Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
December 20, 2017
Heart’s Content Cable Station Provincial Historic Site Added to Canada’s Tentative List for World Heritage
The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, today said he is delighted that the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister Responsible for UNESCO World Heritage, announced the Heart’s Content Cable Station Provincial Historic Site as one of eight new sites added to Canada’s Tentative List for World Heritage, as part of a trans-boundary nomination with Valentia, Ireland.
The first successful trans-Atlantic cable was laid between Heart’s Content and Valentia, Ireland, in 1866, establishing both communities as international communications centres for over a century. After closing in 1965, the Heart’s Content Cable Station was designated a Provincial Historic Site, and currently is one of the best preserved 19th century telegraph cable stations worldwide.
Since 2013, the Provincial Government has been in regular discussions with Valentia/Kerry County Council, the Irish UNESCO office in Dublin, the Town of Heart’s Content, and the Canadian UNESCO Office in Ottawa regarding a possible trans-boundary UNESCO World Heritage Site Designation to recognize the first successful transatlantic cable between Heart’s Content and Valentia.
As one of the more than 50 initiatives outlined in The Way Forward: A Vision for Sustainability and Growth in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Government is committed to strengthening our support of culture by renewing the cultural plan.
Quotes
"The Provincial Government is excited to work with our Irish partners in Kerry County and Dublin, the Town of Heart’s Content, as well as our colleagues at the Canadian UNESCO Office, in advancing this nomination over the coming years. At the time, this world altering engineering and scientific achievement represented one of the major milestones in human history, and is one of the true landmarks of globalization. The ability to instantly and accurately communicate between the old and new worlds resulted in global-altering commercial, political, military, media, and social impacts. We look forward to supporting this submission, and achieving yet another UNESCO World Heritage site for Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry, and Innovation
“The laying of the Transatlantic Cable on the shores of Heart's Content revolutionized the way North America communicated with the rest of the world. The Heart’s Content Cable Station Provincial Historic Site focuses on the history of telegraphy and is an important part of our own history. Being selected as one of eight new sites to be added to Canada’s Tentative List for World Heritage is quite an achievement and I am hopeful the Heart’s Content Cable Station will join the list of exceptional places already designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Minister of Transportation and Works and MHA for Carbonear – Trinity - Bay de Verde
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Learn More
Heart’s Content Cable Station – www.seethesites.ca/the-sites/heart's-content-cable-station.aspx 
The Town of Heart’s Content - www.heartscontent.ca
UNESCO - https://en.unesco.org
Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador – www.hnl.ca
Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation - www.TCII.gov.nl.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @TCII_GovNL
Media contacts
Eric Humber
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
709-729-4819, 725-9655
erichumber@gov.nl.ca
Kristina George
Government Members Office
709-729-5306
kristinageorge@gov.nl.ca
2017 12 20 4:00 p.m.