Canada and Quebec support renovation of the old Convent of Deschambault

DESCHAMBAULT-GRONDINES, QC, Aug. 2, 2018 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and Quebec recognize that cultural infrastructure plays a key role in developing dynamic communities and promoting Canadian and Quebec heritage.

Joël Lightbound, Member of Parliament for Louis-Hébert and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, and Michel Matte, Member of the National Assembly for Portneuf, today announced that the governments of Canada and Quebec will each invest more than $407,000 to renovate and restore the old Convent of Deschambault.

This financial support comes from the New Building Canada Fund, Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component—Small Communities Fund. The Municipality of Deschambault‑Grondines will also invest over $407,000 for this project, bringing the total government and municipal investment to over $1.2 million.

The work, which will be carried out on the roof and on certain parts of the facade, will help preserve the old Convent of Deschambault, which is recognized as a heritage property under the Quebec Cultural Heritage Act. This building will house non-profit organizations that serve local residents, such as the École de musique Denys-Arcand and the municipal library.

Quotes

"Investments in cultural infrastructure help build strong communities and support local economic growth. The restoration of the old Convent of Deschambault will protect and showcase an aspect of the Capitale-Nationale region's cultural heritage. Once completed, this project will offer an environment better suited to the needs of the non-profit organizations that occupy this building and provide services to residents."

Joël Lightbound, Member of Parliament for Louis-Hébert and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"The old convent is more than a recognized heritage property. It also plays an important role in the cultural life of Deschambault-Grondines residents. I would also like to thank the municipality, which, through this work, is contributing to the protection and promotion of our collective heritage. This is all the more commendable because it's giving residents better access to culture, a key objective of Quebec's new cultural policy and the government's 2018-2023 cultural action plan."

Michel Matte, Member of the National Assembly for Portneuf, on behalf of Marie Montpetit, Minister of Culture and Communications and Minister Responsible for the Protection and Promotion of the French Language

"This is excellent news for Deschambault-Grondines. This investment will ensure the future of an important building from both a heritage and a community perspective. It has been a place for knowledge transfer and musical creation since the 19th century. It all began with music taught by the Sisters of Charity and continues today with the École de musique Denys-Arcand, which fulfils this mission with great enthusiasm."  

Gaston Arcand, Mayor of Deschambault-Grondines

Quick Facts

• The Small Communities Fund is a federal‒provincial program coordinated by Infrastructure Canada in partnership with the provinces and territories. In Quebec, the Fund is administered by the Quebec Department of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy. The goal of this program is to provide financial support to Canadian municipalities with fewer than 100,000 residents to develop infrastructure that enhance their cultural, sports, recreational, and tourism assets or safeguard public assets.
• The Government of Canada will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities. $25.3 billion of this funding will support social infrastructure in Canadian communities.
• Quebec's 2018-2028 Infrastructure Plan calls for nearly $7.3 billion in investments in municipal infrastructure under the Quebec Department of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy. When combined with contributions from the Government of Canada and municipalities, this means over $14.3 billion will be invested in municipal infrastructure in Quebec over this period.

Associated Links

Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/about-invest-apropos-eng.html

Federal investments in infrastructure projects in Quebec:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/index-eng.html

Quebec cultural heritage directory:
http://www.patrimoine-culturel.gouv.qc.ca/rpcq/detail.do?methode=consulter&id=196967&type=bien

Twitter: @INFC_eng 
Website: Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

Sources: Kate Monfette, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Tel.: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]; Mathieu Larouche, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Culture and Communications and Minister Responsible for the Protection and Promotion of the French Language, Tel.: [phone]; For information: Infrastructure Canada, Tel.: 613‑960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]; Media Relations Team, Communications Branch, Quebec Department of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy and the Department of Public Safety, Tel.: [phone], ext. 3746

Related Links

http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/