Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development
October 30, 2015

Expanding Our Tourism Potential

Funding Supports Expansion of the St. Lawrence Miners' Museum

The Provincial Government is providing $166,275 to the Town of St. Lawrence to expand the St. Lawrence Miners' Museum to enhance the tourist experience. The initiative is being driven by a strong partnership including Three L Training and Employment, Island Rock Jewelry and Crafts, and the St. Lawrence Historical Advisory Committee and will contribute to new business opportunities for the region.

"The Burin Peninsula is home to many stakeholders dedicated to the development of the regions' tourism industry, and the expansion of the St. Lawrence Miners' Museum is another example of a commitment to develop additional services and enhanced tourism product. The town and its partners have focused on enriching the experience of a tourist when visiting the site, including hands-on activities. I am pleased to support this expansion which highlights another example of connecting visitors with the geological features of Newfoundland and Labrador."
- The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture, and Rural Development

The Town of St. Lawrence will construct a 30 x 35 ft. extension to the Miners' Museum to provide additional seating and demonstration space which would allow visitors to participate in the cutting, shaping and polishing of fluorspar jewelry. Funding will also support increased marketing efforts such as the purchase and installation of signage, as well as brochures, web and other media. The initiative enables growth of the tourism product and complements various other experiences in the region, such as the nearby Chambers Cove trail.

"This is indeed a great announcement for our community and for tourism on the Burin Peninsula. This addition to the Miners'Museum will enable us to not only to expand the tourism potential for this area but also provide our visitors with a true experiential product. We would like to thank all our partners for making this dream a reality."
- Paul Pike, Mayor of St. Lawrence

St. Lawrence is home to the province's first Fluorspar mine. The St. Lawrence Miners' Museum showcases the harsh realities of a miner's life, with the gift shop displaying jewelry items from local cut polished fluorspar.

The Regional Development Fund provides support by way of non-repayable contributions to organizations for the development and implementation of economic initiatives. Additional information on programs can be found at://www.btcrd.gov.nl.ca/regionaldev/index.html

QUICK FACTS

• The Provincial Government is providing $166,275 to the Town of St. Lawrence to expand the St. Lawrence Miners' Museum to enhance the tourist experience.
• The Town of St. Lawrence will construct a 30 x 35 ft. extension to the Miners' Museum to provide additional seating and demonstration space which would allow visitors to participate in the cutting, shaping and polishing of fluorspar jewelry. Funding will also support increased marketing efforts.
• The Regional Development Fund provides support by way of non-repayable contributions to organizations for the development and implementation of economic initiatives. Additional information on programs can be found at:www.btcrd.gov.nl.ca/regionaldev/index.html

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Media contacts:

Tansy Mundon Director of Communications Department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development 709-729-4570, 693-1865 tansymundon@gov.nl.ca

Andrea Kettle Manger, Town of St. Lawrence 709-873- 2222 townofstlawrence@nf.aibn.com

2015 10 30                              4:15 p.m.