The Government of Canada supports the construction of the Pickering Heritage & Community Centre

“Our government knows that investments in arts and culture help build vibrant and connected communities. By supporting the construction of new cultural infrastructure like the Pickering Heritage & Community Centre, we are ensuring the preservation of cultural collections and local heritage of communities for future generations.”

—The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage

“Today’s announcement marks an important investment in the history and culture of our community. Like many who grew up in this community, I have fond memories from when I visited the Pickering Museum Village for school trips with classmates and friends. The programs it offered and the historical collections it housed were an informative and important part of my childhood. The funding announced today will ensure that future generations will have the same access to a fun and interactive education program highlighting our community’s history through a vibrant artistic and cultural experience.”

— Jennifer O’Connell, Member of Parliament (Pickering-Uxbridge)

“The Pickering Museum Village is one of the pillars of our arts, culture, and heritage landscape. Through the generous support of the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, the new Heritage & Community Centre will enhance our ability to both preserve and promote Pickering’s rich and vibrant history for the benefit of a new generation of youth, students, and visitors.”

— Dave Ryan, Mayor of Pickering

• 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. Since its creation in 2001, the fund has supported more than 1,000 projects, including spaces for performing arts, visual arts, media arts, museum collections, heritage displays, and creative hubs.

• Budget 2017 included $300 million over 10 years for the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund to help support the development of Canadian talent and promote entrepreneurship in the arts and cultural communities. These investments help create jobs, boost economic activity, strengthen communities and celebrate Canada’s rich cultural heritage.

• The City of Pickering owns and operates the Pickering Museum Village, which features 19 heritage buildings, and acts as a living history museum with costumed interpreters. The museum attracts 10,000 to 12,500 visitors yearly (the vast majority of which are students) through a variety of public programs including workshops, events and exhibitions. The museum’s mandate it to collect and preserve the material culture of the area and develop heritage programs customized to the needs of the community.

Associated links

• Canada Cultural Spaces Fund
• Pickering Museum Village

For more information (media only), please contact:

Camille Gagné-Raynauld
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
819-997-7788

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
pch.media-media.pch@canada.ca