The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1957, Qupperneq 14

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THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Summer 1957
the aid of organizations, the ob-
jects of which are similar to any
objects of the Council;
(b) provide, through appropriate
organizations or otherwise, for
grants, scholarships or loans to
persons in Canada for study or
research in the arts, humanities
or social sciences in Canada or
elsewhere or to persons in other
countries for study or research in
such fields in Canada;
(c) make awards to persons in Can-
ada for outstanding accomplish-
ment in the arts, humanities or
social sciences;
(d) arrange for and sponsor exhibi-
tions, performances and publica-
tions of works in the arts, human-
ities or social sciences;
(e) exchange with other countries or
organizations or persons therein
knowledge and information re-
pecting the arts, humanities and
social sciences; and
(f) arrange for representation and
interpretation of Canadian arts,
humanities and social sciences in
other countries.
(2) The Governor in Council may as-
sign to the Council such functions
and duties in relation to the
United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organiz-
ation as he considers desirable.”
By virtue of the Act the Council has
a working capital of one hundred mil-
lion dollars; fifty million dollars to aid
university building over the next ten
years and fifty million dollars to be
invested on the advice of a special in-
vestment committee. The revenue
expected from this investment, estimat-
ed to be in the neighborhood of two
million dollars annually, will be used
to promote the arts, humanities and
social sciences leading to higher cultur-
al development of the nation.
The chairman of the Canada Coun-
cil is the Honourable Brooke Claxton,
former National defence minister,
and the vice-chairman is the Most Rev
erend George-Henri Levesque from
Laval University. The director is Dr
A. W. Trueman, former chairman of
the National Film Board and former
president of the Universities of Mani-
toba and New Brunswick. The as-
sociate director is Eugene Bussiere,
former direotor of the Citizenship
Branch of the Dept, of Citizenship
and Immigration. The Council is com-
posed of twenty-one members and all
the provinces are represented. The
Council will have its offices in Ot-
tawa and expects to meet three times
annually—in October, February and
May.
That an Act has been passed to as-
sist the development of the nation’s
culture through government grants is
indeed proof that those in authority
realize the existence of the talent of
a great young nation. The Act shows
a willingness on the part of the
representatives of the Canadian people,
to guide and foster the development
of that talent to the end result of a
distinctive national culture to be
admired by the rest of the world.
It seems only natural that an ethnic
group, as culture conscious as the Ice-
landicjCanadians, should be anxious
■to acquaint themselves thoroughly
with the procedure and accomplish-
ments of the Canada Council. May it
come to pass that those of Icelandic
descent will contribute generously in
talent to the nations further cultural
growth.
A. Isfeld