News Release
January 21.2008

$750,000 for Coquitlam as 'Cultural Capital'

COQUITLAM – On behalf of the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, James Moore, Member of Parliament (Port Moody–Westwood–Port Coquitlam), today celebrated with Maxine Wilson, Mayor of Coquitlam, the city’s designation as a 2009 Cultural Capital of Canada. 

“The City of Coquitlam recognizes the role arts and culture play in improving citizens’ quality of life and economic development,” said Minister Verner. “Coquitlam has a vision and clear goals, which gives it the means to offer its citizens enriching and stimulating cultural experiences.” 

“I am delighted that Coquitlam is being recognized with this prestigious award,” said Mr. Moore. “The Government of Canada is proud to support municipalities such as Coquitlam that use arts and culture to improve the quality of life in their community.” 

“Being recognized as a Cultural Capital is a tremendous boost to our community, not only for the valuable funding to expand our cultural celebrations, but also for the validation that we are truly a multicultural community, which celebrates our residents’ many rich cultures and traditions,” said Mayor Wilson. “We’re extremely proud of the many cultural organizations who worked with us to highlight our cultural assets, and we look forward to moving ahead with new projects and to leveraging the opportunities to expand the festivals and programs offered in Coquitlam.” 

The Cultural Capital of Canada designation is awarded for merit, as determined by the quality of a proposed project and earlier achievements by the candidate community that demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the arts and culture.  

An independent advisory committee evaluated the candidate communities and made its recommendations to Minister Verner. The committee was composed of experts in the field of arts and culture and the mayors of the Cultural Capitals of Canada for 2007.  

Funding is provided to support special projects that celebrate the arts and culture. Amounts vary according to the size of the municipality. 

Municipalities with a population between 50,000 and 125,000, like Coquitlam, may be awarded up to $750,000. Coquitlam will launch its Intercultural Celebrations: Past, Present and Future project with this funding. This project will include hosting the “world’s largest block party,” a wide-ranging celebration organized as part of Canada Day festivities. 

The other Cultural Capitals for 2009 are Trois-Rivières, Quebec, in the greater than 125 000 population category; and Fredericton and Caraquet, New Brunswick, and Whistler, British Columbia, in the under 50 000 population category. 

For more information on the projects proposed by the 2009 Cultural Capitals, the funding they will obtain, and the other municipalities that applied, please see the attached backgrounder.  

The names of previous Cultural Capitals are posted on the Department of Canadian Heritage website at www.pch.gc.ca/progs/ccc/index_e.cfm

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For more information, email moorej0@parl.gc.ca or call 613.992.9650