Government of Canada Supports the Aylmer Heritage Association
AYLMER, February 10, 2004 -- Marcel Proulx, Member of Parliament (Hull-Aylmer), on behalf of the Honourable Hélène Chalifour Scherrer, Minister of Canadian Heritage, today announced funding of $45,540 for the Aylmer Heritage Association to help finance renovations to the Old Hull Township Methodist Chapel and transform it into a heritage archives centre."The Government of Canada is proud to help preserve heritage in the region," said Mr. Proulx. "I would like to congratulate the Aylmer Heritage Association's board, staff, and volunteers -- their remarkable work means that many Canadians can experience and share their passion for Aylmer's historical heritage."
The funding will be used for renovations to the Old Hull Township Methodist Chapel to create a heritage archives centre. The centre will conserve archival material under appropriate conditions and make collections of documents, photographs, letters, and other material related to the region's historical development accessible to the public. The centre will also be a meeting place for the area's heritage groups.
Built in 1827, the Chapel is the oldest standing church west of Montréal. Purchased by lawyer Rodrigue Farley in 1955, it then became known as the Farley House. In 1989, the City of Aylmer acquired the building for use as a cultural space, and the Aylmer Heritage Association moved its offices and archival storage there in 2000.
The Aylmer Heritage Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1974 to protect and preserve the historical heritage of Aylmer.
Financial assistance is provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage through its Cultural Spaces Canada program. This program supports cultural infrastructure projects that increase access for Canadians to performing arts, visual arts, media arts, and also improves physical conditions for artistic creativity and innovation. Funding is also provided for the construction or renovation of arts and heritage facilities, for the purchase of specialized equipment, and for feasibility studies and projects to transform buildings into arts or heritage facilities.
Funding for this program was provided for in the February 2003 federal Budget.
Information:
Mylène Dupéré
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
Anick Lavigne
Communications Assistant
Office of Marcel Proulx
(819) 992-7550
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