Investing in Prince Edward Island's Acadian and Francophone Community
The Government of Canada is proud to fund, along with the Government of Prince Edward Island, a project to expand a school/community centre in Prince Edward Island
SUMMERSIDE, PE, March 14, 2019 /CNW/ - Canada's two official languages are an asset for all Canadians. They offer economic, social and cultural advantages. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the development of French- and English-speaking minority communities across the country.
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, along with the Honourable Wade MacLauchlan, Premier of Prince Edward Island, announced funding for a project that will provide access to an early childhood centre, French-language secondary education and improved community spaces. They were accompanied by Robert J. Morrissey, Member of Parliament (Egmont), and the Honourable Jordan Brown, Prince Edward Island Minister of Education, Early Learning and Culture.
Through the Support for community spaces ? infrastructure fund of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2018?2023, the Government of Canada is providing $3 million over three years to expand and renovate the community and shared spaces of Centre Belle-Alliance. The Government of Prince Edward Island is contributing $7.7 million for the construction and renovation of the centre. In addition, it will make it possible to provide secondary-level education in French and will support the expansion and renovation of shared spaces at École-sur-Mer.
The 20,000-square-foot expansion of École-sur-Mer will improve facilities for secondary students, such as classrooms, a shop room, cooking spaces, a student council room and a science lab, as well as a bigger gymnasium for students from kindergarten to secondary school. Centre Belle-Alliance, which also houses the Jardin des étoiles early childhood centre, will also be expanded. The meeting rooms, library, lounge, kitchen, reception and offices will also be renovated. The work is expected to be completed in 18 months.
While visiting the region, Minister Joly also announced $494,334 in funding for seven organizations in the province dedicated to preserving and promoting official-language minority communities. This support is being provided through the Official Languages Support Programs of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Quotes
"For generations, Francophones all across Canada have kept their language and culture alive and well. Our government knows that it's important for parents in minority communities to provide their children with an environment in which they can thrive in their own language and culture. That's why I'm so happy to announce funding for this school and community centre, which will contribute to the vitality of Prince Edward Island's Francophone community in the coming decades."
?The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie
"The portrait of Prince Edward Island would not be complete without the history and contributions of the Acadians and Francophones. Together, the government and the community share a common goal of promoting and contributing more to the development of the culture and French language of Acadians, Francophones and French-speaking Islanders. The provincial contribution to this major project will no doubt help realize the vision of a place for the community in the Summerside region to come together."
?The Honourable Wade MacLauchlan, Premier of Prince Edward Island
Quick Facts
The school/community centre in Summerside that houses École-sur-Mer and Centre Belle-Alliance was built in 2002. The expanded and renovated spaces will be ready for the start of the September 2020 school term.
The total cost of the project is $10.7 million. Under the Action Plan for Official Languages 2018?2023, the Government of Canada has earmarked a total of $3 million for the project over three years. The province of Prince Edward Island has set aside $7.7 million.
The Action Plan for Official Languages is providing an unprecedented $2.7 billion over five years, including $500 million in new funding, to support official-language minority communities and promote bilingualism across the country.
Seven organizations dedicated to preserving and promoting official-language minority communities in Prince Edward Island are sharing funding of $494,334 through Canadian Heritage's Official Languages Support Programs: Jeunesse Acadienne et francophone de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard, the Société Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin, Canadian Parents for French P.E.I., the Fédération culturelle de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard, Actions Femmes Île-du-Prince-Édouard, the Fédération des parents de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard and the Association des Francophones de l'âge d'or de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard.
The funding provided represents a 20-percent increase on the base funding announced last spring as part of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2018?2023: Investing in Our Future.
Associated Links
Action Plan for Official Languages 2018?2023: Investing in Our Future
Backgrounder
Organization | Project | Fiscal Year | Funding |
ACTIONS FEMMES Î.-P.-É. INC. | 2019?20 programming | 2019?20 | $30,500 |
ASSOCIATION DES FRANCOPHONES DE L'ÂGE D'OR DE L'ÎLE-DU-PRINCE-EDOUARD INC. (L') | 2018?20 programming | 2018?20 | $20,000 |
CANADIAN PARENTS FOR FRENCH P.E.I. LTD. | 2017?20 programming | 2017?20 | $44,880 |
FÉDÉRATION CULTURELLE DE L'ÎLE-DU-PRINCE-ÉDOUARD. (LA) | 2018?20 programming | 2018?20 | $19,600 |
FÉDÉRATION CULTURELLE DE L'ÎLE-DU-PRINCE-ÉDOUARD. (LA) | Monde du Cirque | 2018?19 | $50,000 |
FÉDÉRATION CULTURELLE DE L'ÎLE-DU-PRINCE-ÉDOUARD. (LA) | Frolic « Travailler, créer et fêter » | 2018?19 | $107,954 |
FÉDÉRATION DES PARENTS DE L'ÎLE-DU-PRINCE-ÉDOUARD INC. (LA) | 2017?20 programming | 2017?20 | $36,000 |
JEUNESSE ACADIENNE LTÉE | 2017?20 programming | 2017?20 | $26,000 |
SOCIÉTÉ SAINT-THOMAS-D'AQUIN (LA) | 2018?19 programming | 2018?19 | $159,400 |
SOURCE Canadian Heritage
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