Media Advisory: Minister to Attend Celebration of Diversity

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Education, will join students from Holy Heart of Mary Regional High School and St. Bonaventure’s College in a launch of the beCOMING Canada video series, produced by Passages to Canada, an initiative of Historica Canada. The event takes place tomorrow (Thursday, September 26) at The Rooms Theatre, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

“As a government, we recognize the importance of understanding who we are, and where we came from – both as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and as Canadians,” said Minister Jackman. “It is equally important that we celebrate the diversity which exists in our society today. The majority of our descendants arrived in this province, and in this country, from elsewhere in the world. Whether that arrival took place 400 years ago, or four years ago, it is crucial that we hear each other’s stories, and promote and support Canada’s shared history and values.”

The Provincial Government partners with Historica Canada on a number of initiatives, such as Encounters with Canada, which this year helped more than 200 students from this province attend a national youth forum in Ottawa.

Passages to Canada is a national storytelling initiative that offers volunteers from a range of ethno-cultural, religious and linguistic backgrounds the opportunity to share stories of their heritage and identity with schools and community groups. Visit www.historica-dominion.ca/content/programs/passages-canada to learn more about Passages to Canada.

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Media contact:
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca 

2013 09 25                                     2:40 p.m.