$50,000 GRANT BOOSTS FRENCH FESTIVAL’S JOIE DE VIVRE

MAILLARDVILLE – Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts Stan Hagen presented a $50,000 grant to the city of Coquitlam and Le Festival du Bois on behalf of the Province for le Village de la Francophonie.

“In 2010, British Columbians will have the chance to celebrate with the province’s francophone community at Le Festival du Bois’ le Village de la Francophonie,” said Iain Black, MLA for Port Moody-Westwood. “This one-of-kind village will offer a social gathering place where visitors can celebrate, learn and experience French-Canadian traditions and customs.”

“British Columbia’s vibrant and dynamic French Canadian presence is proudly represented in Maillardville," said Harry Bloy, MLA for Burquitlam. “The Province is pleased to support Le Festival du Bois, which exhibits our province’s unique Francophone heritage.”

Le Village de la Francophonie in Maillardville, Coquitlam, the location for Festival du Bois’ main events in 2010, is expected to remembered as one of the many highlights of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

"Maillardville's history and the uniqueness of the francophone spirit are part of the cultural fibre of the City of Coquitlam,” said Mayor Maxine Wilson. “Our city invites everyone to come to Coquitlam’s Festival du Bois to enjoy French language, food and music. We look forward to the unique opportunity to host a special two-week edition of Le Festival du Bois in 2010 when B.C. welcomes the world to the Olympics."

"We are delighted to acknowledge receipt of this provincial grant to the city in support of our Festival du Bois celebration,” said Richard Soumis, president of La Société francophone de Maillardville. “The festival is a perfect opportunity to showcase our proud Franco-Columbian heritage and culture to the many visitors in 2010 who will be able to share the joie de vivre of our community."

This year, B.C. is celebrating BC150, the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Crown Colony of British Columbia in 1858. Every community in the province is invited to participate in this year-long celebration of B.C.’s cultural diversity, community strength and widespread achievement.

In 2009, Maillardville will celebrate its 100^th birthday as the first organized French village in British Columbia. Festival du Bois is the province’s premiere celebration of francophone music, dance, craft, food, heritage and culture organized by La Société francophone de Maillardville for the past 20 years.

The grant funding is provided under the Canada-British Columbia Cooperation Agreement on Official Languages.

For more information visit http://www.festivaldubois.ca/

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Media contact:	Victoria Klassen Communications Manager Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts 250 387-2799	Johanne Dumas Executive and Artistic Director Société francophone de Maillardville/ Festival du Bois 604 936-0039

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