The Governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada are investing more than $487,000 in the Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador to the enhance visitor experience through site renovations and improved interpretive displays while expanding partnership opportunities.

The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, today announced a contribution of $150,000 from the Regional Development Fund for the project. Churence Rogers, 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, announced an investment of $337,044 from ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund.

The Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador has the unique responsibility of preserving the rich history and culture of wooden boats in the province. Through this project, the Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador will develop new exhibits, programs, demonstrations, and workshops that offer more to visitors. The project also includes the development and expansion of partnerships to include local artisans, other provincial attractions with heritage themes, other wooden boat organizations, as well as regional businesses and community groups.

These investments build on commitments made by the Government of Canada and the four Atlantic Provinces to drive economic growth in the region through the Atlantic Growth Strategy by helping the region’s tourism industry attract more visitors and create new jobs across the region. This bold new approach is in line with Canada’s Tourism Vision, which seeks to make Canada a top-ten global tourism destination by 2025.

Support for the arts, heritage and culture sectors deliver on commitments in The Way Forward to strengthen the province’s economic foundation. The Way Forward outlines all actions the Provincial Government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with a high standard of living, and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.

Quotes
“Today’s announcement aligns with The Way Forward’s Provincial Tourism Product Development Plan, and the addition of more people and program-based experiences to existing infrastructure and activities. This investment will enhance the profile of both the museum and the province nationally and internationally, and will have a lasting effect on the visitor experience.”
Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

“The Government of Canada recognizes that investing in arts and cultural initiatives stimulates economic growth and helps strengthen and diversify our communities. Through strategic investments like this one with the Wooden Boat Museum, our government is supporting a unique approach to economic development while also promoting and preserving our culture and heritage.”
Honourable Navdeep Bains
Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA

“Our province’s incredibly rich culture, history and natural beauty are at the heart of many of our tourist attractions. We are proud to support the Wooden Boat Museum as a key tourism asset offering visitors the chance to take in this region’s culture with unique experiences. This project will enhance the provision of heritage based experiential learning for visitors and benefit not only the Baccalieu Trail region, but the entire provincial tourism industry.” 
Churence Rogers
Member of Parliament for Bonavista-Burin-Trinity

“Over 20 years ago a small group of concerned citizens decided they would begin to preserve and share the story of Winterton’s boat building history. The museum they created has become an attraction for visitors and a living-library of irreplaceable Newfoundland and Labrador boat building skills and knowledge. The investment announced today will help to ensure the important cultural work of the Wooden Boat Museum will continue. I thank the volunteers from my district and those across the province who have done a great service for us all in saving this unique tradition.”
Honourable Steve Crocker 
Minister of Transportation and Works and MHA for Carbonear-Trinity-Bay de Verde

“The Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador is proud to recognize the role that wooden boats have played in the development of our culture. The museum tells a story of the life of the province’s fishing communities and the boats that have served them. Through our boat building workshops and heritage experiences, we provide visitors with a hands-on appreciation of the skills required to build and fish in these boats. Through our partnerships with like-minded organizations, the tourism industry, and the education sector, we strive to spread our message throughout the province and beyond. The feedback that we receive from visitors and the public has assured us that we are filling a meaningful niche in our culture. We are grateful to our funding partners for appreciating our vision and for their ongoing support.”
Jim Dempsey
Chair, Board of Directors, Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador Inc.

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Learn More
Wooden Boat Museum
woodenboatmuseum.com

Provincial Tourism Product Development Plan
www.tcii.gov.nl.ca/tourism/tourism_development/pdf/17-20_prov_prod_dev_plan.pdf

Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @TCII_GovNL

Media contacts
Eric Humber
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
709-729-4819, 725-9655
erichumber@gov.nl.ca

Paul McGrath
ACOA NL
709-772-2984
paul.mcgrath@canada.ca

Jeremy Reynolds
Government Members Office
709-729-3394
jeremyreynolds@gov.nl.ca

Beverley King 
Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador Inc.
709-583-2070
bkingheritage@gmail.com