The Manitoba government is providing $50,000 in one-time grant funding to support Festival du Voyageur’s safe occupancy of Fort Gibraltar project to ensure the annual festival can proceed.
“Festival du Voyageur is a flagship cultural heritage festival and our government is committed to supporting this inclusive celebration of francophone, Métis and First Nations history,” said Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister Glen Simard, minister responsible for francophone affairs. “This grant provides essential funding for required structural work that will allow the organization to safely host the 2024 edition of the festival.”
As part of the project, the minister noted the existing wooden walls surrounding the fort would be replaced with temporary fencing that would serve as a backdrop to art installations and cultural displays while necessary work continues on the site. The work responds to the engineering safety assessment conducted after a structural failure last May.
“Festival du Voyageur has been providing a unique cultural experience to Manitobans for over 50 years,” said Breanne Lavallée-Heckert, executive director, Festival du Voyageur. “The grant received from the Province of Manitoba will help to ensure the festival’s continuity and provides support towards a safe and secure site for festival 2024. From February 16 to 25, we look forward to welcoming festivalgoers in our warm tents filled with joie de vivre and our signature maple taffy.”
The work at Fort Gibraltar will continue into spring 2024 after the festival concludes, added the minister.
