Attention News Editors:

Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman supports the CENTRES D'ACCUEIL HERITAGE campaign

    TORONTO, Sept. 24 /CNW/ - George Smitherman, Minister of Health and   
Long-Term Care, presented the Centres d'Accueil Héritage with a $45,000 cheque
towards the purchase of a new bus that will allow the Centres to offer more
services. The money will go toward the $100,000 needed to buy the bus.
    "Everyone can make a difference by supporting the Centres, which offer
services that are essential to the well-being of Francophones in Toronto",
said Minister Smitherman.
    The announcement was followed by the presentation of the Centres' new
van, purchased with a $42,800 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Through the Intervention and Assistance program, volunteers will use the van
to better serve the Centres' members by providing community transportation
regardless of age, disability or health problems. "The Ontario Trillium
Foundation is happy to support initiatives that grant greater autonomy to
people," said Lorraine Gandolfo, Area Manager, Province-Wide and Champlain, at
the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
    The Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Culture,
receives annually $100 million of government funding generated through
Ontario's charity casino initiative.
    The Centres d'Accueil Héritage were created in 1978 with the
determination of Simone Lanteigne. They provide numerous services to the
elderly and needy in Toronto's Francophone community.
    Visit the Centres' website at www.caheritage.org and join the generous
team of volunteers, donators and friends of the Centres. The Centres d'Accueil
Héritage are located at 33 Hahn Place.



For further information: Contact: Mr. Gérard Parent, General Manager, 
Centres d'Accueil Héritage, (416) 365-3350, ext.243, www.caheritage.org