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<title>LLOYD AXWORTHY ANNOUNCES GRANTTO SHOWCASE THE ACADIAN CULTURE IN FRANCE</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">August 8, 1996 No. 139</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">LLOYD AXWORTHY ANNOUNCES GRANT</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">TO SHOWCASE THE ACADIAN CULTURE IN FRANCE</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that his department will
make a contribution of $25 000 to the Société nationale de l'Acadie to organize a
major event promoting Acadian culture in Andrézieux-Bouthéon, a town in the Rhône-Alpes region of France. The event will take place September 30 to October 6.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Culture is a key element of our foreign policy and an important instrument for
the establishment and maintenance of our international relations," said Mr.
Axworthy.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">A delegation consisting of some 60 artists and craftspeople from various Acadian
communities in the four Atlantic provinces and representatives of federal and
provincial government departments has been selected to showcase the culture, food
(including seafood and maple products) and tourist attractions of Acadia.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The central attraction of this cultural event is the second Festival de l'été
indien, organized by the Association culturelle du Théâtre of Andrézieux-Bouthéon.
The festival's theme is the Francophone community, the shared history and
friendship among Acadians from Canada's Atlantic provinces, the Saint-Pierre and
Miquelon archipelago and the Forez region, in the Massif Central of France.
Participants include Le Groupe Barachois (Prince Edward Island); the duo of
Bernard Félix and Normand Formanger (Newfoundland and Labrador); La Baie en Joie
dance company and Monique Leblanc (Nova Scotia); Les Méchants Maquereaux, the
Barbara Ann Quigley ensemble, and the duo of Roland Gauvin and Johnny Comeau (New
Brunswick); and Le Théâtre de L'Escaouette and Henri Lafitte (Saint-Pierre and
Miquelon).</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The Canadian delegation will also take the opportunity to examine market
opportunities in this part of France.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"The Rhône-Alpes region is experiencing considerable economic growth, and we are
confident that the Acadian community will be able to position itself to take
advantage of the future possibilities of this new market," said Mr. Axworthy.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Funding for this initiative was provided for in the March 1996 federal budget and
is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Catherine Lappe</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Director of Communications</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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