The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation:

Commemorations Program Recognizes Province’s Cultural and Historical Treasures

Mr. Speaker, Newfoundland and Labrador boasts a colourful history and culture that has helped shape our identity, and the Provincial Historic Commemorations Program is an important means of acknowledging the people, places and practices that are worthy of official recognition. Since the program was established in 2010, it has recognized more than 20 nominations in every category and from every corner of our province.

This year, five new designates of the Provincial Historic Commemorations Program were recently announced during a ceremony held in Black Duck Brook. In the Events of Provincial Significance category, the designates were the establishment of formal schooling in Newfoundland and Labrador in Bonavista in 1727; the introduction of moose to the Island of Newfoundland; and, the resettlement of Bar Haven. Root cellar construction was recognized as a Distinctive Cultural Tradition and Practice, while Emile Benoit was recognized as a Person of Provincial Significance.

The Provincial Historic Commemorations Program is a citizen-driven program administered by a six-member board, and I commend the work of the board and all those who submitted nominations in recognition of our truly unique province and people. Mr. Speaker, the program offers everyone in our province a chance to contribute to a list of what they deem to be our cultural and historical treasures, and we continue to welcome nominations in all of the categories.

One of the overarching goals of our government’s cultural strategy, Creative Newfoundland and Labrador, is to protect and commemorate our important cultural heritage resources. Mr. Speaker, our commemorations program achieves this goal. It not only recognizes persons, places and events of provincial historical significance, but also our intangible cultural heritage – our customs, our cultural practices, our traditional skills and our knowledge – all of which help to define our province and its people.

Mr. Speaker, the vibrant and diverse culture we share in Newfoundland and Labrador is renowned worldwide, and there are many significant contributions throughout our history that have influenced this culture. The commemorations program is an opportunity to continue to recognize the many contributors, and I encourage everyone to submit nominations to highlight the aspects of our history and traditional cultural practices that we should proudly celebrate.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

2013 11 27                                     2:25 p.m.