Government of Canada Supports Efforts to Promote Books of Atlantic Region
OTTAWA, August 31, 2004 -- Canadians create many varied cultural products, and it is important to promote them in an original and appealing way. To this end, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and M.P. (Halifax West) Geoff Regan, on behalf of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Liza Frulla, announced financial support for the Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association. This will help the Association conduct a campaign promoting and marketing books from and about the Atlantic region. In addition, the Association will be able to continue publishing Atlantic Books Today, its literary promotion magazine."The Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association plays a leading role in promoting and marketing books published in the Atlantic provinces," said Minister Regan. "Media coverage of literature is not sufficient to present the entire literary production of the region's publishers. Atlantic Books Today addresses this situation in an admirable fashion. Through this publication and a related marketing campaign, the Association will be able to reach even more readers."
"The vitality of our Canadian publishing houses enables our authors to publish their works and to benefit from publishers' professional expertise," said Minister Frulla. "A dynamic publishing sector gives Canadians the opportunity to access the works of their country's artists and to appreciate the richness of Canada's culture in all its diversity."
This funding will help publish the magazine Atlantic Books Today, which is inserted into daily newspapers and distributed free of charge four times a year. In addition, as part of a campaign to promote books published in the Atlantic region, 300,000 copies of a brochure will be inserted in daily newspapers. Again, it will be distributed, free of charge, in strategic locations to increase the awareness and sale of books. Promotional material, such as posters and window displays, will be offered to bookstores.
For fiscal years 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, the Department of Canadian Heritage has granted the Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association $189,000 in funds for the publication of the magazine, Atlantic Books Today, and $34,500 for the new marketing campaign. This assistance was provided under the Aid to Industry and Associations component of the Department's Book Publishing Industry Development Program, currently celebrating its 25th year.
Funding for this project is provided for in the March 2004 federal Budget.
Information:
Donald Boulanger
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
Brian Underhill
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
(613) 992-3474
Claudine Daigle
Communications
Canadian Heritage
(506) 851-3980
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