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$172,240 IN FINANCIAL SUPPORT                      

Deputy Johanne Gonthier (Mégantic-Compton) and Assistant to the Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity announced in the name of Minister Christine St-Pierre (la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition feminine) and Minister Laurent Lessard (Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire) that the association Les Amis du Patrimoine de Saint-Venant-de-Paquette would receive financial aid of $172,240 for the realization of the second phase of restoration work on the old church which is being converted into a place of cultural diffusion.

The nature of this financing relates in particular to the restoration of the courtyard and the clapboard siding covering the front of the building. This neo-gothic-style building and its surroundings belong to the heritage site established in 2004, under the terms of la Loi sur les biens culturels (the law protecting cultural assets). The patrimonial value of the l'église Saint-Venant-de-Paquette rests on the architectural appeal as a place of worship and its historical and landscaping value. Other work is also being planned in order to bring this infrastructure into conformity with the current standards of the Building Code of Quebec. This restoration project falls under an effort to safeguard and restore heritage buildings.

"I am delighted that the government of Quebec recognizes the value of this heritage while taking part in the financing of its restoration in a substantial way. The church of Saint-Venant-de-Paquette, located in the middle of the Sentiers poétiques, represents a true national treasure. The community of Saint-Venant, as the tourists who visit the area, do not cease to be filled with wonder at the architectural and landscape beauty of this site. I want to underline the remarkable work by the Association Les Amis du Patrimoine de Saint-Venant-de-Paquette which has given new life to the site and allowed the church to become a popular community resource. The new vocation of the building contributes to the development of regional artists and represents a restructuring project which will benefit the entire MRC du Coaticook community," declared Deputy Johanne Gonthier.

The Ministry of Culture, Communications and the Feminine Condition (MCCCF) has allotted $82,240, under the Aid program for Fixed Assets (funding coming from the Funds for Quebecois cultural heritage) - for restoration work done on the church. This amount is added to a previously received subsidy of $166,320 for the first phase of the work. For its part, the Ministry for Municipal Affairs, Regions and Territorial Occupation (MAMROT) will be making a contribution of $90,000, under the terms of the Infrastructure Program for Quebec-Municipalities (PIQM) for work needed to bring the building up to current standards. This brings governmental assistance up to $172,240 for the second phase of work. Les Amis du Patrimoine de Saint-Venant-de-Paquette will also be expected to put in $90,000. The contribution of the MCCCF is to promote the conservation and development of cultural assets and territories, having a significantly patrimonial value.

Mrs Sylvie Cholette, in charge of the project for Les Amis du Patrimoine de Saint-Venant-de-Paquette, like Mayor Henri Pariseau (Municipality of Saint-Venant-de-Paquette, are very happy with the support offered by the government of Quebec toward restoring this heritage building for contributing to its development in addition to reinforcing the attraction and popularity of the municipality..

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Let us celebrate 50 years of support for Quebec culture!

The 50th birthday of the creation of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, today known as the Ministry of Culture, Communications and the Feminine Condition, represents a beautiful occasion to look at the long road we have traveled, all while turning toward the future. In five decades, the talent and the dynamism that characterizes our artists has experienced a most positive growing influence.