For Immediate Release
July 13, 2007
John Baird Shows Support for Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest
Local MP Presents Cheque for $60,000 in Support of Local Festival
(OTTAWA) – At a backstage presentation yesterday, John Baird, Member of Parliament for Ottawa West–Nepean, announced $60,000 in funding for the Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest.
“The Bluesfest is a landmark cultural event for our great city and as a local Member of Parliament, I am proud that our Government is stepping up to the plate to support this event,” said Baird. “By supporting this festival our Government is once again demonstrating its commitment to the people of Ottawa.”
The Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest is an annual music festival encompassing a wide variety of genres from rock and jazz to blues and folk. The 14th year of the festival has a lineup of over 150 musicians on a variety of stages. Well-known and emerging local artists will be performing alongside headline performers.
“Each year, this event becomes more anticipated and further entrenched in Ottawa’s arts scene,” said Baird, also the federal Environment Minister. “Bluesfest plays an important role in promoting the cultural vitality of Ottawa and I am proud to be here supporting such a great local event on behalf of Canada’s New Government.”
Canada’s New Government has provided funding through the Arts Presentation Canada program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program seeks to give Canadians more access to direct experiences of the diversity and richness of Canada’s culture through professional arts festivals, presentations of live professional performances, and other artistic experiences.
Photo: John Baird, Member of Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean, meets with organizers of Ottawa Bluesfest and Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo before the Blue Rodeo performance on Thursday, July 12, 2007. John Baird, MP presented Bluesfest with $60,000 in funding through the Arts Presentation Canada Program run by the Department of Heritage.
Further information:
Office of John Baird, MP
Ottawa West-Nepean
613-996-0984
