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Equality East
Citizens Coalition |
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Media Centre - News Release
Orléans Chamber of Commerce joins Equality East’s chorus call for an
east end arts and culture facility Orléans, Ontario – The Equality East campaign for an east end arts centre has received a major boost with news that the Orléans Chamber of Commerce has signed onto the citizens coalition’s Declaration of Support. The announcement was made today by Chamber President Diane Boucher and Equality East Chair J.-F. Claude. The addition of the Chamber as a signatory brings the total to 58 organizations that have endorsed Equality East’s Declaration of Support, a community coalition unprecedented in the history of Ottawa’s east end. Also endorsing the Declaration are eight community associations, two sports organizations and 47 arts and culture groups. The Declaration calls on members of Ottawa City Council to commit a minimum of $8-million to establish a permanent, multifunctional community arts and cultural facility in Ottawa’s East District. “The Orléans Chamber of Commerce shares Equality East’s view that bringing more amenities to the Orléans-Cumberland area is both good for business and good for the community,” said Chamber President Diane Boucher. “An arts and culture facility would contribute to improving the quality of life in the east end, and thereby have a positive impact on our community’s economic development,” added Ms. Boucher. “Getting the business leaders onside was the missing piece of the puzzle we needed to clearly and unequivocally demonstrate to city officials that there is broad based support to move the east end arts facility project forward,” said Equality East Chair J.-F. Claude. “On behalf of Equality East, its members and supporters, I want to publicly thank Diane Boucher and the Board members of the Orléans Chamber of Commerce for stepping up at this critical juncture of our campaign,” added Mr. Claude. In recent weeks, Equality East has also been circulating a petition for individuals wishing to express their support for this overdue facility. To date, 1132 signatures have been gathered on the petition. The east end arts facility, a project first proposed to the City of Gloucester in 1988, has been identified as one of the Top 5 citywide recreational and cultural priorities in the City of Ottawa’s Facility Needs Study Phase II. Equality East will further make its case for the proposed arts centre in a presentation to the City of Ottawa’s Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee on December 11. The Orléans Chamber of Commerce, which represents over 130 businesses, promotes the economic, environmental and social well-being of the Orléans-Cumberland business community, acting as a focal point to the community and its members with regard to business, social and political issues. The Chamber also works with other east end community organizations and residents to ensure that Orléans continues to develop into a quality community in which to live, work and learn. Equality East, an independent, non-partisan citizens coalition, promotes public and private investment in the renewal and expansion of the east end community’s cultural, economic and social infrastructure. By building a broad-based coalition of existing community-based organizations and concerned citizens, Equality East aims to provide the east end with a stronger, more effective voice in civic affairs. - 30 - Source: Diane Boucher, President,
Orléans Chamber
of Commerce, (613) 830-9999 |