News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

June 9, 2020

Manitoba Investing $750,000 for Heritage Resource Conservation Grants

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New Program Triples Province's Support for Heritage Sites: Minister

BRANDON—Manitoba Heritage Resource Conservation grants totalling $750,000 have been awarded to more than 80 projects from community groups, volunteer organizations and heritage organizations, Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Cathy Cox announced today.
 
“We are pleased to be able to invest in so many community projects right across our great province in the first round of funding that triples government support for Manitoba’s designated heritage sites,” Cox said. “We live, work and play in these wonderful structures every day and preserving pieces of our past becomes even more important as we encourage Manitobans to help keep our COVID-19 curve flat by staying within Manitoba and exploring the beauty right here in our own backyard. We need to maintain these historic structures to help future generations learn about our province’s rich and diverse history.”
 
Our Way Forward: Manitoba’s Culture Policy and Action Plan prioritizes supporting culture in communities and everyday life in addition to modernizing cultural funding programs. The Heritage Resource Conservation Trust was established in 2019 through a $15-million contribution to The Winnipeg Foundation. The annual resources from the endowment fund will ensure that heritage conservation projects are supported in perpetuity. 
 
One of the projects receiving funding is the historic Fraser Block in Brandon, with a grant totalling nearly $22,000 to help with repairs to the building, including the sandstone façade, the minister said. Built in 1890, the Fraser Block was one of the first substantial business buildings outside Winnipeg and it helped Brandon’s early advancement as a commercial centre. 
 
“We are thankful the Province of Manitoba recognizes the importance of preserving heritage buildings because these structures are a visible reminder of our collective past as Manitobans,” said Robyn Sneath, president of the Sneath Group. “By locating our business in a heritage building in Brandon's historic downtown, our goal is to create a unique destination experience for Manitobans, one that blends the past with the present.”  
 
The majority of program receiving investments through the Heritage Resource Conservation Trust target repairs and upgrades, but also include research and building assessments. Grants range from several hundred dollars up to $25,000, depending on the size and scope of the project. Additional projects will be announced in the coming weeks, the minister added.
 
The Heritage Resources Conservation Grant supports projects that demonstrate a commitment toward the conservation and long-term sustainability of heritage resources that are legally protected under The Heritage Resources Act. Categories for grant application include capital projects, research, conservation planning, education or training, and endowments.
 
For more information on this program, visit www.gov.mb.ca/chc/grants/heritage_hrcg.html.
 
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