May 20, 2011
Designation of New Provincial Historic Site Celebrated in Cupids
Cupids Cove Plantation was officially designated as a Provincial Historic Site today. The Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, was in Cupids to make the announcement.
“Cupids Cove Plantation was opened for the historic Cupids 400 Celebrations last summer,” said Minister French. “Today, we are taking the time to celebrate its significance as our newest Provincial Historic Site, a place of great historical significance to this province, the country, and indeed the world. Cupids is one of our important founding stories that speaks to the earliest English efforts to colonize Newfoundland and Labrador and of the persistence of our early settlers in the face of many challenges.”
Archaeologist Bill Gilbert discovered the Cupids Cove Plantation Site in 1995. It dates back to 1610 when Bristol merchant John Guy arrived at Cupers Cove (now Cupids) with a small group of colonists – Canada’s first English settlers. By 1613, the colonists had built at least 16 structures, including a fort, sawmill, gristmill, and brew house.
“The designation of the Cupids Cove Plantation as a Provincial Historic Site will ensure that this site of such important historical significance is preserved for future generations,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Transportation and Works and MHA for Harbour Main. “As the first English settlement in Canada, this site plays an integral part in the story of our province and nation and I am pleased that both residents and tourists will continue to have the opportunity to share in that story long into the future.”
More than 150,000 artifacts have been found at the Cupids Cove Plantation, with a number of items and fragments coming from the late 1500s and early to mid 1600s. Among those artifacts are the oldest English coin found in Canada, along with ceramics, household goods and much more. Cupids Cove Plantation Provincial Historic Site will be operated by the Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation, in partnership with the Provincial Historic Sites Branch.
Today’s event was also the launch of the summer season for Provincial Historic Sites in the province. All sites open tomorrow (Saturday, May 21). Resident and non-resident visitors can explore the Provincial Historic Sites virtually at the newly designed seethesites.ca and in person throughout the summer months.
Beginning this season, visitors to Provincial Historic Sites will see expanded and more customized programming, a combination of special events, demonstration series, self-directed tours, themed tours, and school programs.
Three small-scale interpretive site animation programs and self-guided tours are being developed for various Provincial Historic Sites around the province. This is being made possible through an additional investment for Provincial Historic Sites programming of $75,000 in Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador.
Through total funding of $5.1 million in Budget 2011, the Provincial Government will build on investments made under its cultural strategy Creative Newfoundland and Labrador: The Blueprint for Development and Investment in Culture, to further support opportunity in the arts and heritage sectors. Since the introduction of the cultural strategy in 2006, over $56 million in new funding has been invested in the cultural and heritage sectors.
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Media contacts:
| Diana Quinton Director of Communications Tourism, Culture and Recreation 709-729-0928, 631-8155 dianaquinton@gov.nl.ca |
Sharon Vokey Executive Assistant to the Honourable Tom Hedderson MHA Harbour Main 709-729-5884 sharonvokey@gov.nl.ca |
2011 05 20 11:25 a.m.