TIMMINS - Ontario's government is continuing to promote tourism in the province and supporting the francophone community in Timmins.
Today, Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, announced Centre culturel La Ronde is receiving $1 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to build a new, modern 12,000-square-foot building on the site of its former facility in downtown Timmins. The new facility will include a hall, kitchen, workshop space, meeting rooms and administrative office to meet the centre's programming and membership needs.
The centre will benefit Timmins' tourism sector by increasing the community's capacity to attract and host a variety of events, such as conferences, festivals, concerts and plays.
"Supporting cultural facilities in Northern Ontario benefits local economies and contributes to an improved quality of life for northerners," said Minister Rickford. "We are proud to support francophone culture here in Timmins and throughout our province."
"Centre culturel La Ronde has a mandate to promote, foster and inspire the French way of life within our community," said Ernest Plante, President, Centre culturel La Ronde. "It enables Francophones to meet and gather in one place in order to preserve and develop their identity through French activities and events."
The investment will create or retain 21 jobs at Centre culturel La Ronde.