August 25, 1999
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

U.S. production company films documentary at L'Anse aux Meadows

Charles Furey, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, is pleased that Ward Television Corporation in partnership with the Smithsonian Institute, will be visiting the province next week to film a documentary based on the life of Leif Ericsson.

"Ward Television is a production company based out of Washington, D.C., and is one of the most respected and prolific producers of documentary programming in the United States," said Furey. "That they and the prestigious Smithsonian Institute, have chosen to come to L'Anse aux Meadows to document the life of Leif Ericsson, is a fantastic testament to the great historical significance of the Viking saga."

Next year, Newfoundland and Labrador will mark the 1000th anniversary of the Vikings arrival in North America at L'Anse aux Meadows. The special calender of events, entitled Vikings! 1000 Years: Make the Journey, will begin on New Year's Eve as the province is the first to welcome the millennium in North America. Throughout 2000, there will a large variety of activities to mark this important event in our history.

The documentary research began recently in Iceland, and will continue in L'Anse aux Meadows from September 1 to 6, 1999. The documentary will air in the spring of 2000 on public television in the United States, potentially reaching 100 million households in the U.S. alone.

Media contact: Tara Laing, Communications, (709) 729-0928.

1999 08 25         4:05 p.m.