December 18, 1997
(Education)

The following statement was issued today by Roger Grimes, Minister of Education. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I am pleased to announce today that funding in the amount of $150,000 has been approved by the Department of Education for the development of a new camp at Northwest Pond for the Newfoundland and Labrador Council of the Girl Guides of Canada.

Northwest Pond near Terra Nova National Park has been reserved by government for the youth of our province.

The development of this 25 acre campsite will provide an ideal setting for the 13,000 active members, both girls and adults, in Newfoundland and Labrador for adventure and leadership in surroundings that stimulate environmental awareness, physical activity and challenge.

The overall site is designed to accommodate Guiding units throughout the province and the facilities can be used for adult training and conferences. The facility will create immediate construction jobs and seasonal employment similar to the positions held by wardens at Scouts Canada's facility on the other side of the lake.

Funding to complete the project will be provided over three years through grants of $50,000 dollars per year administered by the Youth Services Division of the Department of Education.

Over the last several years government funded a similar proposal for the Boy Scouts. This past summer I had an opportunity to visit the site and was extremely impressed by the first class operation there.

The Newfoundland Council of the Girl Guides of Canada and the Boy Scouts are to be congratulated for the excellent service they are providing for the youth of our province.