Morden Designated a Cultural Capital of Canada for 2008

MORDEN, Manitoba, June 27, 2007 – On behalf of the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, Brian Pallister, Member of Parliament for Portage-Lisgar, announced that Morden, Manitoba, has been designated one of the 2008 Cultural Capitals of Canada in the under 50 000 population category. Mr. Pallister is participating today in a celebration to highlight this important designation.

"Morden recognizes that arts and culture are important to making a community stronger by contributing to the economy and quality of life of its citizens," said Minister Oda. "Thanks to its special programming on the theme of Chautauqua Spirit, in 2008 Morden will offer both its community and visitors a year full of cultural discoveries, notably through a songwriting contest and the Back Forty Festival showcasing the richness and diversity of Aboriginal cultures."

"I’m extremely proud that Morden has received this prestigious award, which recognizes that arts and culture have a very special place in this beautiful part of our country," said Mr. Pallister. "Canada’s New Government is proud to support communities like Morden, which clearly demonstrate that the arts are not the sole domain of our large urban centres."

"The Town of Morden is honoured and excited to be named a 2008 Cultural Capital of Canada in the category of population under 50 000," said Morden Mayor Doug Wilson. "This prestigious award will give us the opportunity to showcase the community’s exceptionally talented people, as well as promote and invest more in our arts and culture. The fact that it will leave a positive legacy will be an added bonus."

The Cultural Capital of Canada designation is awarded for merit, which is determined by the quality of a candidate community’s proposed project as well as earlier achievements of that community which demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the arts and culture.

An independent advisory committee of experts in the field of arts and culture reviewed the applications and presented Minister Oda with unanimous recommendations on the communities chosen.

The funding provided helps support special projects celebrating the arts and culture and the amount varies according to the size of the municipality. With a population of under 50 000, Morden may be awarded up to $500,000. The funds will be used to create and produce a new performing arts festival, as well as four exterior murals to be painted by young people and artists from the community.

The other Cultural Capitals of Canada for 2008 are Surrey, British Columbia (in the over 125 000 population category); Nanaimo, British Columbia (in the 50 000 to 125 000 population category); and Sackville, New Brunswick (joining Morden in the under 50 000 population category).

All municipalities, as well as governments of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities can apply for this program. The application deadline for the 2010 Cultural Capitals of Canada designations is December 1, 2007. Applications for 2009 are now being evaluated.

For more information on the projects proposed by the 2008 Cultural Capitals, the funding they will receive, and the other municipalities that applied, please see the attached fact sheets. Names of past Cultural Capitals can be found on the Department of Canadian Heritage website at www.pch.gc.ca/progs/ccc/index_e.cfm.