**GOVERNMENT OF CANADA NEWS RELEASE**

Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, announced funding for cultural and community projects in Francophone communities in Northern Ontario.
 
The Government of Canada is proud to invest more than $450,000 to the Centre culturel La Ronde in Timmins, which was destroyed following a fire in November 2015. The funding includes an investment of $196,875, through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, in the Centre culturel La Ronde to support the plan and design of its new facility in Timmins. The centre will also receive $216,000 over three years, through official languages support programs, to support its general programming. In addition, it will receive $42,000 over three years, through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund, to support its artistic programming.
 
“I congratulate the Francophone leaders of Timmins for their efforts to rebuild their cultural centre. Their dedication is a reflection of the resilience of this community. That is why I am pleased to announce funding for the Centre culturel La Ronde project, which will offer artistic and cultural programming to the community that will ensure its vitality for years to come.”
—The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie
 
The Centre culturel La Ronde supports and encourages the Francophone community in the Timmins region by organizing and offering community activities focused on cultural development and the strengthening of the Francophone identity.
 
In the past year, the Government of Canada has funded 98 official languages projects in Ontario. This represents a total investment of $98,313,722 in 2018–2019 in projects that support official-language minority communities and promote bilingualism.
 
Canadian Heritage supports a range of official languages funding programs. These programs promote the English and French languages in Canadian society, and encourage the development of Anglophone and Francophone communities in minority situations.
 
The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund supports the improvement of physical conditions for arts, heritage, culture and creative innovation, including creative hubs. The fund supports renovation and construction projects, the acquisition of specialized equipment, and feasibility studies related to cultural spaces.
 
The Canada Arts Presentation Fund provides financial assistance to organizations that professionally stage arts festivals or performing arts series.
The Action Plan for Official Languages proposes an unprecedented investment of $2.7 billion over five years, including $500 million in new funding, to support official-language minority communities and promote bilingualism across the country.

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