Governments must work to engage youth in the appreciation and preservation of heritage, Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour Minister Carolyn Bertram told her provincial and federal counterparts this week.
The Minister, who is responsible for culture and heritage in Prince Edward Island, met with federal, provincial, and territorial ministers last week to discuss the preservation of Canada’s historic places and support for the arts. Minister Bertram led a discussion on the engagement of youth in the Heritage Places Initiative. She challenged other ministers to recognize the importance of communicating heritage values to the youth of our country.
“The young people in schools today are the ones who will be making important decisions which affect society tomorrow,” she said. “If we do not demonstrate the importance of our past as one of the things our society treasures, we will have missed a great opportunity.”
The Minister outlined a number of the initiatives Prince Edward Island has taken with regard to heritage places and stressed the importance of a close collaboration between departments responsible for education and those responsible for culture and heritage. The province’s support for the heritage fairs initiative was given as an example of a program which had demonstrated considerable benefit.
Minister Bertram said she was pleased to have had the opportunity to meet other Ministers whose responsibilities included culture. “We have a lot to share and learn from one another and I was delighted in the interest from other jurisdictions in how we do things in our province. In many ways, our size is our strength. At the same time, we can learn much from what other areas are doing.”
The Moose Jaw meeting was hosted by the Government of Saskatchewan and was co-chaired by the Saskatchewan Minister of Culture, Youth and Recreation, Sandra Morin and Minister of Canadian Heritage, Josee Verner.
BACKGROUNDER
The meeting of Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for Culture and Heritage was held in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan September 6-7, 2007. The Ministers discussed many emerging issues, including the following.
Vancouver 2010 Olympics:
• Following a presentation on the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, the Ministers reiterated their support for the Games and expressed a desire that the Cultural Olympiad, held in conjunction with the Games, reflect the diversity and creativity of the nation.
• Last month Premier Ghiz signed a memorandum of understanding outlining the province’s support for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
• Government will work with the Vancouver Organizing Committee to explore the cultural, sport, tourism and economic opportunities which the games may present.
Cultural Tourism:
• The rising importance of cultural tourism was the subject of additional discussions of the ministers and they agreed to continue to foster the working relationship between the tourism and cultural sectors.
• Several provinces, including Prince Edward Island, have already developed programs and policies which benefit both sectors.