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NLIS 4
March 26, 2001
(Industry, Trade and Rural Development)

 

Funding approved for five projects in Northern Labrador

Lawrence O�Brien, MP for Labrador, speaking on behalf of Robert Thibault, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and Wally Andersen, Parliamentary Secretary for Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, speaking on behalf of Beaton Tulk, Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development, announced funding today for five economic development projects in Northern Labrador. All of the projects will receive funds through the Canada-Newfoundland Agreement for the Economic Development Component of the Canadian Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring Initiative.

These diverse projects will further economic development and employment opportunities in the region. "This is an area of the province that has been particularly hard hit by the downturn in our traditional fisheries", said Mr. O�Brien. "These projects are excellent examples of what can be accomplished when community leaders and governments work together in rural Canada."

Wally Andersen, who is also the MHA for the Torngat Mountains, said; "Today�s announcement reflects the diversity of the opportunities for development in Labrador. The community service provided by the OKalaKetiget society, the expansion of the area�s stunning tourism product, and the further development of the dimension stone industry - are all examples of projects which contribute to the continued development of a stronger economy for this region. Labrador and Aborignal Affairs Minister, Ernest McLean noted that the announcement was evidence that the people of Labrador are playing a very active role in the development of their own communities.

The five projects will receive a combined total of $1.9 million:

Tourism Destination Development Plan for Labrador - $75,000
To be undertaken by Destination Labrador and the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation

Enhancement of Moravian sites at Hopedale and Hebron - $752,500
Work to be carried out by the Torngasok Cultural Centre and the Agvituk Historical Society

Development of a trial dimension stone quarry at Igiak Bay - $500,000
The Labrador Inuit Development Corporation

Enhanced broadcasting capability for the OKalaKetiget Society - $388,851
OKalaKetiget Society, Nain

Upgrades to Historic Net Loft Building - $204,336
Community of Rigolet

All five projects received funding under the three-year $81.25 million Canada-Newfoundland Agreement for the Economic Development Component of the Canadian Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring Initiative (EDC). The agreement, which was signed on August 16, 1999, is designed to build upon the strategic plans and priorities of the Regional Economic Development Boards to improve the long-term economic climate in regions impacted by the downturn in the groundfish industry.

It is delivered federally by ACOA and provincially by the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development.

For further information:

Jennifer Savoy
Press Secretary

Robert Thibault
Minister of State for ACOA
(613) 941-7291

Doug Burgess
Communications
ACOA
(709) 772-2935

Bert Pomeroy
Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
(709) 896-3099

Josephine Cheeseman
Industry, Trade and Rural Development
(709) 729-4570

 

Tourism Destination Development Plan for Labrador

The Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation in conjunction with Destination Labrador will undertake to hire a consulting firm to assist in the development of a Tourism Destination Development Plan for Labrador. Destination Labrador is a regional product development and marketing group, recently re-formed to address specific tourism development issues in the Labrador region. Destination Labrador�s membership includes the Labrador Lake Melville Tourism Association, the Labrador West Tourism Association, the South East Aurora Development Corporation, the Labrador Straits Historic Development Corporation, and Northern Coastal Labrador (Torngasok/Inukshuk Zone 1). Destination Labrador will also seek assistance from the Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs and other government, community and private sector partners when appropriate.

Tourism development will be undertaken within three distinct sub-regions identified by Destination Labrador; Northern Labrador; Labrador West, Churchill Falls and Upper Lake Melville; and the South Coast from L Anse au Clair to Cartwright.

The purpose of the plan is to support the development of Labrador as a world- class tourism destination. The plans long-term objectives are to:

 

  • generate increased tourism visitation and expenditures;
  • increase the length of stay, extend the season, increase sector viability;
  • create new employment opportunities;
  • generate incremental economic activity;
  • stimulate and direct investment in tourism and related sectors;
  • provide international quality products and service in a strategic, sustainable manner.

While still a relatively new sector in the region, tourism has shown significant growth in Labrador over the past five years. Attractions such as the National Historic Sites at Red Bay and Battle Harbour, the Labrador Interpretation Centre at North West River, the Lighthouse at L�Anse Amour, and Winter Trail system have attracted growing numbers of visitors. The proposed creation of national parks in the Mealey and Torngat Mountains will further increase national and international awareness of Labrador�s unique culture and natural history.

