Tourism, Culture and Recreation
August 29, 2008

Provincial Government Provides Funding to
Help Preserve Wonderful Grand Band Television Series

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today announced funding of $10,000 to help offset the costs associated with producing a DVD of the popular Newfoundland and Labrador television series Wonderful Grand Band (WGB), which ran from 1980 to 1984.

�Members of the Wonderful Grand Band are known as cultural icons across our province and country,� said Minister Jackman. �The television series they created was a milestone in Newfoundland and Labrador�s arts and entertainment industry, and this funding will help preserve the show�s legacy and cultural impact.�

The funding is being provided through the Cultural Economic Development Program (CEDP), and will be used to help recover, restore, digitize, transfer and archive the television series, which was written and performed by Greg Malone, Tommy Sexton, and the members of the Wonderful Grand Band.

Mary White, original manager and producer of the WGB, says that once initial work is complete, the project will move to phase two, which includes the reproduction and marketing of the DVDs.

�The popularity of the WGB television series is undiminished over the years and there are still many loyal followers and a great demand for the shows,� said Ms. White. �The Wonderful Grand Band is encouraged by the CEDP funding being provided, as it will help us preserve the tapes of this series for fans, for future generations of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and for the world. When the project is complete, we�ll have a big party, and everyone�s invited.�

The Wonderful Grand Band produced 42 TV shows, six national tours and two hit record albums. At the peak of the show�s success, it was the most popular ever evaluated on Canada�s national ratings system for any show, of any type, beating the evening news and other high profile American competition.

�WGB marked the beginning of marketing Newfoundland and Labrador�s brand of comedy to the rest of the country,� said Minister Jackman. �As a government, we are pleased to help with the preservation of this significant part of our cultural heritage.�

In 2006 the Provincial Government released Creative Newfoundland and Labrador � The Blueprint for Development and Investment in Culture, a strategic plan for the province�s cultural sector which includes a three-year investment of $17.6 million.

CEDP projects are selected on the basis of business plans, vision and potential for development within a specific sector. For more information on guidelines, please see www.tcr.gov.nl.ca/tcr/services_and_programs.htm

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Media contact:
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0928, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca

2008 08 29                              2:55 p.m.