News Releases

February 9, 2022

The Manitoba government is providing $293,464 in funding to support 25 initiatives led by non-profit ethnocultural organizations, Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Andrew Smith announced today.

“Our continued support of ethnocultural groups is key to ensuring that Manitoba continues to be a vibrant, inclusive province,” said Smith. “Our government recognizes how much our multicultural community adds to the great quality of life of all citizens, so we are pleased to support these projects.”

The Ethnocultural Community Support Program (ECSP) is a grant program that supports non-profit ethnocultural organizations that provide programming including anti-racism, interfaith, multicultural and youth activities. 

Some of this year’s recipients include:

·       Iranian Community of Manitoba Inc. for Nowruz-Persian New Year, Persian Language School, and monthly senior and youth cultural social gatherings ($25,000);

·       Ethio-Canadian Cultural Academy Inc. for language training, school tutoring, live performance and drama training ($18,891);

·       Institute of Chinese Language, Culture and Arts for Cantonese and Mandarin heritage language classes for kindergarten to Grade 12 students ($10,100);

·       Manitoba Association of Filipino Teachers Inc. for Filipino heritage sharing and language teaching for adults, youth and children, as well as an anti-bullying intercultural arts and crafts project ($25,000);

·       Parents Contre le Racisme Inc. a francophone organization established to address racism and foster inclusivity among kindergarten to Grade 12 students ($13,660); and

·       Ukrainian Canadian Congress Manitoba Provincial Council for the Taras Shevchenko Month interactive education program, the 90th anniversary of Holodomor commemoration, a Ukrainian Independence Day celebration and the Kino Film Festival celebrating Ukrainian-Canadian filmmakers with an emphasis on Manitoba filmmakers ($19,925).

“We would like to thank the Government of Manitoba for supporting our application, which will be used to help organize events such as a memorial ceremony for the victims of Flight PS752 and celebration of Nowruz, the traditional Persian new year,” said Mohammad Jafari Jozani, president, Iranian Community of Manitoba Inc. “This fund will help ICM continue to promote, preserve and teach positive attributes of Iranian arts, language and culture.”

“This funding will assist the UCC to provide educational and commemorative events throughout the year that will benefit all the communities in Manitoba,” said Joan Lewandosky, president, Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Manitoba Provincial Council. “We are very grateful for the grant from the Ethnocultural Community Support Program and thank the province for supporting the ethnic communities in our diverse province.”

The ECSP focuses on projects that:

·       preserve, enhance, promote and share Manitoba’s rich and diverse cultural heritage;

·       encourage the development of partnerships between ethnocultural communities to foster intercultural understanding, harmony and equality;

·       support the retention of heritage languages in Manitoba;

·       promote anti-racism and successful inclusion; and

·       support multiculturalism values and the efforts of ethnocultural youth in communities.

For more information about the ECSP, including applications, visit:
www.gov.mb.ca/chc/multiculturalism/ecsp.html.

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED

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Backgrounder
Backgrounder-Ethnocultural Community Support Program - https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2021/BG-Ethnocultural_Community_Support_Program-SCH.pdf