The consultant will have a mandate to ensure meaningful consultation with and participation by key stakeholders from the outset of the planning process. The final plan will complement the existing provincial tourism strategy.

Development of the plan will cost $300,000. Of that amount, $75,000 will come from the Canada-Newfoundland Agreement for the Economic Development Component of the Canadian Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring Initiative (EDC).

 Dimension Stone Quarry Development
At Igiak Bay, Labrador

The Labrador Inuit Development Corporation (LIDC) of Nain will develop a trial quarry over the next two years at Igiak Bay on the Labrador coast to produce anorthosite, a granite dimension stone. The LIDC is the economic development arm of the Labrador Inuit Association. The LIDC has a mandate to improve living conditions for Labrador Inuit by providing employment opportunities that focus on traditional skills while offering training for today s labour market. One of the LIDC s eight subsidiary companies is the Torngait Ujaganniavingit Corporation (TUC).

The trial quarry is located approximately 20 kilometres south of Nain and will create 25 new jobs in a region that has felt the negative impacts of the downturn in the province�s ground fish industry.

Nain anorthosites, a granite stone with small particles of Labradorite, produce premium stones due to their unusual colouring, brilliance and relative scarcity. Stones from the new quarry will be marketed for high-end home decor, primarily to European markets through Tunnet Inc., an associated company located in Nain and owned by the LIDC. The new quarry will ultimately be integrated with Ten Mile Bay which has produced and marketed dimension stone since 1994. At peak production, Ten Mile Bay employed 65 people during the 2000 season.

The close proximity of the two sites will allow the LIDC to take advantage of economies and efficiencies in transportation and in the availability of equipment and supplies. The integration of the two quarries will enable the Labrador Inuit Development Corporation to further develop and expand markets throughout the world and solidify the corporation as a major player in the dimension stone industry.

The trial quarry was identified as a priority for support by the Inukshuk Development Corporation. The project, which has a total capital cost of $1.6 million, will be supported through the Economic Development Component of the Canadian Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring Initiative with a contribution of $500,000 and a $150,000 contribution through the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. 

Torngasok Cultural Centre / Agvituk Historical Society

The Moravians who came to Labrador were religious missionaries within a newly invigorated Moravian church. Starting in 1727, Moravians from Southern Germany undertook the first Protestant church missionary work in history, traveling to the Carribean and North America to bring education and religion to the people of, to them, wild and unknown lands.

The missionaries first established a presence in Labrador in 1752. In 1782, they built a mission in Hopedale, then known as Avertok. In 1830, another was constructed at Hebron. Between 1771 and 1960, the Moravians established a total of nine mission stations along the Labrador coast, two of which, Hopedale and Hebron, have been designated National Historic Sites. These structures, that have survived the challenges of Labrador s coastal climate, are among the oldest mission-built structures in North America, and the only remaining Moravian structures in Labrador. The style of the buildings is similar to those of Moravian origin in Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

Two cruise ships have already made Hebron a regular port of call. The long-term goal of the refurbishment at Hopedale and Hebron is to offer an anchor attraction to an upscale target audience including history enthusiasts and adventure tourists.

The Torngasok Cultural Centre was incorporated in 1979 under the auspices of the Labrador Inuit Association. The centre operates within the LIA headquarters at Nain, and is governed by a board elected by all LIA members. To capitalize on the proximity of the Hebron Mission Complex, the Torngasok Cultural Centre will undertake three activities with a long-term goal of establishing the mission as a key attraction. This first stage of the group�s plans will include a formal heritage recording of the structure, in keeping with the Federal Heritage Building Review Office�s guidelines; a comprehensive analysis of the condition of the building and recommendations for a long-term stabilization program; and an implementation program to stabilize the complex. In total, the project will provide 15 short-term, full-time positions. The work will be funded by a $322,500 contribution from the Canada-Newfoundland Agreement for the Economic Development Component of the Canadian Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring Initiative (EDC).

