Public Acknowledgment of Canadian Heritage Financial Assistance

Table of Contents

• 1. Guidelines for acknowledging funding
• 2. Why
• 3. When and Where to Acknowledge Canadian Heritage's Support
• 4. How to Acknowledge Canadian Heritage's Support
  • 4.1. Credit Lines and Signatures
  • 4.2. Ministerial Messages
• 5. Contact Us

1. Guidelines for acknowledging funding

These guidelines are designed to assist organizations receiving support in publicly acknowledging financial assistance received from the Department of Canadian Heritage. Their purpose is to ensure that acknowledgment and recognition of Government of Canada funding is communicated in an effective, coherent and consistent manner. For specific details regarding acknowledgment of funding, please refer to your grant or contribution agreement.

2. Why

As stated in your grant or contribution agreement, public acknowledgment is a condition when receiving financial assistance from the Government of Canada. This applies even when the funding received has been contributed indirectly (i.e., through a third-party organization).

Public acknowledgment shows how public funds are being spent, and raises public understanding of the cultural, social and economic benefits of agreements such as yours. When funded initiatives are successful, acknowledgment of government assistance can provide us with a valuable rationale to continue to support organizations in a tangible way.

3. When and Where to Acknowledge Canadian Heritage's Support

Recipient organizations should acknowledge this support in all their public activities and in documents related to a supported project. Activities include training sessions and workshops, as well as awareness-raising and promotion (lectures/speeches, press conferences, etc.). Documents include those for distribution to project participants, as well as those for information and promotion purposes.

Recipient organizations should refer to their grant or contribution agreement for program-specific requirements.

3.1 When to Acknowledge Canadian Heritage's Support

Once funding for a project has been approved, an organization has many opportunities to acknowledge the support it receives, including:

• at the public announcement, launch or conclusion of a project; and
• in media interviews or other media activities.

Even when the Minister or a representative of Canadian Heritage has publicly announced a project, the organization still needs to acknowledge the federal support in the course of the project and in related promotional activities. Organizations requiring assistance should notify their Canadian Heritage representative at least 14 days prior to holding any public activity.

3.2  Where to Acknowledge Canadian Heritage's Support

Recipient organizations must acknowledge this contribution in their project-related products, both material and electronic, including:

• advertising (print, television and radio advertising, outdoor and transit advertising, paid announcements);
• published material (news releases, bulletins, brochures, periodicals, books, booklets, leaflets, invitations, posters, public notices, electronic data);
• audio-visual productions and expositions (films, videotapes, videodiscs, PowerPoint presentations, Web sites, displays and exhibits);
• participant handbooks and guides; and
• certificates, awards and commemorative plaques.

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4. How to Acknowledge Canadian Heritage's Support

Organizations receiving support from Canadian Heritage must acknowledge it by way of a credit line accompanied by the Department's bilingual signature and the Canada wordmark.

4.1. Credit Lines and Signatures

To acknowledge support from Canadian Heritage, organizations must use the credit line which best corresponds to their situation whether support was provided in financial form or in another form and if there are contributors other than Canadian Heritage.

A text message, in both official languages, should accompany the Canada wordmark, as well as the Department's signature. A text message may be replaced where placement is not possible (e.g., a radio broadcast). Depending on the circumstances, here is a bilingual layout for use in printed materials and suggested wording for verbal announcements.

Order of the Official Languages in Signatures

(Source: Appendix A, Official Languages, from the Federal Identity Program Policy)

The signatures of federal institutions must appear in both official languages in a side-by-side format. The English or French signature appears on the left or on the right, depending of the situation, for example ".....when the nature of the material or the specific public for which it is intended would make the use of this format more appropriate.”

Suggested Credit Lines:

Visit our Signature and Wordmark page for specifications on displaying the Government of Canada signature and the Canada wordmark, along with high-resolution versions that you can download.

The Canada wordmark can be used as the sole identifier of federal support as long as the credit line makes reference to Canadian Heritage or to the Government of Canada.

If more than one federal department or agency has provided support, the Government of Canada signature and the Canada wordmark must be used.

Visit our Signature and Wordmark page for specifications on displaying the Canadian Heritage signature and the Canada wordmark, along with high-resolution versions that you can download.

Note: Government of Canada signatures may not be altered in any way, must be given equal prominence to those of similar contributors, and must appear as distinct elements in a reasonable amount of white space. Their use and placement must not convey the impression of government ownership. The inclusion of Government of Canada signatures and the Canada wordmark does not constitute an official endorsement of a project, an organization, its stances or its policies.

4.2. Ministerial Messages

Organizations sometimes present or take part in public events for which a program is published and in which free space is reserved for a message from the Minister responsible. The Department prepares these messages on request and provides them in camera-ready format. To arrange a message, please contact your representative or the office of the Minister well in advance of your publishing deadline.

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5. Contact Us

For general information, please contact the Canadian Heritage office, nearest you or our National Headquarters toll free.