Support for Halifax's 2006 Juno Awards Announced

TOURISM, CULTURE AND HERITAGE--Support for Halifax's 2006 Juno Awards Announced

Nova Scotia is gearing up to showcase its world-class music, culture and hospitality when the biggest music show in Canada comes to Halifax in 2006.

Tourism, Culture and Heritage Minister Rodney MacDonald announced today, April 8, the province is contributing $200,000 to support the 2006 Juno Awards, which will take place in Halifax.

"The Junos provide an excellent opportunity to showcase the talent of our artists to Canadians and people around the world," said Mr. MacDonald. "The awards show is watched by more than 1.5 million Canadians, so it also gives us a chance to widely promote Nova Scotia as a premiere cultural and vacation destination."

The 2006 Junos are expected to generate significant economic spinoffs for the province. It also will attract many visitors -- including hundreds of music industry representatives from across Canada -- to the province in early April.

For the past several years, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences has been taking the awards show to various Canadian cities. Mr. MacDonald congratulated Events Halifax -- whose mandate is to seek out major cultural and sports events for the city -- for spearheading the successful effort to attract the Junos to Nova Scotia.

"We are very pleased that the province has made a commitment to be one of our national partners for the 2006 Juno Awards hosted by the city of Halifax next year," said Melanie Barrie, president of the academy. "Nova Scotia will join our other national partners including FACTOR and the government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage's Canada Music Fund, Halifax Regional Municipality, and Events Halifax. We look forward to the best music celebration Nova Scotia has ever seen!"

Scheduled for March 31 to April 2, 2006, the event will encompass Junofest, an awards ceremony and dinner, and a nationally televised gala awards show. The event will be complemented by a music festival at various locations around Halifax featuring local talent and artists from other parts of Atlantic Canada.

More information on the awards is available on the website at www.juno-awards.ca .