NLIS 2
June 1, 2000
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

Conception Harbour Ironworkers� Heritage Committee receives funding

Charles Furey, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today announced $15,000 in funding for the Conception Harbour Ironworkers� Heritage Committee, a subcommittee of the Town of Conception Harbour dedicated to heritage preservation and cultural tourism.

"The Conception Harbour Iron Workers� Heritage Committee is a great organization which serves to preserve and promote our province�s rich cultural heritage," said Furey. "This funding will assist the committee to re-offer the play Living the High Life, which was a popular and critical success in 1999, and will also contribute to the creation of an additional new play for a dinner theatre. I met with this group and was impressed by their enthusiasm and commitment to presenting quality entertainment for residents and visitors alike."

In 1999, the Conception Harbour Iron Workers� Heritage Committee commissioned playwright Mary Ellen Doyle to write Living the High Life, which commemorates the role that residents of the area played in the construction of skyscrapers, bridges and other "high steel" structures throughout North America, beginning in the early 1900s.

"Living the High Life was a tremendous success with audiences and was instrumental in drawing more visitors to the Conception Bay centre area than in previous years," added Eugene Conway, chair of the heritage committee. "With this new funding, we can now look forward to continuing our efforts to preserve the unique heritage of Conception Harbour and to diversify our economy in an area where we have a real strength."

The new funding will assist the group in preparations for the coming season.

Media contact: Elizabeth Matthews, Communications, (709) 729-0928.

2000 06 01                                         2:20 p.m.