With Yarmouth’s Frost Park fountain in the background, the scent of sweet grass in the air and the sound of a Mi’kmaq drum and song, Canada’s cultural diversity was highlighted yesterday during a funding announcement.
Leland Surette, Aboriginal spiritual leader, performed a song before West Nova MP Colin Fraser announced $253,000 for six community projects in the riding as part of Canada’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
The Kespu’kwitk Métis Council was one of the funding recipients as was the Tri-County Women’s Centre, the Digby Disabilities Partnership Committee, the Fédération régionale des arts et du patrimoine de la Baie-Sainte-Marie and the West Dalhousie Community Hall Association.
Colin Fraser said he was pleased to announce the funding for the community-based projects.
“These are all community-driven organizations that have done an amazing job. It brings us together and makes us feel optimistic as a community and as a people and that’s what Canada 150 is all about.
Mayor Pam Mood said it’s exciting to hear this type of announcement.
We can continue to celebrate all that we are. The Indigenous community, all of those pieces,”
Yarmouth MLA Zach Churchill said Canada Day events celebrating the country’s diversity are made possible through local organizations like the ones which received funding.
“This is really exciting news. Our Member of Parliament Colin Fraser works hard all year round to make sure we get funding announcements like this in our area and they’re going to contribute to incredible events next weekend where we get to showcase our cultural diversity where a lot of local organizations will be able to really step up and put on a good celebration for this incredible birthday that we’re celebrating in this country. I’m looking forward to it. I think for going to have a really good summer. These are going to be really good events for tourists and locals.”
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–Fédération régionale des arts et du patrimoine de la Baie-Sainte-Marie: $50,000.
–Tri-County Women’s Centre: $37,300.
–Digby Disabilities Partnership Committee: $30,000.
–Kespu’kwitk Métis Council: $30,000.
–West Dalhousie Community Hall Association: $15,000.
These projects are in addition to Canada 150 funding of $90,700 previously announced last October for the Conseil acadien de Par-en-Bas.
