OSHAWA, ON.- On behalf of the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, Colin Carrie, Member of Parliament (Oshawa), today announced funding for the Robert McLaughlin Gallery. The funding will assist the Gallery in bringing the "Antoine Plamondon (1804-1895): Milestones of an Artistic Journey" exhibition to Oshawa, beginning in September 2006. This exhibition includes 43 paintings and drawings from the permanent collection of the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec.

"Canada's new government is pleased to support vital organizations like the Robert McLaughlin Gallery, which highlights the work of talented artists from across the country," said Minister Oda. "This bilingual exhibition celebrates a key figure of Quebec's art community in the 19th century and will provide Oshawa's citizens and visitors with an opportunity to learn more about one of the masters of Canadian art."

"This is an excellent opportunity for our community to appreciate and to celebrate Canadian diversity through the arts," said Mr. Carrie. "This particular exhibition highlights one of the many ways in which French Canadians have contributed to Canada's rich artistic and cultural heritage."

The exhibition includes some of the artist's previously unseen and recently restored works. It will be accompanied by a monograph on the artist's life, and the curator will give a lecture and mingle with the crowd. Local schools will be invited to participate in programming organized by the Gallery's education department.

Financial assistance of $5,100 is provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage through its Museums Assistance Program. This program provides funding to Canadian museums and related institutions for projects that foster excellence in museum activities and that facilitate access to the treasures of our collective heritage.