The Government of Canada Funds Italian-Canadian Educational Project

"The internment of Italian-Canadians during the Second World War had a lasting impact on the Italian community," Senator Di Nino said. "Through this project, the Italian-Canadian community will tell its story and demonstrate how it has overcome past events to contribute to the building of Canada."

Through the Community Historical Recognition Program (CHRP), the Columbus Centre will receive $916,827 for a 22-month project that will include:

--  A permanent exhibit of artefacts, photographs and other materials
    related to the internment and a wall of commemoration featuring the
    names of internees, to be housed at the Joseph D. Carrier Gallery at the
    Columbus Centre; 
--  A collection of recorded internment testimonials; 
--  An online inventory of materials and resources about the internment for
    students, researchers and educators. 

"As Canada's largest Italian-Canadian cultural centre, the Columbus Centre is an ideal home for the educational and commemorative information being collected through this project," said Nick Sgro, Chair of the Columbus Centre's Board of Governors. "We are very pleased that the Government of Canada is supporting this endeavour."

Announced in June 2006 by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and formally launched in May 2008 by Minister Kenney, the CHRP is a grants and contributions program that funds community commemorative and educational projects related to Canadian historical wartime measures and immigration restrictions. For more information about the program, please visit our website (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/multiculturalism/programs/community.asp).

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