Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development
August 8, 2016

Funding for St. Lawrence Infrastructure Will Benefit Residents and Visitors

Government of Canada Supports Community and Tourism Initiatives on the Burin Peninsula

During an event in the Town of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland and Labrador, on Saturday, the Honourable Judy Foote, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Member of Parliament for Bonavista - Burin - Trinity, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), announced close to $585,000 through ACOA's Innovative Communities Fund for two projects.

An investment of $413,019 will help the town renovate the St. Lawrence Laurentian Community Centre, including structural repairs to restore the facility as a sports and events complex for the community and the installation of new audio-visual equipment to meet the needs of businesses and community groups.

The Town of St. Lawrence will also use a contribution of $171,466 to expand and enhance the Miner's Memorial Museum to better accommodate artifacts related to the Truxtun and Pollux naval disaster and the rich mining history of the region. The project also involves a new food preparation area to offer a miner's lunch as well as additional jewellery making equipment to meet the growing demand for experiential tourism at the museum. An electronic application to provide self-guided tours of the many local heritage sites, parks and trails will be developed as part of the initiative.

The town will also receive $105,133 for Phase 4 of water and sewer system upgrades. This investment is part of the $8 million received from the New Building Canada Plan's Small Communities Fund supporting 28 projects in the province.

These projects build on the Government of Canada's commitment to drive economic growth in Atlantic Canada through tourism, as announced in July 2016 on Prince Edward Island as part of the Atlantic Growth Strategy.

Quotes

"Tourism is a multi-billion dollar industry in Atlantic Canada and a crucial sector for creating jobs and re invigorating the region's growth. The Government of Canada is proud to support the work being done by the Town of St. Lawrence to strengthen community infrastructure and to grow the vibrant tourism industry on the Burin Peninsula."
- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA

"The Government of Canada understands the value of partnership and co-operation, and continues to work collaboratively with other levels of government and partners, like the Town of St. Lawrence, to grow our economy. These projects build on the community's strengths to provide more capacity for hosting sporting and community events and interactive tourism attractions that will help enrich the overall visitor experience."
- The Honourable Judy Foote, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and MP for Bonavista - Burin - Trinity

"The Provincial Government was pleased to support the Town of St. Lawrence through a financial contribution of $166,275. I commend the town, along with its partners - Three L Training and Employment, Island Rock Jewelry and Crafts, and the St. Lawrence Historical Advisory Committee. This partnership will lead to the expansion of the St. Lawrence Miner's Museum facility, providing additional services and enhanced tourism product and experiences in the area."
- The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

"As the MHA for Burin - Grand Bank, I am very pleased to see these investments in the historic Town of St. Lawrence. Thanks to this funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, St. Lawrence will be able to enhance its community amenities and add significant value to its cultural offerings for residents and visitors alike."
- Carol Anne Haley, MHA for Burin-Grand Bank

"We are pleased to have support from the Government of Canada to enable us to move forward with a number of upgrades and changes that will improve our tourism attractions in St. Lawrence. The tourism industry is important to our community, and the entire region, and we look forward to being able to offer improved tourism products that will enable visitors to better understand and appreciate our culture and history."
- His Worship, Paul A. Pike, Mayor, Town of St. Lawrence

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Media contacts:

Tansy Mundon Director of Communications Department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development 709-729-4570 tansymundon@gov.nl.ca	Paul McGrath Director, Public Affairs ACOA NL 709-772-2984 paul.mcgrath@canada.ca
His Worship Paul Pike Mayor Town of St. Lawrence 709-873-2222

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