Keeping History Alive – More Funding Provided For The Memory Project
Canadian veterans of the Secord World War and Korean War will be able to have their stories told for future generations, thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada. The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, today announced funding for the Historica-Dominion Institute’s Memory Project: Stories of the Korean War at an event held at HMCS York in Toronto. Minister Moore also announced an extension to the funding for the Institute’s Memory Project: Stories of the Second World War.
These projects aim to provide every living Canadian veteran who wants to share his or her memories with all Canadians—particularly teachers, students, and the general public—the opportunity to do so through an interactive and extensive website that will record and store first-hand accounts and memorabilia of individual Canadian veterans. As a result, future generations can learn about and understand what they did for their country.
“Every veteran who fought for Canada deserves to be able to share their stories, so all Canadians can remember their sacrifices,” said Minister Moore. “Our Government is proud to help our veterans tell their stories so they can be preserved for generations to come. These projects provide a unique opportunity to record this important chapter in our history from those who lived it. Knowing our history helps us understand where we came from and defines us as Canadians.”
In 2009, the Government of Canada announced funding for the Institute’s Memory Project: Stories of the Second World War through the Commemoration Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. The project creates a definitive record of Canada’s participation in the Second World War through thousands of first-person accounts by veterans. Stories of the Korean War is the continuation of that work.
The Government of Canada has provided funding of $938,850 for Stories of the Korean War and an additional $385,000 for Stories of the Second World War (bringing total government investment in that project to more than $3 million) through the Commemorate Canada component of the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Celebration and Commemoration Program. This component provides financial support to initiatives of national significance that commemorate various aspects of Canadian history.
