Canadian Diversity Showcased on the Internet
TORONTO, November 17, 2005 -- Minister of State for Families and Caregivers and Member of Parliament (Trinity-Spadina) Tony Ianno, on behalf of Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women Liza Frulla, today announced $1.5 million in funding for four cultural organizations. The funds will enable the organizations to develop digital cultural content that is aimed at enhancing knowledge of Canadian cultural diversity.From the amount announced, the University of Toronto's Adaptive Technology Resource Centre will receive $500,000 to post online information about Aboriginal communities and persons living with disabilities. The Bata Shoe Museum will receive $275,988 to create an online collection of stories and artifacts, based on the Museum's existing collection, that will focus on the footwear traditions of Aboriginal groups and Canada's multicultural communities. For its part, Caribbean Tales will receive $280,000 to digitize information about the culture and traditions of the Caribbean-Canadian writers' community. Finally, the Centre for Contemporary Canadian Art will receive $225,000 to build on its existing online collection, by digitizing works by 160 new visual artists and designers, particularly those representing Canada's diverse regions.
"I am convinced that these projects will enable Internet surfers from here and elsewhere to learn more about the richness of our culture, our history and our heritage, and I am proud that the Government of Canada supports this project," said Minister of State Ianno.
"I am proud that our Government is able to support partnerships with organizations that believe in the importance of sharing our culture, both within our country and abroad, added Minister Frulla. The Internet is a powerful means of communication in this era. We must use it to our advantage to highlight the uniqueness of Canada among all other nations."
"Toronto is a highly diversified city from both an ethnic and a cultural perspective," said Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Member of Parliament (Parkdale-High Park) Sarmite Bulte. "I am pleased that the Government of Canada supports projects that enable Torontonians from all walks of life to access a multitude of cultures through the Internet."
Financial assistance is provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage through its Canadian Culture Online Partnerships Fund. The Fund provides an incentive for not-for-profit, public, and private organizations and institutions to create partnership initiatives that make Canadian cultural collections available on the Internet in both official languages.
Funding announced today was provided for in the February 2005 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
Information:
Jean-François Del Torchio
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women
(819) 997-7788
Kelly Ouimet
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of State (Families and Caregivers)
(613) 941-3656
Jean-Guy Beaupré
Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-9314
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