Premier and minister outline plans for Marconi 100^th Anniversary

Beaton Tulk, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and Sandra Kelly, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation (Acting) and Industry, Trade and Technology, today announced plans for the Receiving the World: 100 Years of Wireless Communications program of events taking place in 2001.

"Next year, Newfoundland and Labrador will commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the day when Gugliemo Marconi received the first wireless signal across the Atlantic," said Premier Tulk. "This program of events will mark another unique moment in our province�s rich history, which is of international significance. We look forward to welcoming visitors from around the world to visit the site where the global information highway began 100 years ago."

The province will use the Marconi celebrations as an opportunity to promote Newfoundland and Labrador�s developments and capabilities in the information technology sector. Newfoundland and Labrador has a rich history in the communications sector, as it was a world-leader in global communications even before Marconi�s receipt of the first transatlantic wireless signal. For approximately 50 years prior to that event, the province played a significant role in global communications through the network of cable stations situated across the province and throughout North America. And for the years following Marconi�s momentous achievement, this province continued to play an important role in global communications.

"In 2001, the Departments of Industry, Trade and Technology and Tourism, Culture and Recreation will join forces for the Marconi program of events," said Minister Kelly. "This program will focus on the impact of this historic event on the information technology sector around the world, a sector which has become one of the key industries in our province. Once again, an event of profound and international significance occurred right here in Newfoundland and Labrador, and we are delighted to recognize the anniversary of this special event which helped shape the 21st century."

Some of the highlights of the events planned for 2001 include, an industry-based IT and Communications international conference, "Wireless Wizard" Kite Festivals, a Marconi Affiliated Events Program, a Soirees and Times Program, an Exhibit and Interpretation Program and other initiatives by the Department of Industry, Trade and Technology.

Advertisements will be placed throughout the province in the next two weeks to solicit partners, applicants and proposals for a variety of programs in all the Robinson Blackmore newspapers, the Western Star and The Telegram to receive: proposals from organizations interested in developing Marconi-related projects in 2001 under the Marconi Affiliated Events Program; expressions of interest from potential new operators of Soirees and Times events; and, proposals and expressions of interest from businesses interested in becoming licensed merchandisers for the Receiving The World program. As well, call for tenders to supply various pageantry items for the Receiving The World program will be listed on the Web sites which post government tenders. Premier Tulk and Minister Kelly were joined today by Mr. Harold Howell, whose father, William Howell, helped raised the kite above Signal Hill with Marconi ninety-nine years ago. Together, they unveiled the Marconi logo and Web site, which can be found at www.gov.nl.ca./marconi.

Media contact:

Elizabeth Matthews, Communications, (709)729-0928
Paula Dyke, Office of the Premier, (709)729-3564.

2000 12 12 11:30 p.m.