Minister Focusses on Partnerships During Cape Breton Visit

TOURISM/CULTURE--Minister Focusses on Partnerships During Cape Breton Visit

Tourism and Culture Minister Rodney MacDonald was in Cape Breton today promoting the importance of partnerships and investments in tourism, culture and heritage for the province's economic and social growth. As minister responsible for the Sport and Recreation Commission, he also highlighted the importance of physical activity and recreation in the area.

The tour included visits to Tourism Cape Breton, the Cape Breton Centre for Heritage and Science, a cruise ship in Sydney and the Island Association for Community Awareness Building.

"We're proud of our heritage in Cape Breton and very pleased to have this opportunity to show our Minister of Tourism and Culture firsthand the kind of work we do at the centre and with other museums in our local area," said Heather Gillis, curator of the Cape Breton Centre for Heritage and Science.

Within Cape Breton County, the department invests in the centre as well as the Cape Breton Miners' Museum, Whitney Pier Historical Society Museum, Sydney and Louisbourg Railway Museum and the North Sydney Historical Society Museum.

The minister also met with representatives from Tourism Cape Breton, which works with industry operators on tourism development, visitor information and marketing initiatives in the area.

"As Tourism Cape Breton develops its new role to market and position Cape Breton as a world recognized destination, we are delighted to work with Minister MacDonald and his department," said Janet Connor, general manager of Tourism Cape Breton. "Through this partnership we look forward to leveraging further industry buy-in and tangible economic impacts in terms of increased spending per visitor and longer visitor stays."

The organization receives provincial support for its activities and for funding festivals and events in the area.

During a tour through Richmond County, the minister also dropped by the LeNoir Forge Museum.

"LeNoir Forge is an important part of the Isle Madame community, attracting both local visitors and tourists," said Brenda Martell with Development Isle Madame and administrator of LeNoir Forge Museum. "Everyone at the museum looks forward to participating in future community events, like the 2004 Acadian Congress."

Mr. MacDonald reinforced the value of community-based museums, like LeNoir Forge, that appreciate the important relationship that exists between the tourism, culture and heritage sectors.

"Recognizing the links and potential economic benefits that exist between these three sectors is a key step in creating opportunities here at home," he says.

As minister responsible for the Sport and Recreation Commission, Mr. MacDonald also met with representatives of the Island Association for Community Awareness, which received $25,600 for renovations to its community centre.

"We are proud to show Mr. MacDonald our open active-living centre built for the whole community," says Cathy Linden, administrator of the association. "This building provides economic and social benefit for everyone."

Mr. MacDonald has been visiting communities across the province all summer talking to people at visitor information centres, tourism organizations, sports facilities and cultural and heritage centres.

"We're pleased the minister is visiting our tourism businesses around the province," said Paul Stackhouse, chair of the Nova Scotia Tourism Partnership Council and general manager of the Holiday Inn Harbourview in Dartmouth. "The partnership we have developed with government has substantially increased the investment in the industry and continues to grow this important sector of Nova Scotia's economy."

Nova Scotia's billion-dollar-plus tourism industry translates into jobs for more than 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 by 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.