The Agvituk Historical Society is governed by an elected seven-member board of directors and funded, in part, by the Torngasok Culture Centre and the Labrador Inuit Association. The society will further develop the mission site at Hopedale by: conducting further research into how missionaries lived and worked in the station, with a long-term view to creating a cultural centre which would display period artifacts within the complex itself; carrying out period room design, interpretation and construction of selected areas within the mission, e.g., the forge work area, medical suite, study and library or living and sleeping quarters; creating additional spaces which can be used for the sale of crafts and other products. A detailed heritage recording was completed last year for Parks Canada on the Hopedale structure.

The project is expected to result in the refurbished facility becoming the first and only historical research/internet centre for Newfoundland Moravian structures and artifacts. The work will be carried out with funding in the amount of $430,000 from the Canada-Newfoundland Agreement for the Economic Development Component of the Canadian Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring Initiative (EDC). It will provide full-time, short-term work for 15 people, and will greatly enhance the area�s tourism potential and cultural identity.

 

OKalaKatiget Society

OKalaKatiget (pronounced Oh-hala-hateh-geet) is an Inuktitut word meaning talking or communicating with each other. The OKalaKatiget Society provides regional and native communications services for the people of the North Coast of Labrador and the Lake Melville region. The society undertakes to preserve and promote the language and culture of both the Inuit and the Kablunaangajuit (settlers) in Labrador. The OKalaKatiget Society provides 20 hours of bilingual radio programming and four half-hour shows per month of television programming. TV programming is distributed via the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network to all northern communities including those in the south via cable systems.

For over 20 years, the society has been dedicated to increasing public awareness, discussion and understanding of social issues in Labrador s northern communities. Their work encourages better communications between the various peoples of the area, and enhances awareness and understanding of Northern Labrador�s culture far beyond their region.

The OKalaKatiget Society employs 12 production and administrative staff, all of whom are Inuit or local. They have won awards for their work in both television and radio production.

With equipment getting old and out of date, the society faced an urgent need to replace and modernize their tools to ensure that they could continue to provide this essential service to the people, and to maintain and support the culture of the Inuit. A contribution of $388,851 from the Canada-Newfoundland Agreement for the Economic Development Component of the Canadian Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring Initiative (EDC), will assist the society in the purchase of two new industrial beta camcorder units with corresponding field audio and lighting packages, and an Avid Video Edit System. The total cost of the project is $415,980. The Newfoundland Independent Film Maker�s Society Co-Op Ltd. supports the society s work and has committed to assisting the group in the installation, training and effective use of the new equipment. 

Upgrading of Historic Net Loft
Building In Rigolet, Labrador

The Hudson Bay Net Loft was built in 1920 near the site of the company�s 1876 premises and was used to store fishing nets during the off-season. Each net was custom-made for the salmon berth and was stored under the name of the fishermen who worked the berth. Their presence is still felt among the net stables which still bear the names of the fishermen who once worked here. The facility was used during the fishing season by fishers from as far away as North West River, Cartwright and other more northern settlements, including Makovik.

Rigolet has a long history as one of the trading posts for the Hudson Bay Company (now the Northern Company) in Labrador. While the company focussed its activities on the region�s fur trade during the long winter months, it was the salmon, char and cod fishery that kept the company and the region s residents busy during the summer. The company still operates a store in Rigolet.

The construction phase of the Net Loft is expected to provide short-term employment for an estimated 15 carpenters, tradespeople and labourers in the area. Once in operation, the Net Loft is expected to employ two full-time, and two part-time employees during the tourist season.

The Community of Rigolet is refurbishing the Net Loft and will provide site interpretation and appropriate artifacts for the building.

The Net Loft weaves together the history of the Labrador fishery and the history of the people of the area. Along with the Moravian Mission complexes at Hebron and Hopedale, and the already refurbished National Historic Site at Battle Harbour, the loft is one of Labrador�s most historically significant structures. In recent years, Rigolet has seen increased traffic from cruise ships, tour boats and tourists who arrive by plane and snow mobile. With the development of sites at Red Bay and Battle Harbour, and increasing interest in and restoration of the Moravian Mission sites, this area of Labrador is poised for substantial expansion of its tourism industry.

The work, which will cost $218,500, will be carried out with the help of a $204,336 contribution from the Canada-Newfoundland Agreement for the Economic Development Component of the Canadian Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring Initiative (EDC).

2001 03 26                                       4:25 p.m.


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