The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, said the establishment of a historic commemorations program is among the objectives of Creative Newfoundland and Labrador: The Blueprint for Development and Investment in Culture, the Provincial Government�s three-year, $17.6 million cultural strategy.

"The board�s first order of business will be to work on the development of the historic commemorations program itself, with a view to establishing parameters and criteria for designation," Minister Jackman said. "We expect a call for nominees to follow in the coming months."

Members of the volunteer board include: Terry Bishop Stirling of St. John�s, a professor of history at Memorial University; Robert Hobbs of Bishop�s Falls, a retired social studies teacher; Anita Best of St. John�s, a folklorist/traditional musician; Mary Sillett of Hopedale, who has a long history of involvement with various Aboriginal organizations and is currently the Clerk of the Assembly for the Nunatsiavut Government; and Francoise Enguehard of St. John�s, a journalist/ writer with considerable knowledge of the French history and culture of the province.

"The purpose of the Newfoundland and Labrador Historic Commemorations Program will be to commemorate aspects of provincial historical and cultural significance," Minister Jackman said. "This will include not only persons, places, and events, but aspects of our traditional culture such as traditional skills and cultural practices. It will complement existing designation programs such as the designation of provincial heritage structures and districts by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador."

Members for the Newfoundland and Labrador Historic Commemorations Board were appointed based on their knowledge in areas such as history, cultural geography, and intangible cultural heritage.

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Media contact:

Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0928, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca

With degrees in arts and education, and graduate work in folklore, Anita Best has been involved over the past 30 years in teaching, as well as in raising awareness of the province's intangible cultural heritage. She is one of the province's best-known performers of traditional song and teaches a course in Newfoundland and Labrador folksong at Memorial University�s School of Music. In addition, she has been actively involved in cultural policy development within the province. Ms. Best lives in St. John's.

Born in Hopedale, Labrador, Mary Sillett graduated with a bachelor of social work from Memorial University in 1976. She has been involved in Inuit issues at the regional, provincial, national and international levels. Her working career began with the Labrador Resources Advisory Council, a body set up to advise the province on development issues. She was the executive assistant to the President of the Labrador Inuit Association; a senior policy analyst with the Aboriginal programs of Canadian Heritage; the president and executive director of the Inuit Women�s Association of Canada; a commissioner on the Royal Commission of Aboriginal Peoples and the vice-president and president of the Inuit Tapirisat Kanatami. She is a former mayor of Hopedale and is now the Clerk of the Assembly for the Nunatsiavut Government.

A native of St. John�s, Terry Bishop Stirling is a professor of history at Memorial University with specialties on the history of Newfoundland and Labrador and women�s studies. She is former president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Historical Society and is one of the province�s leading experts on Newfoundland and Labrador history.

Robert Hobbs possesses a broad background in history, geography, and economics. He holds a bachelor of education from the University of Alberta with a major in history and minors in geography and economics. He has taught in these subjects for over 30 years, mainly at the high school level, including a Newfoundland and Labrador culture course. Mr. Hobbs resides in Bishop�s Falls.

Francoise Enguehard is a journalist/writer/consultant with extensive knowledge and experience of the French community and French history in this province. She coordinated activities around the 500th anniversary of the French presence in Newfoundland and Labrador and is currently president of the National Acadian Society. She has written extensively on historical subjects, including a historical novel. Ms. Enguehard is originally from St. Pierre et Miquelon, and has been living in St. John�s for 34 years.