SOREL-TRACY, Quebec, January 15, 2019
The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism, today announced funding of $400,000 over three years for the Centre des arts contemporains du Québec in Sorel-Tracy. The project will restore and redevelop the former customs office in the historic building, a symbol of the city's industrial heritage.
The major project, entitled "Coast to Coast … Our 375 Years," was developed to coincide with the 375th anniversary of the City of Sorel-Tracy in 2017. It consists in restoring and renovating one of the buildings on the former site of the Sincennes-McNaughton Line to transform it into an exhibit and promotional space that will encourage interaction between artists and citizens. The funding will provide local residents with an exhibition area, creative workshop space, training and education rooms, interpretation panels, among other features, which will highlight the history of the site and the municipality.
The funding is provided through the Legacy Fund component of the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program, administered by Canadian Heritage. The Legacy Fund supports community capital projects that commemorate a significant local historical event or personality, encourage citizen engagement, and promote public awareness of arts and heritage.
"The Government of Canada is proud to invest in commemorative projects that highlight important milestones in the history of our communities. Such projects leave a lasting artistic and cultural legacy. It's important to remember the places, personalities and events that have shaped our great country. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this project so far, particularly the City of Sorel-Tracy and the Centre des arts contemporains du Québec in Sorel-Tracy."
—The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism
"Le Centre des arts contemporains would like to thank the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Quebec Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy and the City of Sorel-Tracy for their contribution to this project, which will benefit our artists, artisans, citizens and cultural organizations. We are all proud of this redevelopment as it perfectly matches the values we uphold and the goals we have pursued for more than 35 years."
—Dominique Rolland, Founder and CEO, Centre des arts contemporains du Québec in Sorel-Tracy
"Located at the confluence of the Richelieu and the St. Lawrence rivers, Sorel-Tracy, founded in 1642, was a major player in the development of trade with the United States at the time when the Richelieu was the main north-south transportation route. The redevelopment of this part of our heritage will shed new light on Sorel-Tracy's footprint in Canadian history."
—Serge Péloquin, Mayor of Sorel-Tracy
Quick facts
The Centre des arts contemporains du Québec in Sorel-Tracy, a non-profit organization established in 1983, is dedicated to strengthening the community's cultural identity by encouraging creativity and participation in artistic activities. The organization has been a centre of artistic production and promotion for more than 30 years. Its mandate includes visual arts, crafts and new media; the expression of various cultures; the development and presentation of local talent (emerging and professional); and programming for the general public, especially young people and families.
Since 2017, $368,000 of $400,000 from the Legacy Fund of the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program has been disbursed to the Centre des arts contemporains du Québec in Sorel-Tracy. This contribution from the Legacy Fund is being applied to the expenses incurred in restoring and redeveloping the former customs office, particularly the costs of design and planning, purchasing and installation, materials and construction, and volunteer training and support, as well as a portion of the costs related to the project unveiling.
The Community Anniversaries component of the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program has provided $100,600 for Sorel-Tracy's 375th anniversary celebrations. In total, Canadian Heritage will have allocated $500,600 to mark this important anniversary.
The City of Sorel-Tracy is investing $730,000 in the project. It is the lead funder and principal partner of the Centre des arts contemporains du Québec in Sorel-Tracy.
