October 22, 1998
(Development and Rural Renewal)

Bird Cove area builds on its past

One of the oldest archaeological sites in Newfoundland is helping to form the future of the Northern Peninsula. The Big Droke Pre-Historic Cultures Foundation received an investment of $96,800 from the Canada/Newfoundland Strategic Regional Diversification Agreement to enhance the archaeological activities at Bird Cove.

The announcement was made by Gerry Byrne, MP Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte, on behalf of Fred Mifflin, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and Beaton Tulk, Minister of Development and Rural Renewal.

"The Government of Canada, through ACOA, has been working along the Great Northern Peninsula for a number of years to establish it as a world-class tourism destination," said Byrne. "This project is an integral component of the Viking Trail Tourism Accord as well as the Red Ochre Regional Development Board's Strategic Economic Plan for the region. It is another example of how we can use our natural resources and heritage to build a high-quality, must-see tourism product."

This project involved the addition of visitor structures and services including a boardwalk to the sites at Bird Cove, exhibit showcases and interpretation development in the already restored Interpretation Centre, parking area extension, and the retention of a qualified archaeologist to oversee the project and archaeology work at the site. It created 15 short term positions.

"The staff of my department's Port Saunders office have provided assistance to this project since its inception, which helps the community in a number of ways," said Minister Tulk. "Cultural tourism diversifies our tourism industry and attracts a new breed of tourist who come here to enrich their knowledge of other cultures. Catering to their needs provides new business opportunitites. In addition, this community-based archaeological project provides useful training and employment skills for local residents."

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

Media contact:

Randy Devine                                    Clifford Grinling                         
ACOA                                               Development and Rural Renewal
(709) 772-2935                                 (709) 729-7006

1998 10 22                                          11:45 a.m.