The federal government is providing more than $4 million to 22 French-language organizations in Saskatchewan to support community programming, cultural projects and access to services in French.
The funding was announced July 28 by Ginette Lavack, parliamentary secretary to the minister of Indigenous Services, on behalf of Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller.
More than $3.5 million will support organizational programming, while another $544,173 will fund community projects across the province.
The federal government says the investment will support French-language services, arts and culture, youth programming and efforts to preserve Saskatchewan’s Francophone heritage.
Battlefords organization receives funding
The Centre francophone BDS will receive $132,500 in programming funding, while the Centre francophone des Battleford will receive $75,000.
Other recipients include the Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise, the Association des parents fransaskois, the Conseil culturel fransaskois, the Fédération des francophones de Saskatoon and Francophone organizations in Regina, Moose Jaw, Gravelbourg, Prince Albert and Zenon Park.
The Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise will receive the largest programming allocation at $759,000.
Lavack said Saskatchewan’s Francophone organizations help welcome newcomers, support young people and create opportunities for people to live and participate in their communities in French.
“Investing in these organizations means investing in vibrant communities, cultural vitality and a stronger Saskatchewan for everyone,” she said in a release.
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Rural culture and history supported
Several projects will focus on preserving and promoting Francophone culture in rural Saskatchewan.
Les Auvergnois de Ponteix will receive $24,000 for an intergenerational oral history project, while the Société canadienne-française de Prince Albert will receive funding for projects featuring stories from seniors and rural Francophone communities.
The Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise will receive $149,000 over two years for work supporting the vitality of the Francophone community in Bellegarde.
French-language arts projects, youth games, theatre performances, children’s play groups and programs for French immersion students will also receive funding.
Rural Development Secretary of State Buckley Belanger said the French language has deep roots in Saskatchewan and the Fransaskois community has played an important role in the province’s history.
“Our government is proud to invest in the community organizations doing the important work of keeping French language and culture vibrant in cities and rural communities across Saskatchewan,” Belanger said.
Funding delivered through federal program
The money is being provided through the community life component of the federal Development of Official-Language Communities Program.
The program supports English- and French-speaking minority communities by helping organizations offer services, programming and cultural activities in their official language.
The investment includes $3.5 million in core programming funding, $384,362 for regular projects and $159,811 through the Community Cultural Action Fund.
The federal government says the funding is part of its broader Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-28, which represents an investment of more than $4.1 billion.