News Release

For Immediate Release
January 13, 2005

Mi-Carême Centre Expands

St. Joseph du Moine, NS –– Rodger Cuzner, MP for Cape Breton – Canso, on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC), announced today a non-repayable contribution of $250,000 towards the expansion of the Mi-Carême Centre in St. Joseph du Moine.

“Together with the St. Joseph du Moine Development Association, we are working to preserve the rich Acadian heritage of the area and share it with visitors” says MP Cuzner. “Unique tourism opportunities, such as the
Mi-Carême Centre, will serve the long term growth of the Cape Breton economy.”

The Mi-Carême Centre will depict Acadian heritage and interpret the
mask-making tradition carried on by the Acadians of this region during Lenten celebrations. Visitors will be able to participate in mask-making workshops and learn about the unique history of the area. The Centre will add to the diversity of things to do and see in the Chéticamp area, and encourage visitors to stay longer.

Mi-Carême, which translates into Mid Lent, is a traditional Acadian celebration that once occurred in French communities all over the world. The tradition is now only practiced in four French communities in Canada, including St. Joseph du Moine. Historically, Acadians would fast for 40 days before Easter, the practice of Mi-Carême would allow people to break their fast and enjoy festivities and parties for one day. The tradition involves wearing handmade and decorated masks while visiting neighbours who then have to guess their visitors’ identity. Mi-Carême once lasted only one day but now runs for one week.

“This Centre is a way to celebrate our Acadian culture and generate revenue in the local area,” says Léandre LeBlanc, president of the St. Joseph Du Moine Development Association. “With support from the Government of Canada we are able to take advantage of the emerging cultural tourism market.”

The total cost of this project is $312,500. ECBC will provide a non-repayable contribution of $250,000 through ACOA’s Strategic Community Investment Fund.

The Strategic Community Investment Fund provides $135 million over five years to help communities in Atlantic Canada create an environment that encourages and enhances economic development.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA's programs on Cape Breton Island and in the Mulgrave area.

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FOR BROADCAST USE ONLY:

A PROJECT ANNOUNCED TODAY BY RODGER CUZNER, MP FOR CAPE BRETON – CANSO, WILL LEAD TO THE EXPANSION OF A THE
MI-CARÊME CENTRE IN ST. JOSEPH DU MOINE, NEAR CHÉTICAMP.

“TOGETHER WITH THE ST. JOSEPH DU MOINE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, WE ARE WORKING TO PRESERVE THE RICH ACADIAN HERITAGE OF THE AREA AND SHARE IT WITH VISITORS” SAYS MP CUZNER.

MI-CARÊME HAS BEEN A LENTEN CELEBRATION IN MANY ACADIAN COMMUNITIES FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS. PARTY-GOERS DON
HAND-MADE MASKS AND VISIT THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS. VISITORS TO THE CENTRE WILL BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN
MASK-MAKING WORKSHOPS AND LEARN ABOUT THE UNIQUE HISTORY OF THE AREA.

THE TOTAL COST OF THIS PROJECT IS $312,500. ECBC WILL PROVIDE A NON-REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTION OF $250,000 THROUGH THE ACOA’S STRATEGIC COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND (SCIF).

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Valérie Poulin
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire
Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(613) 941-7241

Office of Rodger Cuzner
MP Cape Breton-Canso
Tel: (902) 842-9763

Léandre LeBlanc
President, St. Joseph Du Moine Development Association
(902) 224-2665

D.A. Landry
Communications, ECBC
(902) 564-3617