a statue, community hall, monument, garden or work of art) intended for community use. Eligible capital projects are those that commemorate the 100th anniversary or greater (in increments of 25 years), of a significant local historical event or personality. Over 15 legacy projects got almost $2,000,000 in funding in 2017–18.
• The BCAH program funded over 750 projects throughout Canada in 2017–18, for a total investment of almost $15,825,000.
• Continued investments in arts and culture support economic growth, as the cultural sector represents more than 3.5 percent of jobs in Canada and employs more than 652,000 Canadians.

Associated Links

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Contact
Kaylie Dudgeon
Special Assistant
Marc G. Serré MP Nickel Belt
705-507-2416/[email protected]