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NLIS 3
May 3, 2001
(Tourism Culture and, Recreation)


Minister participates in Marconi celebrations in Italy

Kevin Aylward, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, has returned from the anniversary celebrations hosted by the Marconi Foundation in the city of Sasso Marconi, Italy.

"These celebrations provided me the opportunity to highlight our own celebration of Marconi�s achievement, as well as all that we as a province have to offer as a world class tourism destination. A great deal of interest was also expressed in the Wireless Vision Congress," said the minister. "In addition the members of the Italian community that I spoke with are very pleased with the plans we have in this province to honour Guglielmo Marconi this year."

April 25 is Guglielmo Marconi�s birthday as well as being a national holiday recognizing Independence Day in Italy. This year the celebrations were even more significant as they coincided with the 100th anniversary of Guglielmo Marconi�s transatlantic message on December 12, 1901. Besides speaking to the more than 300 participants including Princess Elletra Marconi, daughter of Marconi, and her son, Prince Giovanelli Marconi, political figures, business people and academics, the minister gave a presentation about Newfoundland and Labrador. The presentation gave a better understanding to the Italian public of the province�s own celebrations marking Marconi�s historic achievements and the beauty and unique culture of our province. Included in the presentation were the province�s international television advertisements from this year.

In 2001 government has planned a year of celebrations to bring global attention to Marconi�s accomplishment and to Newfoundland and Labrador�s remarkable history and participation in communications. The Marconi Foundation in Italy has committed to providing support and resources in the form of artifacts and materials that will become part of a legacy for the province to commemorate Marconi and promote the province.

"I also had the opportunity to meet with representatives of the Canadian Embassy in Italy," said the minister. "They will work with my department on a variety of initiatives in Italy including our Receiving the World Celebrations and the commemorative anniversary coin honouring Marconi."

Receiving the World:Celebrating Communications is a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Guglielmo Marconi�s transatlantic signal from Poldhu, England to St. John�s, Newfoundland in 1901. Events and activities are planned across the province throughout 2001 to appeal to citizens of all ages with a variety of interests.

 

Before the end of the school year, schools in every region of the province can become involved in a Kite Program through curriculum-based activities. Communities in Newfoundland and Labrador will participate in events held throughout the summer and a major Kite Festival will be held in St. John�s on Canada Day, July 1st with the world�s largest kite flying over the skies of St. John�s.

In addition, there will be Marconi awards at science fairs and heritage fairs for participants who excel in communications projects. Also a Marconi program has been implemented in libraries across the province.

Many communities in the province played important roles in our own significant communications history both as Marconi wireless stations and as cable telegraph stations. In 2001 the department will assist nine communities in the development of exhibits to tell their communications stories. These include sites in St. John�s, Mount Pearl, Cape Race, Heart�s Content, Bay Roberts, Harbour Grace, Fogo, Cape Ray, and Battle Harbour. Living interpretation projects and marketing initiatives are being developed in relation to this program. As well the Marconi story will also be told through theatre and arts programs, film, radio, and publishing projects and special technology-based initiatives.

Media contact: Catherina Kennedy, Communications, (709) 729-0928.

2001 05 03                                                    11:30 a.m.


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