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The living history of the Cariboo region and Western Canada's gold rush era will be celebrated and commemorated, thanks to an investment from the Government of Canada. This was announced today by Richard Harris, Member of Parliament (Cariboo-Prince George), on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

With this funding, the Barkerville Heritage Trust will host a summer celebration in honour of the 150th anniversary of Barkerville and the beginning of the Cariboo gold rush in 1862. Visitors will be treated to a series of special activities, including music and theatre performances, storytelling, gold panning, and historical lectures. In addition, the town's vast collection of artifacts and photographs will be available for public viewing.

"Our Government received a strong mandate from Canadians to invest in organizations that enrich the cultural life of our communities," said Minister Moore. "By supporting the Barkerville Heritage Trust, our Government is delivering on its commitment to strengthen our economy and support our arts, culture, and heritage."

"Heritage sites such as Barkerville play an important part in sustaining the economic future of British Columbia," said Mr. Harris. "We are proud to help celebrate the sesquicentennial of this historic town and the Cariboo Gold Rush, an important milestone in our collective heritage."

"August 2012 officially marks the 150th anniversary of British Columbia's legendary Cariboo Gold Rush and the founding of the historic town of Barkerville," said James Douglas, Manager, Visitor Experiences. "We are pleased to have this opportunity to partner with the Government of Canada, as part of the Building Communities Through Arts and Culture program, to help make Discovery Day—our signature sesquicentennial event—a rousing success."

Barkerville is a provincially designated heritage site and a national historic site of Canada that is recognized internationally for its historic significance in the gold rush era. The town is operated by the Barkerville Heritage Trust, a non-profit charitable organization that works in conjunction with the Government of British Columbia to ensure that the site is efficiently managed.