The Trinity Historical Society is receiving a $14,932 investment from the Provincial Government to create a virtual exhibit that chronicles the settlement patterns and community structure in Trinity, as documented through the diaries of the Slade and Kelson merchant families. The exhibit is designed to create greater awareness of the community�s history and showcase it in a usable, accessible format.

"Cultural tourism is a significant component of Newfoundland and Labrador�s tourism industry, especially in the Trinity area," said the Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development. "The Trinity Historical Society�s virtual exhibit builds on existing infrastructure and is accessible through the Internet to people all over the world. This is an innovative approach to creating awareness of the community, and ultimately attracting visitors to the area."

The mercantile influence on settlement and the distinctive classification system that emerged in Trinity in the late 1800s will be explored through the diaries of the Slade and Kelson families, along with other archival resources such as financial records, census, and church-related materials. The material will be digitized and displayed online.

"We very　much appreciate the support from the Provincial Government towards our initiative to digitize and make available on the Internet the diaries of the Slade and Kelson mercantile business firm that once existed in Trinity," said Jim Miller, Project Coordinator, Trinity Historical Society. "The completion of this project will allow us to not only make these documents　available to a much wider audience through the Internet but also provides some long term preservation measures for these original diaries that date from 1822-1852."

The Trinity Historical Society was founded in 1964 and is focused on the promotion and preservation of the historic resources, heritage, and history of Trinity. Over the years, the society has completed many projects ranging from the designation of Trinity as a Historic Village of Newfoundland and Labrador to the reconstruction of buildings located on the Lester-Garland Premises Provincial Historic Site.

"The Trinity Historical Society has been successful in both capturing and celebrating the history of the Trinity area," said the Honourable Ross Wiseman, MHA for Trinity North. "Their hard work and commitment to positioning the area as a hub for cultural tourism is evident through its various initiatives."

Funding for this project is provided through the Provincial Government�s Regional/Sectoral Diversification Fund (RSDF). RSDF is a $5-million fund that provides non-repayable contributions to economic development agencies for initiatives that address regional and sectoral development and diversification.

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