Ministers Island to Restore Historical Legacy and Boost Tourism

News Release

July 17, 2017 – Minister’s Island, NB – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Parks Canada 

Strategic community infrastructure investments help restore heritage buildings and support tourism growth and economic development in regions across Canada. 

Karen Ludwig, Member of Parliament for New Brunswick Southwest, on behalf of both the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, along with the Honourable John Ames, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, today joined officials from the Van Horne Estate for Ministers Island to announce nearly $900,000 in federal and provincial funding for the tourist attraction. 

Major renovations were made to the Van Horne Barn to preserve and restore the silos, repair flooring as well as replace windows in the historic structure. The Government of Canada provided a non-repayable contribution of $239,309 through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program (CIP 150) as well as a cost-sharing program for heritage places contribution of $100,000 through Parks Canada for the rehabilitation project. The Government of New Brunswick, for its part, invested $250,000. 

The organization also received $40,000 under ACOA’s Business Development Program to develop a comprehensive business plan that identified a long-term tourism development strategy for Ministers Island. Additionally, the federal and provincial governments are also providing support to hire expertise to oversee the strategic approach and implementation of the business plan. The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is providing a non-repayable contribution of $145,000 under the BDP, while the Government of New Brunswick is investing $125,000 in the implementation phase of this strategic approach. 

CIP150 is administered by ACOA in the Atlantic region. 

Quotes

“The Government of Canada is pleased to support projects like the Van Horne Estate on Ministers Island through various programs that help to rehabilitate, renovate and expand community and recreational infrastructure. These investments help create jobs, boost economic activity and tourism, strengthen communities and celebrate Canada’s rich heritage and history.”

 

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

"Each heritage place tells its own unique story, part of the greater story of Canada, contributing a sense of time, identity, and place to our understanding of Canada as a whole. By investing in our heritage places we are fostering lasting relationships with the community groups that operate them and ensuring that these sites continue to help support local economies and encourage more Canadians to explore and discover our national heritage.”

  • The Honourable Catherine McKenna Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada

“Ministers Island is a national treasure that our government is proud to support.  Built heritage tells a story about our past, and how we manage it tells a story about our future.  Having a clear vision for the future of the island will make it a world-class tourist attraction that will create jobs, small business opportunities and grow our economy through exports.  The restoration project, maintenance and operations on the island will also be a local economic driver.” 

  • Karen Ludwig, Member of Parliament for New Brunswick Southwest

“Tourism is a key component of the government’s Economic Growth Plan. Creating an integrated world class Fundy Coast Experience will provide an advantage for New Brunswick in the globally competitive travel marketplace and Ministers Island is an important part of that. Realizing the full potential of Ministers Island as a sustainable cultural, heritage and eco-tourism destination will create jobs and grow the economy.” 

  • The Honourable John Ames, Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture

“The Ministers Island restoration project and business plan which outlines a long-term strategic tourism strategy, marks the realization of many years of effort on the part of the past and the present boards of the Van Horne Estate on Ministers Island (VHEMI), our local community, the Province and the Federal government.  Working together we can make this one-of-a-kind environmental, heritage and culture site a leading and economically sustainable tourism destination in New Brunswick and Canada.” 

  • Dr. Brian Usher, Board Chair, Van Horne Estate for Minister’s Island

Contacts

Ann Kenney
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506-452-3687
Ann.Kenney@canada.ca 

Valerie Kilfoil
Director Communications
Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, Province of New Brunswick
506-444-5185
Valerie.kilfoil@gnb.ca 

Brian Usher
Director and Chair
VHEMI Board
Ministers Island
905-246-7694
Brian.usher@ministersisland.net 

Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca

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