Government of Canada Supports 150th Anniversary Celebrations in Maynooth

MAYNOOTH, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 22, 2011) - Citizens of the Hamlet of Maynooth will celebrate their community's 150^th anniversary and commemorate the opening of its first post office with support from the Government of Canada. The funding was announced today by Daryl Kramp, Member of Parliament (Prince Edward–Hastings), on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

With this funding, the Maynooth Business Association will present a monthly sharing circle of local storytellers, oral history, photography, music, art, and artifacts from April 1 to October 31, 2011. The anniversary celebration will feature performances by 60 local artists, artisans and historical heritage performers. To commemorate the occasion, a memorial plaque will be erected and an interactive historical display cabinet will be installed in the community centre.

"Our Government is proud to support the commemoration of the 150^th anniversary of the birth of the Hamlet of Maynooth," said Minister Moore. "Historical celebrations such as this strengthen local pride and contribute to the economic vitality of the community."

"The Maynooth Business Association has planned a series of dynamic activities to mark the settlement of Maynooth and the opening of its first post office," said Mr. Kramp. "I congratulate and thank the many volunteers who collaborated on this project to bring the rich history of the community alive for the enjoyment of everyone."

"We are very appreciative of the Government of Canada's support of our 150^th birthday celebrations," said Joe Shulman, Maynooth Business Association Chair. "With this funding assistance, we look forward to leaving a legacy of our past for future reference in years to come."

The Government of Canada has provided funding of $18,600 through the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program provides Canadians with more opportunities to take part in activities that present local arts and culture and celebrate local history and heritage.

This news release is available on the Internet at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Newsroom.