December 17, 1998
(COOPERATION AGREEMENT)

Gambo preparing for Confederation Anniversary

The Smallwood Era Development Corporation is working to enhance Gambo's role as an integral part of the 50th Anniversary of Confederation Celebrations. Through tourism infrastructure improvements and festival/event planning, Gambo is establishing itself as a tourism gateway to the Kittiwake Coast.

The corporation has received $437,150 from the Canada/Newfoundland Strategic Regional Diversification Agreement (SRDA), and $235,000 from Human Resources Development Canada to assist with this work.

The announcement was made today by Fred Mifflin, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), on behalf of Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Human Resources Development Canada; and by Tom Lush, MHA - Terra Nova, on behalf of John Efford, Minister of Development and Rural Renewal (Acting).

"Soiree '99 will be a celebration of the 50th anniversary of our province's entry into Confederation. We will celebrate not only our union with Canada, but the history, life, and times of Joseph R. Smallwood," said Minister Mifflin. "More than any other individual in the 20th century, Premier Smallwood played a pivotal role in shaping the Canadian federation as we know it. As the birthplace of this Father of Confederation, the town of Gambo is an important part of the celebrations. The initiatives being undertaken by the Smallwood Era Development Corporation are a fitting way to recognize this anniversary and his great legacy."

Various activities will be undertaken including: audio/visual and theatre systems will be added to the Smallwood Interpretation and Regional Information Centre; festival/event planning and marketing to coincide with Soiree '99 celebrations; and physical upgrades to the centre such as landscaping and improvements to the site signage.

"The Smallwood Era Development Corporation is to be congratulated on this initiative," said Tom Lush. "The project is a good example of a community group creating new employment opportunities through economic development. The tourism opportunities that this project will generate will create business opportunities in the private sector which will help revitalize rural Newfoundland."

A looped hiking trail, which will be linked to the Newfoundland T'Railway system of the Trans Canada Trail, will also be developed along the Gambo River. These initiatives will create 35 short-term jobs during the implementation period and are expected to generate 13 positions as a result of ongoing operations. Through its activities, the Smallwood Era Development Corporation is expected to generate 8,000 additional tourist visits to the Kittiwake Coast.

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 and provincially by the Department of Development and Rural Renewal.

HRDC's funding is through the Government of Canada's Transitional Jobs Fund (TJF). The fund promotes economic growth and employment in areas of high unemployment and assists regions throughout Canada to develop long-term sustainable employment in areas that have good prospects for future growth.

Media contact:

Randy Devine
ACOA
(709) 772-2935

Bonnie Pope
HRDC
(709) 772-5346

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

John Fisher
Smallwood Era Development Corporation
(709) 464-3240

1998 12 17                           12:30 p.m.