Drummondville, September 10, 2011 - The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture), and Marguerite Blais, Quebec Minister responsible for Seniors, on behalf of Christine St-Pierre, Minister of Culture, Communications and the Status of Women, today officially opened the Maison des arts Desjardins Drummondville. Francine Ruest Jutras, Mayor of Drummondville, was also present at this event.
“Our government is proud to take part in the inauguration of the Maison des arts Desjardins Drummondville and to contribute funding to cultural infrastructure projects that serve the interests of families in all ofQuebec’s regions,” said Minister Paradis. “The Government of Canada remains true to its commitment to strengthen the local economy, create jobs and improve infrastructure, for the benefit ofQuebec’s regions in the years to come.”
“The Centre culturel will now be known as the Maison des arts Desjardins Drummondville. It will remain a meeting place for citizens who want to become familiar with the arts and will allow the creation of great opportunities for exchanges between disciplines. This project is another wonderful example that demonstrates how culture can strengthen the sense of belonging in our communities,” said Minister Marguerite Blais.
This 2,422 square metre expansion project allowed the area of the building to be increased by a third of its size. The main focus of the renovation project was to improve the facility for the five cultural organizations it houses: the schools of dance and music, the symphony orchestra, the art gallery and the auditorium. Specifically, the auditorium stage was enlarged and some box seats were added. Also, a new art gallery, along with a rehearsal studio, was installed on the ground floor, and the lobby was refit.
Government representatives took the opportunity to recognize the joint contribution that the governments ofCanadaandQuebecmade in 2010 of up to $12.5 million for this project. The City ofDrummondvillealso made a financial contribution to the project.
The Government of Canada’s contribution of up to $6.2 million comes from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan announced in the January 2009 budget. On December 2, 2010, the Government of Canada announced a deadline extension for the construction of infrastructure projects under Canada’s Economic Action Plan.
The contribution of nearly $6.3 million for this project from the Department of Culture, Communications and the Status of Women was provided under the Plan québécois des infrastructures, which was announced by the Government of Quebec in the fall of 2007. It should be noted that the cultural component of the Plan will total $1.2 billion in investments. With the contributions of partners, it should generate an estimated total investment of more than $2 billion. These new funds will allow the Department to accommodate a greater number of projects under its current programs and contribute more specifically, as with the investment announced today, to raising the profiles of cities and regions throughoutQuebec.
Since 2009, federal funding of over $908 million has been committed to 938 projects under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund inQuebec; most of these projects have been or are almost completed.
Additional information
For more information on infrastructure investments, visit the following Web sites www.creatingjobs.gc.ca and www.infrastructures.gouv.qc.ca.
For more information on the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
Contacts:
Pierre Floréa
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Marie-Ève Morneau
Press Secretary
Office of the responsible for Seniors
418 646-7757
InfrastructureCanada
613-948-1148
1-877-250-7154 (toll free)
