NB 247
March 13, 2003
FREDERICTON (CNB) - The government will invest $2 million over the next two fiscal years to implement the New Brunswick 2004 Initiative. The announcement was made today by Tourism and Parks Minister Paul Robichaud, Minister responsible for La Francophonie.
The
assistance program for the New Brunswick 2004 Initiative is designed to encourage
all New Brunswickers to celebrate cultural diversity and the 400th
anniversary of the arrival of the first French settlers in North America.
Tourism and Parks Minister Paul Robichaud, 
(WMV) (WMA)
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"The New Brunswick 2004 Initiative will be an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of the past 400 years and to usher in the next 400 years," Robichaud said. "It will give us the opportunity to discover the cultural wealth of our neighbours and fellow citizens, be they from central, southern, northern, eastern, or western New Brunswick, from elsewhere in Canada, or from the United States."
The New Brunswick 2004 Initiative consists of five main components:
! The Communities and Municipalities component is by far the largest component of the provincial program. With a a budget of $800,000, this program is intended as an incentive to encourage municipalities and communities to organize activities to celebrate their heritage and cultural diversity.
! The Culture component is an investment in the exposure of emerging and professional New Brunswick artists. This component has a budget of $400,000, and is designed primarily to promote and disseminate cultural and heritage products in Canada and abroad in order to showcase the province's cultural diversity.
! The amount of $175,000 will be set aside for Education and Awareness. Since young people are our future, it is important to make them proud and aware of their heritage so they can pass this pride on to future generations.
! The fourth component addresses the Francophonie. With a budget of $125,000, this component will help New Brunswick affirm its leadership role in bilingualism in Canada. The Province will also seek to lead a campaign with other provinces to make the Francophone culture better known in the world.
! The Special Projects component will have a budget of $300,000 and will be used to develop and implement provincial projects, such as the commemorative activities in Bayside on June 26, 2004.
The Province is also working with the New Brunswick Community College - Campbellton and the Canadian Embassy in Paris to set up a forum addressing the integration of disadvantaged youth.
The forum will give disadvantaged young people the chance to make a greater contribution to the development of modern-day New Brunswick and Canada through cultural, historic, social, and economic activities.
"The year 1604 also marks the beginning of the Acadian epic and the meeting between the first French settlers and the Aboriginal peoples," Robichaud said. "The New Brunswick 2004 Initiative will also provide us with an opportunity to recognize the contribution and co-operation of the Aboriginal peoples, to rediscover the ties that were forged, and to showcase this rich culture."
More information on the 2004 Initiative can be found online at: http://www.gnb.ca, keyword: St. Croix.
03/03/13
MEDIA CONTACT: Michel Rivard, director, New Brunswick 2004 Initiative, 506-453-6838.
03/03/13