Minister Reinforces Importance of Key Sectors
Tourism and Culture Minister Rodney MacDonald is touring Victoria County today to help reinforce the importance of tourism, culture and heritage to the province's economic and social growth. As minister responsible for the Sport and Recreation Commission, he is also highlighting the importance of physical activity and recreation.
The tour includes visits to the Bay St. Lawrence Community Centre in Bay St. Lawrence at 11 a.m, the North Highlands Community Museum in Cape North at noon, and a visit to Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts in St. Ann's at 2:30 p.m.
"We work with partners in communities throughout the province to stimulate economic growth and enhance quality of life," said Mr. MacDonald. "Our investments are creating opportunities here at home, while building our exports and enhancing our reputation in markets around the world."
As examples, MacDonald points to the Department of Tourism and Culture's annual investment in the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts, which amounted to $220,000 in (2000-01). The department also provides support for various projects in the area, including cultural workshops, touring performance assistance for the Friends of Octagon Society, and support to the Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia to assist with the costs to produce MacTalla, a publication to promote Gaelic culture, and publishing assistance to Breton Books Ltd.
"With the help of Tourism and Culture, we are spearheading an international drive to open export doors for all Cape Breton book publishers," said Ronald Caplan of Breton Books. "It is a unique opportunity for growth in the industry -- growth that none of the island's publishers could achieve without this significant help."
The department also invests $375,000 yearly in the Highland Village, which became part of the Nova Scotia Museum in 2000. As well, the North Highlands Community Museum receives approximately $10,000 each year. "We work hard to raise funds and visitors make donations but the support we receive through the Department of Tourism and Culture is crucial to our operation," said museum curator Kathleen MacLeod.
The community also benefits from numerous tourism marketing and development initiatives, including a $125,000 investment in Celtic Colours, which benefits the entire Cape Breton region.
The Sport and Recreation Commission creates opportunities for recreation and physical activity, which are important for physical and mental health.
The commission recently provided $47,000 to help convert a former school into the Bay St. Lawrence Community Centre. This centre provides a variety of community programs and physical activities, including trained instructors. It also provided $6,000 for trail upgrades to the North Highlands Nordic Ski Club, which included making one trail more accessible to novice skiers.
"All of these projects speak to the partnerships that are alive and well in our communities. They also speak to opportunities that will give us and all Nova Scotians -- a chance to prosper in our own hometowns. And building prosperity here in Nova Scotia is a large part of this government's vision," said Mr. MacDonald.
Nova Scotia's billion-dollar-plus tourism industry translates into jobs for over 35,000 Nova Scotians. Tourism is also a significant export industry, with more than half of the money generated coming from outside the province. Nova Scotia's culture sector is also growing in leaps and bounds. The business of culture has emerged as one of the fastest growing sectors in this province with an estimated value of $808 million. Moreover, it's estimated that culture creates more than 29,000 direct and indirect jobs.