COMMEMORATING SASKATCHEWAN'S HERITAGE IN THE CENTENNIAL

A new Centennial program to help celebrate and commemorate Saskatchewan's unique heritage is now accepting applications.

The Centennial Heritage Commemoration Program will help communities mark the province's Centennial by providing funding for lasting projects that commemorate Saskatchewan's heritage. Applications must be received by February 1st, 2005.

"Saskatchewan has a fascinating history, rich with culture and heritage," Culture, Youth and Recreation Minister Joan Beatty said. "This program will help Saskatchewan communities tell this story so that we, along with future generations, can appreciate the hard work, passion and commitment that went into building this great province."

The program is funded through the Community Initiatives Fund (CIF), which distributes a portion of casino profits to benefit Saskatchewan people and communities; the amount available for distribution through the program totals $300,000. Grants may cover up to 80 per cent of eligible project costs to a maximum of $2,000.

An adjudication committee formed by the Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society Inc. will review applications and, in turn, make recommendations to the CIF Board of Trustees, who will then make the final decisions.

"Many community-based organizations have, for years, worked tirelessly for the preservation of their local heritage," Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society Inc. Executive Director Finn Andersen said. "With the introduction of the Centennial Heritage Commemoration Program, these organizations will now have some much-needed financial support, enabling them to create a means of permanently recording their unique and interesting heritage."

"The Centennial is an opportunity for all of us to reflect upon our shared past, present and future," Beatty said. "The Centennial Heritage Commemoration Program will help us do that by helping create lasting legacies throughout the province."

In order to be eligible, applicants must be registered, non-profit corporations in existence for a minimum of one year. Possible projects can include, but are not limited to, historic markers like plaques and memorials, public art such as permanent murals and sculptures, and information resources like heritage tour guides.

For more information including criteria and application forms, visit the province's Centennial Web site at www.sask2005.ca or contact the Fund Administrator directly at (306) 780-9308.

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For More Information, Contact:

Janet Peters Culture, Youth and Recreation Regina Phone: (306) 787-4967