Government of Canada Funds Fairbairn House Tourism Project

LA PÊCHE, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - April 20, 2012) - The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, announce that the Maison Fairbairn House Solidarity Cooperative has been granted funding.

"By supporting Maison Fairbairn House Solidarity Cooperative's project, the Government of Canada is once again demonstrating its commitment to promoting the development of tourism, a sector that benefits the economy," mentioned Minister Lebel.

"Our Government received a strong mandate from Canadians to invest in projects that highlight the history and heritage of our communities," said Minister Moore. "By supporting Fairbairn House, our Government is delivering on its commitment to strengthen our economy and support our arts, culture, and heritage."

This project involves the creation of a new interpretation centre on the history of social and economic development in the Wakefield / La Pêche area and the importance of the forest industry in the 19^th and 20^th centuries. The centre will be lodged in the Fairbairn House, built in 1860 by William Fairbairn who also constructed the Wakefield Mill.

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The contribution announced today amounts to $175,000, of which $105,000 has been granted in non-repayable funding through Canada Economic Development's Linguistic Duality Economic Development Initiative. Canadian Heritage is providing funding of $70,000 through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund. This program seeks to improve physical conditions for artistic creativity and arts presentation or exhibition. It is also designed to increase access for Canadians to performing, visual, and media arts, and to museum collections and heritage displays.

Keep up with the latest news from Canada Economic Development by visiting www.dec-ced.gc.ca or subscribing to @CanEconDev on Twitter.

This news release is also posted on the Internet at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Newsroom.