$4.25 million for Cultural Capitals

Howdy!

Just in case you missed it, the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women has signed off on the 2007 Cultural Capitals of Canada Prizes. Basically, Edmonton has won $2 million so that they can have a poetry festival, some sort of event that appears to have been inspired by the Trans Siberian Orchestra, and an art walk. Some place called Comox Valley has won $750,000 so that they can produce a play musical, stick some old stuff in amber, and install a sculpture or two. Moose Jaw has won a cool $500,000 so that they can have an art exhibit (maybe by Roadsworth), put on a play, and sing some songs. Baie-Saint-Paul has also won $500,000. It seems that they at least have some moxie. They are going to be commissioning a symphony, broadcasting documentaries in store windows, and collectively getting the citizens of Baie Saint Paul to write a book. And finally, Wendake has also won $500,000 to hold a pow wow, and do other fun things. What I find most telling is that Laval, Longueuil, Montréal, and Saguenay all applied and all did not win.