WINNIPEG, March 17, 2022

Today, in celebration of the Month of La Francophonie, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, along with the Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Member of Parliament (Saint Boniface–Saint Vital), announced funding for the Festival du Voyageur, the largest Francophone event in Western Canada.

The Government of Canada’s investment of $107,500 will build on the Festival’s vision to share and celebrate the culture and historical significance of the Métis in Manitoba. In partnership with the Union nationale métisse Saint-Joseph du Manitoba, the Festival du Voyageur will continue to highlight Métis culture in a Francophone environment during their annual festival and throughout the year with traditional workshops, panel discussions and special events at Fort Gibraltar.

In 2019, Canadian Heritage provided $94,750 in funding over two years for the first phase of the project that included establishing partnerships with First Nations and Métis individuals and groups and seeking recommendations on developing appropriate heritage and cultural programming reflective of the perspectives of Indigenous Peoples.

This renewed funding (2021–2023) is provided through the Cooperation with the Community Sector sub-component of the Development of Official Language Communities Program.