The Government of Canada Supports Festival de contes et légendes en Abitibi-Témiscamingue

VAL-D’OR, Quebec, May 14, 2008 – Residents of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region will be able to discover the talents of storytellers and other local artists, thanks to an investment from the Government of Canada.

The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, today announced funding for the Festival de Contes et légendes en Abitibi-Témiscamingue.Funding of $10,000 will help the Festival de Contes et légendes en Abitibi-Témiscamingue proceed with its fifth edition, which will take place from May 10 to 20, 2008. This festival seeks to promote the traditional art of storytelling and develop, among those attending the event, both a sense of belonging to the region and pride in local storytellers. In addition to storytelling presentations, activities will include an exhibition of paintings by regional artists, a meeting of six filmmakers and storytellers seeking to transform words into images, and performances by Innu storytellers and musicians. This year, two activities in English will give the region’s English-speaking community an opportunity to take part in this event.

“The Government of Canada is pleased to announce funding to the Festival de contes et légendes en Abitibi-Témiscamingue,” said Minister Verner. “We are proud to partner with communities to support activities that celebrate local history, arts, and heritage.”

“Since the arrival of the first prospectors in Val-d’Or, stories and legends have been part of the lives of the people living here,” said Nicole Garceau, Artistic Director and founder of the Festival. “It has been five years since the Festival first encouraged the people of our region to reconnect with this aspect of our local heritage. Thanks to the involvement of Canadian Heritage, the fifth edition of this festival is enhancing its programming and its presence in the region. This year, residents of Amos, La Sarre, Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Matagami, Rouyn-Noranda, Senneterre, and Sullivan will be able to take part in activities organized in their areas.”

The new Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program, announced in September 2007, provides Canadians with more opportunities to take part in local activities that present arts and culture and celebrate local history and heritage. This program will benefit many community events and celebrations in Canada throughout the coming year.

The Government of Canada is committed to building stronger communities and to providing all Canadians with opportunities to get involved in their communities and in celebrating Canadian arts and heritage.

Information:

Dominic Gosselin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage,
Status of Women and Official Languages
819 997-7788

Marie-Claude Cadorette
Regional Manager, Communications
Quebec Region
Canadian Heritage
514 283-4027