March 3, 1998
(COOPERATION Agreement)

Sir William Coaker Heritage Foundation receives support

The efforts of the Sir William F. Coaker Heritage Foundation in Port Union to promote the preservation and wise use of the properties associated with the Coaker/Fisherman's Protective Union legacy will be given a boost with the receipt of $100,000 from the federal and provincial governments through the Canada-Newfoundland Strategic Regional Diversification Agreement.

Today's announcement was made by Fred Mifflin, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and by Beaton Tulk, Minister of Development and Rural Renewal.

The Heritage Foundation will conduct research interviews with original residents of Port Union to record a factual history of this important aspect of Newfoundland history and culture. The project will also include an engineering/architectural assessment of the stability of the factories/Advocate building, where the Fisherman's Advocate was published throughout most of the first half of this century.

"Sir William Coaker and his Fisherman's Union Trading Company represent an important aspect of our history and culture," said Minister Mifflin. "I am pleased these first steps are being taken to preserve the heritage of the Coaker era. There is significant potential to impact the tourism product offered along the Bonavista Peninsula as a result of this work."

Other tourism attractions in the region include the Bonavista Lighthouse and the Hiscock House in Trinity which now draw 10,000 - 15,000 visitors per year. From a regional perspective, tourism development in this area began in earnest in the 1970s when the Cape Bonavista Historic Site was established. Both federal and provincial governments have continued their support of the preservation of our history in that area by contributing to the refurbishment of other properties such as the Mockbeggar Property, the Bonavista Museum, the Ryan Premises and Lester Garland House.

"This community-based project is a credit to the Heritage Foundation," said Minister Tulk. "Documenting the past does more than preserve it, it also creates a marketing tool. Many visitors wish to learn about other culture and nothing does that better than a well-preserved past. The Bonavista Peninsula, with its rapidly growing list of world-class tourism attractions, is generating new wealth and creating new jobs through increased tourism and business opportunities."

The Strategic Regional Diversification Agreement is a 70:30 cost-shared agreement between the federal and provincial governments. The agreement is administered federally by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and provincially by the Department of Development and Rural Renewal.

Contact:

Paul Murphy, Cooperation Communications (709) 772-0219

Clifford Grinling, Department of Development and Rural Renewal (709) 729-7066