Canada Economic Development Renews Funding to Festival International des Rythmes du Monde

SAGUENAY, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - July 28, 2011) - The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, is proud to announce the awarding of $77,546 in non-repayable financial assistance to the Festival International des Rythmes du Monde (FIRM).

"For many years now, the Festival has been able to count on the financial support of the Government of Canada, which has enabled the event to grow in both visibility and success," commented the minister.

Now in its ninth season, the Festival International des Rythmes du Monde is a summer world music festival that has become a major tourist draw for the region. "This celebration of cultural diversity is an unparalleled opportunity for Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean to showcase its many charms for the rest of the world to see," he added.

This year's line-up, featuring some sixty free performances by more than 900 artists from over twenty different countries, promises to take the festival's thousands of visitors on a musical journey around the world.

On behalf of the FIRM board of directors and organizing team, Festival President Luc Vandal thanked Minister Lebel for this important funding from the Government of Canada. "Without this renewed support, our festival would never be able to develop to its full potential and continue generating the major economic spinoffs it does for the region. The steady rise in turnout from visitors from across Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec and beyond the province has been instrumental in securing this growth," he said.

Granted through Canada Economic Development's Community Diversification program, this assistance will serve for, among other things, promoting the Festival on domestic and foreign markets.

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