On behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament (Central Nova) announced funding for the Helen Creighton Folklore Society this week.
This funding will enable the Helen Creighton Folklore Society to present the second annual Halifax Harbour Sea Music Festival, a two-day event celebrating the music and stories of the area’s seafaring heritage. The festival will take place on September 4 and 5 at several venues in and around the Halifax area, including at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, on the Halifax–Dartmouth ferries, and at Sackville Landing on the Halifax Harbourfront. Time-honoured and contemporary music and long-established skills and stories that are part of the area’s seafaring tradition will be presented at concerts, workshops, demonstrations, and historical re-enactments.
“Our Government is pleased to support the important work of the Helen Creighton Folklore Society,” said Minister Moore. “Events like the Halifax Harbour Sea Music Festival make an enormous contribution to community spirit and to the economy. But most importantly, this festival tells the story of the sea and its influence on the colourful history of this area.”
“I am extremely proud of the legacy of my fellow Nova Scotian, Helen Creighton,” said MacKay. “Through the role of her namesake Society in this wonderful Maritime festival, local artists and artisans will have opportunities to share their talents with tourists and members of the community, as well as to increase awareness of Nova Scotia’s rich seafaring heritage.”
“The financial support from Canadian Heritage to the Halifax Harbour Sea Music festival will enable us to celebrate the maritime heritage of this community. This will help us showcase the musical traditions that are such a rich part of our cultural history,” said Clary Croft, Chair of the Helen Creighton Folklore Society.
The Helen Creighton Folklore Society is a local, incorporated, non-profit organization dedicated to the collection and preservation of the region’s traditional music and lore. Its efforts encourage and promote work that reflects the diverse folk culture of the area. The Society is named in honour of prominent Canadian folklorist Helen Creighton, who collected and published traditional music and lore of Maritime Canada.
The Government of Canada has provided funding of $5,200 through the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program provides Canadians with more opportunities to take part in activities that present local arts and culture and celebrate local history and heritage.
