Prince Edward Island’s Oldest Lighthouse Gets Upgrades
News Release
Point Prim Lighthouse Upgrades Seawall and adds New Gift Shop
July 15, 2017 – Point Prim, PE – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
A PEI landmark for over 170 years, the Point Prim Lighthouse property is receiving upgrades. To mitigate against further shoreline erosion and welcome new tourists, it is undergoing a series of enhancements to ensure the lighthouse’s sustainability. Ensuring the long-term viability of key tourism assets like the Point Prim Lighthouse is fundamentally important to ensuring a healthy tourism sector, a major contributor to PEI’s economy.
Building on this week’s Atlantic Growth Strategy announcement in support of Atlantic Canada’s tourism sector, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Member of Parliament for Cardigan, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, today announced a total of $392,534 (non-repayable) in funding for the Point Prim Lighthouse Society Inc. to update the historical landmark. A total of $318,042 is being provided through ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund (ICF), while an additional $74,492 is being contributed through Heritage Canada’s Canada Cultural Spaces Fund.
This project includes shoreline erosion control measures, as erosion has claimed nearly four acres of the property since the landmark’s construction. To welcome visitors to the lighthouse, the property is adding permanent washrooms, a gift shop/interpretive space, and an open-air pavilion capable of hosting events. The project also includes parking improvements.
Quotes
“Lighthouses are a reminder of Atlantic Canada’s proud maritime heritage, a colourful history that helps to attract tourists from around the world to visit our shores. Under the Atlantic Growth Strategy, the Government of Canada is working in partnership with the Atlantic Provinces to ensure a strong and sustainable tourism industry for years to come, and this investment supports that goal.”
The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA
“Community investments in Atlantic Canada provide both social and economic benefits. The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of investing in local tourism assets, which provide a strong source of revenue for rural communities. Protecting the Point Prim Lighthouse will allow future generations to continue to cherish this historical monument in Prince Edward Island, a proud part of the Island’s maritime heritage.”
The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food and Member of Parliament for Cardigan.
“We strive to provide tourists with an unforgettable cultural experience, and these upgrades will allow people to enjoy the lighthouse for years to come. We are thankful for the support we have received from ACOA and Heritage Canada’s Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, as these contributions will help us to keep PEI’s oldest lighthouse shining into the future.”
Doreen Huestis, Treasurer, Point Prim Lighthouse Society
Contacts
Chris Brooks
Director of Communications
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
902-566-7569
Valerie Roy
Regional Communications Manager
Canadian Heritage - Atlantic Region
506-850-2556
Doreen Huestis
Treasurer
Point Prim Lighthouse Society Inc.
902-651-2146