Today, the Department of Canadian Heritage announced that it would provide stable funding to Canada’s leading national youth service program for 3 years starting in 2010 for a total investment of 45 million dollars. This decision follows several months of discussions between Canadian Heritage and senior Katimavik officials. For the last three years Katimavik had been operating on an annual funding basis.

“We are very pleased to have secured a long term partnership with the government of Canada,” says Jean-Guy Bigeau, Executive Director of Katimavik. “Such an investment in our national volunteer service program will help provide thousands of youth the opportunity to participate in a meaningful way to nation-building while providing useful community service in hundreds of communities across the country. Engaging youth in full time volunteer service can have a very profound effect especially in light of the current economic crisis. This funding will enable thousands of Canadians to benefit from Katimavik in the years ahead, Bigeau concluded.”