Government of Canada Welcomes Grand Opening of Family Recreation Area at Village quebecois d'antan

DRUMMONDVILLE, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - June 17, 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 delighted with the completion of the major work carried out by Village québécois d'antan over the past year.

Minister Lebel, who was unable to attend the official opening ceremony, wanted to commend the management and board members on their vision in setting up this family recreation area on the site. "By creating a family area that includes, among others, a water play area and a restaurant corner, Village québécois d'antan will be able to increase its attraction potential and diversify its clientele."

On July 12, 2010, the Minister announced the granting of $600,000 in non-repayable funding for this project. This contribution has since been increased to $800,000. Operation of the new facility has resulted in the creation of nine seasonal jobs.

From its prime location on the bank of the Saint-François River, Village québécois d'antan features 75 authentic buildings that together recreate life as it would have been in a 19^th century Quebec village. Built more than 30 years ago and entirely restored in 2008 using ancestral techniques, the attraction showcases such aspects of the province's cultural heritage as its habits and customs, trades, folklore and traditional dress.

This funding from Canada Economic Development has been awarded under the Community Adjustment Fund, in the first phase of Canada's Economic Action Plan. For more on this plan, see www.actionplan.gc.ca

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