CORNWALL- The Government of Canada is providing $75,000 over two years to the Association Canadienne Française de l’Ontario – Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry (ACFO-SDG) to support a youth-oriented culture and heritage project that celebrates 400 years of Francophone presence in Ontario.

The project’s goal is to grant 12 to 15 young Francophone people from the counties of Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry, Prescott and Russell the opportunity to take part in a special edition of the Just for Laughs Festival, which will have as its theme the 400th anniversary of French presence in Ontario.

“I am pleased to continue the great partnership established between the ACFO and the federal government. We have been able to promote bilingualism and culture in our community with their support, and this program provides another opportunity to build on our mutual goals.”

The announcement was made today by Guy Lauzon, Member of Parliament (Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry) and Pierre Lemieux, Member of Parliament (Glengarry–Prescott–Russell), on behalf of the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

The project’s goal is to grant 12 to 15 young Francophone people from the counties of Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry, Prescott and Russell the opportunity to take part in a special edition of the Just for Laughs Festival, which will have as its theme the 400th anniversary of French presence in Ontario.

The youth participants of this project will be expected to present comedy sketches they prepared following several workshops and training offered by the École nationale de l’humour and the Just for Laughs Festival.

This special edition of Just for Laughs will take place on May 28, 2015, at Aultsville Theatre in Cornwall. Professional Francophone comedians from Ontario will also be performing.

The ACFO-SDG supports the development and promotion of the Francophone community of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.