Attention News Editors:

Canada's New Government Announces Support for Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre

    OWEN SOUND, ON, Aug. 11 /CNW/ - On behalf of the Honourable Beverley J.
Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, Larry Miller, Member
of Parliament (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound), today announced federal Government
support for the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre. This funding will
enable the Museum to digitize its military collection and make it available
online through a specially developed Web collections portal.
    "Canada's new Government is pleased to support organizations, like the
Bruce County Museum, that preserve and highlight important parts of our common
heritage," said Minister Oda. "The Museum's holdings, including uniforms,
medals, weapons, registration cards, battlefield maps, and soldiers' personal
letters, will now be made available to anyone seeking access to this unique
and valuable collection."
    "By putting this heritage collection online, more and more Canadians will
be able to learn important details about their history," said Mr. Miller.
"This large undertaking is of significant value not only to academics, but to
all Canadians who are interested in pre-Confederation and Canadian military
history. Photographing and digitizing the collection will improve access to
unique information for students, academics, and all Canadians."

    The Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre is a municipally operated
heritage institution. It has a mandate to promote and protect the history,
culture, and traditions of Bruce County. As the main source of information for
local history, the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre serves a county
population of 64,000 permanent and 29,000 seasonal residents who do not have
access to a large urban-centred or university-based library.
    Financial assistance of $20,300 is provided by the Department of Canadian
Heritage through its Museums Assistance Program. This program provides funding
to Canadian museums and related institutions for projects that foster
excellence in museum activities and that facilitate access to the treasures of
our collective heritage.

    (This news release is available on the Internet at
    www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Media Room.)

For further information: Nancy Heppner, Director of Communications,
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, (819)
997-7788; Anna Marie Young, Parliamentary Assistant, Office of the Member of
Parliament (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound), (613) 996-5191; Jaime Burke,
A/Communications Manager, Canadian Heritage, Ontario Region, (416) 973-2050