Two Possible World Heritage Sites

Two Nova Scotia communities have been identified for possible designation as World Heritage Sites, Premier John Hamm announced today, April 30.

Joggins, in Cumberland County, and Grand Pré, in Kings County, are two of the 11 sites unveiled today by the federal government.

"The designation of Joggins and Grand Pré will show the rest of Canada and the world that Nova Scotia is an internationally competitive tourism destination," said Premier Hamm. "These designations can only serve to bring more visitors to the province and economic activity to these regions."

Joggins, nominated as a natural site, is internationally recognized as one of the most important fossil sites in the world. The 300-million-year-old fossils at the site are protected under Nova Scotia's Special Places Protection Act. There are plans for development of a new interpretive centre.

Grand Pré, selected as a cultural site, is a long-established National Historic Park that recently received a new interpretive centre. This site is recognized as the homeland of Acadian people worldwide and will be further enhanced this year as the 2004 Congrès mondial acadien celebrations take place in Nova Scotia.

The Town of Lunenburg has already achieved World Heritage Site status and is one of 13 sites already recognized in Canada.