Province Supports Heritage Organizations Throughout Cape Breton

TOURISM/CULTURE--Province Supports Heritage Organizations Throughout Nova Scotia

History enthusiasts will benefit from investments designed to build on community economic development efforts in the province. Three organizations in the Cape Breton region have received support from the Department of Tourism and Culture.

Rodney MacDonald, Minister of Tourism and Culture, joined heritage community representatives to make the announcement at the Colchester Historical Society Museum in Truro today.

A total of $93,545 in support was distributed to museums and heritage groups throughout the province from the department's Strategic Development Initiative Fund. Four recipients in the northern region received support, along with three in the southern region, three in Cape Breton, one in Halifax and several projects that are provincial in scope.

The organizations receiving the funding will also contribute to the projects, for a total estimated economic investment of close to $180,000.

"We're pleased to invest in projects that are helping to preserve our rich heritage and draw visitors to our community museums," said Mr. MacDonald. "These projects are also contributing to the viability of rural Nova Scotian communities.

In Cape Breton, $12,444 will help the North Highlands Community Museum develop six exhibits about the social and economic life of the area. The museum will be looking for memories and photographs from area residents in the coming months to contribute to the exhibits. The Cape North-based museum displays artifacts, photographs and papers illustrating the way of life experienced by northern Cape Breton's early settlers.

"This support puts us on a much more secure footing and is an opportunity to develop our project fully," said Heather Morrison of the North Highlands Community Museum. "It will also enable the visiting public to learn and participate more in our cultural heritage."

Inverness County Tourism and Recreation received $12,000 to co- ordinate a county-wide affiliation of museums. They will work to develop new approaches to programming and training and to build stronger relationships with public schools, festivals and events and cultural institutions. Their collaboration is expected to strengthen tourism in the area.

"This support will help us get started in developing our tourism potential," said John Cotton, director for Inverness County Tourism and Recreation. "We see a very close relationship between our heritage and our tourism potential."

The Chestico Museum is developing outdoor interpretative panels describing the cultural and natural history of the area on the Trans Canada Trail. The $6,760 in support was announced in December.

The Federation of Nova Scotian Heritage received $15,150 to undertake eight regional leadership workshops that will establish community links across the province. The workshops will also equip potential board members with tools, resources and connections to promote museums and identify actions for improved performance.

"We will be offering regional workshops focusing on creating committed, sustainable heritage boards," said Susan Charles, the federation's executive director. The federation is also receiving $7,250 for another series of workshops to help heritage organizations build on proposal writing skills and to develop a strategic plan.

The department's Strategic Development Initiative Fund, first announced in the spring of 2000, encourages community museums to partner with other organizations -- such as private sector not- for-profit groups and municipal governments -- to build relationships for sustainable economic development in rural Nova Scotia. Twenty-five museums will directly benefit from this announcement, while other projects will have an impact on the broader heritage community.