Harper Government Invests in the 150th Anniversary of the Historic Charlottetown Conference

CHARLOTTETOWN, April 12, 2013 /CNW/ - The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, and the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), today announced funding for Prince Edward Island 2014 Inc. and Confederation Centre of the Arts to support commemorations for the 150^th anniversary of the historic Charlottetown Conference. This investment will help Canadians enhance their knowledge of the important role the 1864 Charlottetown Conference played in the history of Canada.

"Our Government is proud to commemorate the 150^th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference so that Canadians from coast to coast to coast can better inform themselves of this significant milestone in the creation of Canada," said Minister Moore. "On the road to Canada's 150^th birthday in 2017, let us celebrate all of the things that make Canada the united, strong, and free country we are today."

"As Islanders, we have a lot to be proud of, and being the birthplace of Confederation is certainly one of them," said Minister Shea. "I am very proud that in addition to a memorable year of celebrations, our Government's support for the 150^th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference will also leave us with lasting infrastructure that will benefit Islanders for years to come."

"We are thrilled the Government of Canada will join with the Government of Prince Edward Island in providing support to help plan the Charlottetown Conference's 150^th anniversary celebrations," said John Horrelt, PEI 2014 Inc. board member and Community Advisory Chair. "We look forward to welcoming visitors from across the country in 2014 when we take the opportunity to celebrate the creation of our nation."

"Canada and Confederation Centre of the Arts are together celebrating two significant milestones in 2014—the 150^th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference, which led to the birth of the nation; and the 50^th anniversary of the large complex that is Canada's national memorial to the Fathers of Confederation and those important events that took place in 1864," said Jessie Inman, CEO of Confederation Centre. "We are extremely grateful for this funding for capital improvements to the Homburg Theatre, which helps to ensure that Confederation Centre will continue to honour the vision of our founders and strengthen our national identity, through leadership and excellence in heritage programming, and the visual and performing arts."

The Government of Canada has provided total funding of more than $6.1 million through two departments: the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Over $4 million is provided through the two programs of the Department of Canadian Heritage—the Commemorate Canada component of the Celebration and Commemoration Program and the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund—and more than $2 million from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. For more information, see the attached backgrounder.

BACKGROUNDER

In 2014, all Canadians will be invited to commemorate the 150^th anniversary of the historic Charlottetown Conference. It was at this conference that the idea of building a new country was first discussed among the Fathers of Confederation. That idea became a reality with the proclamation of the British North America Act and the birth of the Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867.

The Government of Canada is proud to invest in the anniversary of this important milestone in the history of Canada. Today's announcement includes the following investments:

To Prince Edward Island 2014 Inc.:

• More than $2 million from the Commemorate Canada component of Canadian Heritage's Celebration and Commemoration Program for the 150^th anniversary commemoration of the Charlottetown Conference.
• $161,250 from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency through its Business Development Program for marketing activities and the design and conceptual development of a celebration zone to highlight the Charlottetown Conference.

Prince Edward Island 2014 Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that leads the planning and execution of the 2014 celebrations. With this funding, it will also be able to undertake a nation wide tour as part of their 150^th anniversary celebrations of the Charlottetown Conference. This cross-country tour will be held with a performing arts production that will highlight Prince Edward Island's culture and the historic role played by the Conference.

To Confederation Centre of the Arts:

• Canadian Heritage will provide $2 million through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency will contribute $1.5 million from the Innovative Communities Fund and $352,500 from the Business Development Program. This funding will support the development of a state-of-the-art theatre pavilion. This project will help improve the Centre's capacity to offer performing arts and heritage programming that reflects Canada's creativity in time for the 150^th anniversary celebration of the 1864 Charlottetown Conference in 2014, as well as the Centre's 50^th anniversary. These investments will be instrumental in providing the necessary infrastructure to further develop cultural tourism in Prince Edward Island.

Confederation Centre of the Arts was founded in 1964 as Canada's national memorial to the Fathers of Confederation, who gathered at Province House in 1864 to discuss the creation of this country. The Fathers of Confederation Building Trust, a non-profit corporation with a national mandate and a nationally constituted Board of Trustees, operates the facility.

SOURCE: Canadian Heritage