Government of Canada Grants $82,951 to Promote New Richmond Bluegrass Festival

NEW RICHMOND, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Aug. 22, 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, announces the awarding of $82,951 in non-repayable funding, spread over three years, to the Gaspesian British Heritage Village to promote the New Richmond Bluegrass Festival outside Quebec.

"The Government of Canada supports the commercialization of the New Richmond Bluegrass Festival, whose spin-offs benefit the Gaspesian economy," said Minister Lebel.

The Gaspesian British Heritage Village (Britville) showcases the history and culture of Gaspesians of British ancestry and their contribution to the development of the region. Since 2003, the Village has organized an annual bluegrass music festival that draws thousands of enthusiasts from the Maritimes and northeastern United States. The Bluegrass Festival is an important economic lever for the historical site and the community. This year, for the first time, the event will span seven days, from August 29 through September 4, 2011. Visitors will be treated to the sounds of folk and traditional music by local and international artists.

The funding announced today has been granted through the Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality Economic Development Initiative, in effect until March 31, 2013. This measure aims to foster the economic development of official-language minority communities (OLMCs) through a range of activities including innovation, entrepreneurship, partnership and economic diversification.

For this initiative, Canada Economic Development has been allocated an additional $10.2 million over five years to increase the activities it already undertakes in support of Quebec's English-speaking minority communities.

For more on the New Richmond Bluegrass Festival: www.newrichmondbluegrass.com.

Canada Economic Development is online at www.dec-ced.gc.ca. Subscribe to the Agency's press releases at http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/eng/media-room/mailing-list/list.html to keep up with the latest news.