Government of Canada Invests in Bonavista Peninsula’s Tourism Industry

TRINITY (N.L.) – JULY 18, 2011 – Several tourism destinations on the province’s Bonavista Peninsula will soon offer improved services and visitor experiences thanks to a significant investment by the Government of Canada. The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and La Francophonie, made the announcement today at a news conference in Trinity.

“Our government recognizes the significant economic impact of the cultural tourism industry in Atlantic Canada,” said Minister Valcourt. “The Bonavista Peninsula features some of the best tourism icons and experiences in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador – and investments in these projects help build valuable tourism infrastructure in the region, create jobs and supports the local economy.”

The Government of Canada is providing more than $2.6 million for six projects in the region.

Cape Random Trust Inc. is receiving $94,336 for improvements at the Random Passage site in New Bonaventure. The site is one of the most popular attractions on the Bonavista Peninsula, providing residents and visitors with a glimpse into what life may have been like in a 19th century Newfoundland fishing community. This project will help ensure the long-term sustainability of the site for visitors by carrying out improvements to site infrastructure, developing a new interpretive plan and carrying out marketing and branding activities.

The Trinity Historical Society will see the Parish Hall in Trinity restored as an additional performance space for Rising Tide Theatre. Various interior and exterior renovations will be completed including roof repairs, painting and replacing the building’s siding, replacing windows, as well as installing a new heating system, construction of a dressing room, and installation of a lighting and sound booth to better accommodate live theatre performances. ACOA is providing $155,134 toward these upgrades.

Additionally, the Trinity Historical Society will develop Fort Point as a new interpretive historic site in the area. ACOA’s investment of $106,527 in this project will be used to undertake various landscape and site improvements at the former military installation, such as new walking paths and boardwalks, upgrades to existing buildings, development of the light keeper’s residence as an interpretive centre, gift shop and convenience counter, and the addition of interpretive resources at the site.

The province’s iconic professional theatre company, Rising Tide Association, is receiving assistance to carry out several initiatives throughout the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons. The $330,000 investment from ACOA will support production of the Seasons in the Bight Theatre Festival over the next three years, promote partnerships with stakeholders and community organizations around the province, and will be used to purchase additional seating to increase capacity at the theatre facilities in Trinity.

The Town of Bonavista will see several improvements through a significant investment in the Bonavista Historic Townscape Foundation. ACOA is providing $1,499,792 to the Foundation to construct a pedestrian walkway to improve access to attractions and tourist sites in downtown Bonavista. The project will also include a sitting area, street lamps, viewing areas, and interpretive and directional signage. There will also be improvements to the Garrick Theatre, including new sound and lighting equipment, and renovations to the Annex to incorporate conference facilities.

An ACOA investment of $454,233 in College of the North Atlantic will provide tourism operators with the training and skills needed to offer world class experiences to visitors. The Bonavista Institute for Cultural Tourism, located at the College’s Bonavista campus, offers executive- level training programs for the tourism industry and is the only facility of its kind in Canada. ACOA funding will support the Institute’s initiatives over the next two years, help increase awareness and participation in programming, implement a marketing and stakeholder engagement plan, and enable the facility to assume a larger research and advocacy role for the cultural tourism industry.

ACOA’s investment in all six of these projects is being provided through the Agency’s Innovative Communities Fund, which focuses on initiatives that build capacity for sustainable economic growth and long-term employment in rural communities.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

Several tourist attractions and facilities around the Bonavista Peninsula will soon offer improved services and visitor experiences thanks to a significant investment by the Government of Canada. ACOA Minister Bernard Valcourt was in Trinity today, where he announced more than $2.6 million for six projects in the region.

The projects include improvements and enhanced programming at the popular Random Passage site, renovations to the Trinity Parish Hall to accommodate performances by Rising Tide Theatre, developing Fort Point as new interpretive historic site in the Trinity area, and supporting programming and initiatives of the Rising Tide Association throughout the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons.

ACOA funding will also support the construction of a pedestrian walkway to improve access to attractions and tourist sites in downtown Bonavista and upgrade the Garrick Theatre to offer additional services and amenities for its patrons. College of the North Atlantic’s Bonavista Institute for Cultural Tourism is also receiving assistance for programming and initiatives over the next two years.

All six projects are being funded through ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund (ICF), which focuses on initiatives that build capacity for sustainable economic growth and long- term employment in rural communities.

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INFORMATION:

Andrea Richer, Press Secretary
Office of Minister Valcourt
613-790-3637

Julie Afonso
Acting Director, Public Affairs and Analysis
ACOA Newfoundland and Labrador
709-772-2984

Jim Miller
Chair, Cape Random Trust Inc. Board of Directors
Project Coordinator, Trinity Historical Society
709-464-2233

Donna Butt
Artistic and Executive Director
Rising Tide Association
709-464-3232

David Bradley
Chair, Bonavista Historic Townscape Foundation
709-864-8232

Roger Hulan
Communications Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709-643-7938
roger.hulan@cna.nl.ca