Government of Canada Supports Universite de Moncton's Parlez-Vous Encore Francais? Project

MONCTON, NEW BRUNSWICK--(Marketwire - Feb. 25, 2011) - The Université de Moncton will have the support of the Government of Canada as it works to launch its website Parlez-vous encore francais? Funding for this unique project was announced today by the Honourable Percy Mockler, Senator (New Brunswick), on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

This funding will help the Université de Moncton create this interactive website, which not only provides a portal through which Canadians can discover and connect with virtual exhibits on French-Canadian language and culture, but also allows users to contribute to content development.

"Our Government is proud to be part of this innovative project that will help provide all Canadians with an interactive space where they can experience, express and share their culture," said Minister Moore. "The Parlez-vous encore français? site does just this by acting as a portal to information on the linguistic heritage of the French-Canadian community."

"Parlez-vous encore français? will provide Canadians with a means to access and contribute to the continuing development of French-Canadian culture," said Senator Mockler. "The Government of Canada is proud to support projects that make our rich cultural and artistic heritage accessible to Canadians where and when they want it."

"I am delighted by the commitment being shown by the Government of Canada toward the French language and its use online," said Yvon Fontaine, President of the Université de Moncton. "This project to highlight the lexical heritage of the French language will be carried out by our own Groupe des technologies de l'apprentissage, along with our partners at the National Film Board. It is primarily intended for young people, and we are counting on them to get their peers and Francophones across the country involved and help them discover the linguistic variation and richness of their language."

The Government of Canada has provided funding of $477,200 through the Canada Interactive Fund. The Fund supports the creation of online Canadian cultural interactive content and applications developed by official-language minority, Aboriginal, ethnocultural, and other not-for-profit cultural organizations. It seeks to support projects that enhance interactive digital cultural content and applications, presented originally and creatively using the latest technologies and platforms.

(This news release is available on the Internet at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Newsroom.)