March 1, 2000
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

Full Circle exhibit unveils new web site

Charles Furey, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, announced today the launch of a new web site to promote an exhibit called "Full Circle: First Contact - Vikings and Skraelings in Newfoundland and Labrador," as part of the Vikings! 1000 Years celebrations. The exhibit is led by the Newfoundland Museum, in conjunction with the Special Celebrations Agency. The web site address is: www.gov.nl.ca/fullcircle/

"This is an informative and entertaining way of telling an ancient story through the means of modern technology," Minister Furey said. "The Full Circle exhibit is a vital component of this year�s Vikings! 1000 Years events, and this new web site enables us to get this story out to the rest of Canada and the world. We expect the site to generate a lot of interest in Newfoundland and Labrador, which translates into tourism visitation."

The web site encourages users to "Make the Journey" back through time. The project, presented under the patronage of UNESCO, explores the unbroken chain that links all people today with those who ventured out of Africa 100,000 years ago. A journey that took millennia to complete. A journey that came full circle on the shores of Newfoundland and Labrador 1,000 years ago.

The Newfoundland Museum commemorates the extraordinary events that surround the Viking landfall at L�Anse aux Meadows through this innovative and exciting exhibit. It will be on display June 2-August 6 in St. John�s at the Arts and Culture Centre, and August 25-October 9 at the Corner Brook Museum and Archives. There are also plans to tour the exhibit internationally until 2003.

"Vikings! 1000 Years: Make the Journey" is a project of the Department of Tourism, Culture, and Recreation, Parks Canada, and the Viking Trail Tourism Association. The Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador are the funding partners for Vikings! 1000 Years. The three major corporate sponsors for the Vikings! 1000 Years celebrations are Petro Canada, NewTel Communications, and Newfoundland Power. Supporting sponsors include Dominion, Eimskip, FMC Kongsberg Subsea and Atlantic Lottery Corporation. "Full Circle: First Contact - Vikings and Skraelings in Newfoundland and Labrador"is also supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Millennium Bureau of Canada.

Media contact: Tara Laing, Communications, (709) 729-3813.

2000 03 01 3:40 p.m.