Minister Copps and Secretary of State Augustine Observe Canada's First Canadian Multiculturalism Day
Strategic Plan on Diversity and Culture Unveiled, Intention to Create a Roundtable on Diversity and CultureOTTAWA, June 27, 2003 -- Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps and Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women) Jean Augustine celebrated the first-ever Canadian Multiculturalism Day today by releasing a new Strategic Plan on Diversity and Culture, which includes the intent to establish a Roundtable on Diversity and Culture, and by launching the Spark Initiative, a partnership that will enhance opportunities in the audio-visual industry for people from ethnocultural and Aboriginal communities.
These initiatives come out of last April's Forum on Diversity and Culture. "I believe that the Strategic Plan will move us towards achieving a better reflection of our diversity, and I am especially pleased with the news that the Canadian Heritage Portfolio Agencies are forming a Cultural Diversity Alliance," said Minister Copps.
The Plan commits the Canadian Heritage Portfolio to fundamentally change the way it does business. A Pathfinder Initiative, for example, will make it easier to access information on the Department of Canadian Heritage, and will assist applicants through the process.
In addition to unveiling the Strategic Plan, Minister Copps announced the creation of the Spark Initiative. Spark is a partnership among the National Film Board of Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts, Telefilm Canada, and the Department of Canadian Heritage, which will make $3.6 million in funding available over three years, to provide culturally diverse filmmakers and producers with better access to the industry.
The announcements were made on the first Canadian Multiculturalism Day, which will be held every year on June 27. Canadian Multiculturalism Day is now part of the family of Celebrate Canada! activities.
"Canadian Multiculturalism Day is an important addition to Celebrate Canada! Multiculturalism is for everyone; it touches Canadians from all backgrounds. This special day allows us to celebrate the economic, social, and cultural benefits that diversity has brought to this country," said Secretary of State Augustine. "I am proud that Canadians have chosen to follow a path of inclusion, to see the words respect, equality, and freedom not merely as concepts, but as values to be lived everyday."
Canadian Multiculturalism Day was inaugurated to increase awareness, and to encourage racial and ethnic harmony and cross-cultural understanding by providing an opportunity for communities across Canada to celebrate diversity. Seed money for community groups for Canadian Multiculturalism Day is available through the regional network of Celebrate Canada! Committees.
The initiatives were unveiled on Parliament Hill at a luncheon reception held with the Canadian Ethnocultural Council, where the "Quilt of Belonging," a room-sized tapestry which includes contributions from ethnic and Aboriginal groups from across Canada, was displayed.
Information:
Sonya-Kim St-Julien Carole Nesbeth
Press Secretary Office of the Secretary of State
Office of the Minister of (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)
Canadian Heritage (819) 997-9900
(819) 997-7788
BACKGROUNDER
FAQs about the new Canadian Multiculturalism Day, June 27
Why is the government honouring Canada's multicultural heritage with a special day?
The new "Canadian Multiculturalism Day" is an occasion to recognize and celebrate the economic, social and cultural benefits that Canada has realized as a result of its diversity and an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to democracy, equality and mutual respect.
"Canadian Multiculturalism Day" is now part of the "Celebrate Canada!" Program.
What is the "Celebrate Canada!" Program?
The current "Celebrate Canada!" Program encourages communities to participate in various events for an 11-day period: June 21, National Aboriginal Day; June 24, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day; June 27, Canadian Multiculturalism Day; and our country's anniversary on July 1.
Is "Canadian Multiculturalism Day" a statutory holiday?
"Canadian Multiculturalism Day" is a day of recognition, like National Aboriginal Day, and not a statutory holiday like Canada Day.
Will communities have access to seed funding for activities related to June 27?
Seed money will be allocated to those communities wishing to celebrate "Canadian Multiculturalism Day" within the "Celebrate Canada!" Program's terms and conditions.
How much will the new "Canadian Multiculturalism Day" cost?
No additional funding has been requested within the "Celebrate Canada!" Program to include Multiculturalism Day. All funding will be taken out of existing program resources.
Who is eligible for funding?
Non-governmental organizations, ad-hoc committees, community associations and charitable organizations are eligible. Public and private corporations (except Crown Corporations) are eligible where the projects are non-commercial in nature. Municipal governments, public and private schools, school boards and other educational institutions such as colleges and universities are also eligible.
Where can groups obtain an application form and apply for funding?
Application forms can be obtained from the provincial and territorial Celebrate Canada Committee. Applications should be submitted to the provincial/territorial Celebrate Canada Committee by March 31, 2004.
What are the provincial/territorial Celebrate Canada Committees?
The Celebrate Canada Committees are composed of volunteer members who donate their time and skills to assist community groups, businesses and municipal and provincial governments to coordinate local celebrations. They can be reached at the following addresses:
Newfoundland and Labrador
c/o Canadian Heritage
P.O. Box 5879
St. John's, Newfoundland
A1C 5X4
(709) 772-5364 (call collect)
Prince Edward Island
c/o Canadian Heritage
BDC Place, Suite 420
119 Kent Street
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
C1A 1N3
(902) 566-1867 (call collect) or
(902) 566-7188
Nova Scotia
c/o Canadian Heritage
Historic Properties
Old Red Store, 2nd Floor
1869 Upper Water Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 1S9
(902) 426-2945 or
1-800-996-3995
New Brunswick
c/o Canadian Heritage
1045 Main Street
Unit 106
Moncton, New Brunswick
E1C 1H1
(506) 851-7052 or
1-800-561-7146
Quebec
c/o Canadian Heritage
Place du Canada
1010 La Gauchetière Street West
Suite 1410, 14th floor
Montréal, Quebec
H3B 2N2
(514) 866-9164 or 1-800-361-8303
www.celafete.ca
Ontario
c/o Canadian Heritage
150 John Street
Suite 400
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 3T6
(416) 973-1990
or 1-800-749-7061
Manitoba
c/o Canadian Heritage
P.O. Box 2160
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3C 3R5
(204) 983-4664 (call collect)
Saskatchewan
c/o Canadian Heritage
Suite 100
2201 - 11th Avenue
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4P 0J8
(306) 780-8005 (call collect)
www.celebratecanada.sk.ca
Alberta
c/o Canadian Heritage
Canada Place
9700 Jasper Avenue, Suite 1630
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 4C3
(780) 495-3350 (call collect)
British Columbia
c/o Canadian Heritage
Library Square
300 West Georgia Street, 4th Floor
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6B 6C6
(604) 666-8082 or
1-800-663-5812
Yukon
c/o Canadian Heritage
300 Main Street
Room 205
Whitehorse, Yukon
Y1A 2B5
(867) 667-3970 (call collect)
Northwest Territories
c/o Canadian Heritage
P.O. Box 460
NWT Communications Building,
2nd Floor
5120 - 49th Street
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
X1A 2N4
(867) 669-2800 or 1-800-661-0585
Nunavut
c/o Canadian Heritage
1st Floor, Building 917
Box 628
Iqaluit, Nunavut
X0A 0H0
(867) 979-2986
[ Media Room ]
