Government of Canada Supports the Da Costa 400 Black Canadian Heritage Society
DARTMOUTH, February 1st, 2005 -- Member of Parliament (Dartmouth-Cole Harbour) Michael Savage, on behalf of Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women Liza Frulla, today announced $18,857 in funding for the Da Costa 400 Black Canadian Heritage Society. The funds will enable the Society to further develop its Web site."This enriched Web site will commemorate and celebrate 400 years of Black Canadian heritage and culture," said Mr. Savage. "Thanks to this site, all Canadians will be able to learn more about Black Canadians, as well as about the celebrations marking Mathew Da Costa's arrival in Canada -- the first recorded African-American to settle here in 1605."
"The Internet is a valuable tool to make known our values, the events that shaped our history and the people who built our country," said Minister Frulla.
The Web site will feature information about Mathew Da Costa, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1605 as a former slave of the Portuguese. Da Costa worked as a navigator and interpreter for the French colonists, and helped found Port Royal. He also worked with explorers Pierre de Mons and Samuel de Champlain to communicate among the Mi'Kmaq and French peoples. The enriched site will include historic and contemporary cultural narrative, visual and video graphics and dramatization.
Financial assistance is provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage through its Canadian Culture Online strategy, which encourages a uniquely Canadian presence on the Internet.
Funding announced today was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget.
Information:
Jean-Philippe Côté
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
and Minister responsible for Status of Women
(819) 997-7788
Peggy Landes
Special Assistant
Office of
Michael Savage, M.P.
(902) 462-6453
Myriam Brochu
Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-9314
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