Government of Canada Supports the 21st Salon du Livre de Dieppe

DIEPPE, NEW BRUNSWICK--(Marketwire - March 11, 2011) - Once again this year, the Salon du livre de Dieppe (Dieppe Book Fair) will delight thousands of Canadian book lovers, thanks to an investment from the Government of Canada. Funding was announced today by the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

"Our Government is pleased to invest in book fairs such as this one and to support the growth of Canadian literature," said Minister Moore. "The Salon du livre de Dieppe contributes to the growth and development of Canada's book industry by promoting and celebrating our own authors and publishers."

Each year, the Salon du livre de Dieppe showcases approximately 300 publishers and 70 Francophone and French Acadian authors, and reaches more than 11,000 people.

"This support will allow the Salon to bring writers and readers together, while boosting the region's economic and cultural vitality," said Minister Ashfield. "It will be an ideal opportunity to discover the creativity and talent of local authors and share their passion for writing."

The Salon du livre de Dieppe is a not-for-profit organization that features and promotes the work of Acadian and Francophone authors from across Canada. Funding from the Government of Canada will be applied to the 21^st annual Salon, which will take place in the fall of 2011 and bring exhibitors, writers, and publishers together under one roof.

The Government of Canada has provided funding of $15,000 through the Canada Book Fund, whose principal objective is to ensure access to a diverse range of Canadian-authored books in Canada and abroad. The Fund seeks to achieve this objective by fostering a viable Canadian book industry that publishes and markets Canadian-authored books.

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