Premier launches next phase of Receiving the World program

Roger Grimes, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, joined by his colleagues, Kevin Aylward, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, and Beaton Tulk, Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development, today announced the details of the community events and activities and other industry programs planned for Receiving the World: Celebrating Communications.

Receiving the World: Celebrating Communications has two key components; one having a global focus and the other a local, community focus. This past February, federal Industry Minister Brian Tobin and Premier Grimes announced the details of a major international "Wireless Vision" Congress that is taking place in the province in September. Today, Premier Grimes revealed details of the second component of the program and the activities planned throughout the province to encourage our own communities and citizens to participate in these significant celebrations.

"Newfoundland and Labrador�s communications history dates back even before Marconi�s great achievement," said Premier Grimes. "Marconi�s achievement on Signal Hill in 1901 marked the beginning of a major change in transatlantic communications, from cable to wireless. During the cable age, our province played a significant role in global communications through the network of cable stations across the province, and since then we have continued to be at the forefront in communications and technology. Marconi�s system of wireless communications has changed our everyday lives, affecting how we gain information, interact and communicate with the rest of the world. We want to ensure that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians recognize the important communications history of our province so we are providing an opportunity for everyone to get involved and help celebrate."

In addition to one of the anchor events, the "Wireless Vision" Congress, Receiving the World will include a series of community events and activities, including the "Wireless Wizard" Kite Program, an Affiliated Events Program, Soirees and Times 2001 and an exhibit and interpretation program. These programs are taking place throughout the province and are designed to appeal to a variety of interests and ages.

Sheila Copps, who was unavailable for the conference sent the following greetings. "The world got a little smaller when Guglielmo Marconi received his historic transatlantic wireless signal on the rocky slopes of Signal Hill. As a result of this momentous stride froward in global communications, we have all evolved to be true citizens of the world. Congratulations, Newfoundland and Labrador on what promises to be a wonderful year celebrating the past, meeting and exceeding the goals of the present and eagerly anticipating what innovations are yet to come. Let the celebrations begin."

The corporate sponsors of Receiving the World were announced, which include Newfoundland Power, Aliant, Bell Mobility, Nortel Networks, Atlantic Lottery Corporation, Marconi, Central Dairies and Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation. Also acknowledged at today�s launch were individuals whose family members played a role in the Marconi story in our province.

Media contacts: Catherina Kennedy, Tourism Culture and Recreation, (709) 729-0928
                        Carl Cooper, Office of the Premier, (709) 729-3960

The Receiving the World: Celebrating Communications program includes a number of events and activities designed to involve individuals of all ages throughout the province. The major events include:

The "Wireless Wizard" Kite Festival is one of the anchor events of the Receiving the World celebrations and will take place across Newfoundland and Labrador during this summer. There are 100 communities throughout the province taking part in this festival and each will hold their own kite festival either on the Canada Day long weekend or during their annual summer festival. It will feature kite experts, precision teams and kite enthusiasts, with kites of all sizes, producing air shows the likes of which have never been seen in this province. Young people and their families will be encouraged to participate in workshops, view kite displays and fly their own kites throughout the festival. Special spectator events such as a sunrise flight and Canada Day night-flight will also take place. Another component of the "Wireless Wizard" Kite program consists of science fairs, education week kits, a special "Marconi Week," activities during Library Week, heritage fairs by the Historic Sites Association of Newfoundland and other related activities.

Through the Exhibit and Interpretation Program, government has provided funding to nine museums and provincial and historic sites to enhance exhibits, displays and interpretative panels that reveal the province�s role in communications history over the past 150 years. A 20-page promotional tour guide brochure is being produced to introduce and guide visitors to these sites. The sites involved with this project are: Signal Hill National Historic Site of Canada; Admiralty House Museum and Archives; Cape Race Wireless Telegraph station; Heart�s Content Cable Station; Conception Bay Museum in Harbour Grace; Bay Robert�s Cable Building Museum; Fogo Marconi Wireless Station; Cape Ray Lighthouse; Point Amour Marconi Wireless Station and Battle Harbour Historic Trust.

Again this year, the province is hosting Soirees and Times, a program developed to bring back and nurture the traditional Newfoundland and Labrador "time." The program offers tourists and residents a unique look at Newfoundland and Labrador hospitality and culture through songs, stories and drama. There will be 20 communities throughout the province participating in these "times" which will be held on at least a weekly basis during July and August. Each Soirees & Times event will have a different theme and different presentation style. From a "kitchen party" to a dinner theatre, from a fun filled history lesson to a tragic tale of hardship and loss, from jigs and reels to romantic songs and heroic ballads, every Soirees & Times event will be a night of fun and enjoyment.

This is a community-based program that encourages organizations across the province to develop projects that tell Marconi-related stories, thus creating a greater awareness of Newfoundland and Labrador's history in communications. Affiliated Events give resident and non-resident visitors opportunities to experience a wide range of high-quality activities including theatre, art, music,recreation, and other forms of entertainment. These events will provide non-resident tourists with activities in which to participate and our resident market with reasons to spend more vacation time at home.

As a component of Receiving The World, the Wireless Vision Congress is designed as an industry-based international event that uses the Marconi achievement and the developments in wireless technologies over the last 100 years as a platform for investigating the future of wireless communications. It will take place from September 26-28 in St. John's. The Congress will join international industry leaders, visionaries and all others who have a stake in shaping the future of wireless throughout the world to discuss the future impact wireless technologies will have in areas such as health care, education and the economy.

Local, national, and international initiatives will promote our thriving and innovative communications sector, and enhance export development opportunities. Coordinated by the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development, these Receiving the World initiatives include trade shows, conferences, school programs, and achievement awards. The department will also sponsor local, national and international showcases of Newfoundland and Labrador companies launching communications products.

For the third time, Festival 500 will take place in the province and will feature some of the world�s best choirs, leading artists, world class conductors, composers and clinicians. It will provide a forum for interdisciplinary academic discussion and the dissemination of research and to generate further knowledge relating to the theme, The Phenomenon of Singing.

2001 05 08                                                   11:50 a.m.