segunda-feira, 29 de junho de 1998

CREOULA PROJECT CELEBRATES 500 YEAR-OLD RELATIONSHIP

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

«This summer 100 young people will travel across the Atlantic as part of Expo '98 in one of the last remaining ships from the historic Portugese White Fleet. The Creoula voyage will celebrate Newfoundland and Labrador's heritage connections to Portugal and forge new ties across the Atlantic.

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) are providing financial assistance to the commemorative voyage.

The Honourable Fred J. Mifflin, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State for ACOA, on behalf of the Honourable Pierre S. Pettigrew, Minister of Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) announced today funding for the Creoula project in the amount of $10,000 (ACOA) and $72,000 (HRDC).

Minister Mifflin is in Portugal participating in a Team Canada event at Expo '98, a world forum and showcase with the theme "Oceans: A Heritage for the Future." Minister Mifflin toured the Creoula, which was on display at the Expo site, with Patricia Marsden-Dole, Canadian Ambassador to Portugal. "One of the purposes of this summer's voyage is to educate young Canadians about their cultural heritage and to exchange that kind of information with youth in Portugal", said Minister Mifflin. "At the same time, the youths will learn basic seamanship, safety and team building skills."

The Creoula is now used as a sea training ship. It will leave Aveiro, Portugal, early in August and will sail to St. John's with 25 Canadian and 25 Portugese youth aboard as working passengers. Later in the summer the ship will return to Portugal providing an experience for an additional 50 youth from both countries. Most of the 50 Canadian youth are from Newfoundland. All 100 youth are the children of families from both countries who fished the Grand Banks. The youth will take part in Expo '98 events in Lisbon before they leave Portugal.

"The project fosters links between the Marine Institute of Memorial University and the University of Aveiro in Portugal," said Minister Pettigrew. "The Marine Institute is training the Canadian youth in seamanship and marine safety in preparation for the voyage. It is important that we build connections like this while giving some of Canada's young people an opportunity to learn new skills that will help them in their future careers."

The Creoula project is being organized by The Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. For more information, contact: Randy Devine, ACOA (Tel: 709 772-2935) or David Earles, HRDC (Tel: 709 772-5346).»

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