Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
June 17, 2010
Development Association
Uncovering Potential Tourism Attractions
The St. Barbe Development Association,
with support from the Provincial Government, is conducting a review of
local archaeological and cultural heritage resources and assessing their
potential as tourism and business generators on the Northern Peninsula.
"In all regions of the province, local
groups and communities are making tourism activity a key part of their
economic development agendas," said the Honourable Shawn Skinner,
Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development. "As a government,
we recognize the importance of leveraging the natural, cultural, and
historical assets of communities to create tourism-related business
opportunities. Our investment gives the St. Barbe Development
Association the tools it needs to research the assets in their own
backyard and learn how to develop them to strengthen the local economy."
The $15,538 investment enables the St.
Barbe Development Association to secure a consultant to take inventory
of the area's archaeological assets and provide recommendations on how
to transform them into viable tourism products. The assessment will
focus on the Big Droke archaeological site in Bird Cove.
"We believe that the Big Droke Pre
Historic Cultures Site is an anchor attraction that adds tremendous
value to the tourism industry along the Great Northern Peninsula," said
Gloria Toope, Executive Director, St. Barbe Development Association.
"The goal of this initiative is to enhance a product that promotes
culture, heritage and history, improving the overall experience for
tourists visiting the area and extending their stay. Enhancing tourism
infrastructure such as Big Droke will create a positive climate for
additional business development in the region."
In the late 1990s and early 2000, the
archaeological project in Bird Cove comprised nearly 30 registered sites
representing a number of prehistoric cultures. Work at Big Droke and
Caines sites, in particular, uncovered valuable, prehistoric woodworking
and hunting tools used by the Maritime Archaic Indians.
"From Gros Morne National Park to the
L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, traveling the vast Northern
Peninsula is in itself an unforgettable experience," said Wallace Young,
MHA, St. Barbe. "This initiative is about building on the area's natural
features to create a unique outdoor and cultural experience for road
travellers. Such tourism development projects are important steps in
making small coastline communities must-see destinations and creating
new business and employment options for local residents."
Since its inception in 1974, the St.
Barbe Development Association has implemented numerous social and
economic development projects, with emphasis on community
infrastructure. The organization represents more than 20 communities
between River of Ponds and St. Barbe on the Northern Peninsula.
This initiative was funded through the
Regional/Sectoral Diversification Fund, which through Budget 2010:
The Right Investments — For Our Children and Our Future was
increased to an $11 million program. Administered by the Department of
Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, the program provides
non-repayable contributions to economic development agencies for
initiatives that address regional and sectoral development and
diversification.
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Media contacts:
Scott
Barfoot
Director of Communications
Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
709-729-4570, 690-6290
scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca
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Gloria Toope
Executive Director
St. Barbe Development Association
709-247-2371
sbda@nf.aibn.com
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Donna
Ivey
Communications Manager
Government Members Office
709-729-0898, 697-1424
donnaivey@gov.nl.ca
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2010 06 17
11:05 a.m.
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