David Orazietti = BCBG

NEWS RELEASE

DAVID ORAZIETTI, BCBG

************************* Orazietti announces $33,600 for the Centre Francophone de Sault Ste. Marie

McGuinty government supports Francophone community

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON - The McGuinty government is supporting Francophones in Sault Ste. Marie with a $33,600 investment to hire a co-coordinator to implement the Franco-fiers project and help raise awareness and recruit additional Francophone members in the community David Orazietti, MPP announced today.

"I am pleased that our government is able to support the Francophone community and is helping an organization celebrate our cultural diversity in Sault Ste. Marie," said Orazietti. "Congratulations to the volunteers and board members who work hard to preserve their culture and celebrate it with the community.”

This investment is expected to increase memberships and enhance involvement in community celebrations.

The centre provides cultural, social, and recreational activities to promote and encourage French language activities in the French and English community, as well as any other ethnic community.

"We would like to take the opportunity to thank Mr. David Orazietti and The Ontario Trillium Foundation for funding our project. Franco-Fiers are very important to the French community at large. We look forward to having a more vibrant, healthy and strong community in the end, being able to share the French culture with pride. This would not have been possible without your support," said Mauricette Sist, president, Centre Francophone.

The centre is run by 15 volunteers, two part-time staff and eight board members and offers traditional Francophone cultural activities and celebrations, computer access, and the sale of French-language material.

There are approximately 3,000 Francophones in Sault Ste. Marie and 87 family members. Other McGuinty government initiatives through the Ontario Trillium Foundation total over $3.8 million dollars and include organizations such as:

- $60,000 Sault Ste. Marie Symphony Association.

- $109,500 Street Smart Solutions c\o CMHA.

- $80,000 Sault International Youth Association.

- $150,000 Vincent Place Inc.

- $67,000 Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie.

- $77,300 Soo Arena Association

- $451,800 ProtoLaunch Group c/o Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre.

- $120,000 Rebound North.

- $128,000 Habitat for Humanity.

- $75,000 ULERN Youth Science Forum II.

- $77,100 Biz Map Competition.

- $120,000 Bushplane Heritage Centre.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario.

The foundation supports the growth and vitality of communities across the province and continues to strengthen the capacity of the volunteer sector through investments in community-based initiatives.

For more information, please visit www.trilliumfoundation.org

*************************