Wentworth and Parrsboro businesses will benefit from improvements to help the tourism sector recover and attract visitors

From: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

News release

The Government of Canada continues to support the tourism sector for a strong recovery and future growth.

May 11, 2022 · Wentworth, Nova Scotia · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

Canada has much to offer the world as travel safely resumes: breathtaking landscapes and wide open spaces; diverse and inclusive experiences; and welcoming people from coast to coast to coast who provide outstanding service. Combined with a strong focus on health and safety and high COVID-19 vaccination rates, Canada is among the most alluring and smartest destination choices for visitors.

The pandemic has had an undeniable impact on Canada’s tourism sector. The Government of Canada has helped keep tourism businesses open and today’s investment will help them be even better positioned to welcome back guests.

Today, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA, announced total investments of $518,400 through the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) for two businesses in Wentworth and Parrsboro.

Ski Wentworth is receiving a $500,000 repayable contribution to install a second fixed-grip quad chairlift capable of transporting 2,000 persons per hour on 144 chairs. This will double the lift capacity and reduce wait times while improving the visitor experience.

Parrsboro’s Two Islands Brewing is getting a $18,400 non-repayable contribution to install an energy efficient refrigeration unit and add seating with a new stone patio and renovated main floor beverage area to create meeting and event space. The project will allow the company to serve more visitors and residents and improve its craft beer tourism experience.

Launched in July 2021, the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) was created to help organizations and businesses in the tourism sector adapt their operations to meet public health requirements, offer innovative products and services to visitors and prepare to welcome back travellers. The TRF is administered by Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs) and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).

Quotes

“As we recover from this pandemic, we are focused on being there for the tourism sector. With the support announced today, tourism businesses and organisations in Wentworth and Parrsboro will be able to prepare for the future. This is an important step in the recovery effort that will allow visitors to discover the world-class tourism experiences Atlantic Canada has to offer.”

-      The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA

“The Canadian tourism sector continues to be one of the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are fully committed to supporting businesses and organizations through these challenging times, keeping safety as the top priority while ensuring they get support to quickly recover, innovate their products and services, and thrive. The Tourism Relief Fund will help businesses adapt, make improvements, and be ready to welcome back guests. It also feeds into a broader strategy to help the sector survive the pandemic, recover and grow. The Canadian economy will not fully recover until our tourism sector recovers.”

-      The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance

Quick facts

  • For more than 65 years, the Wilson family has operated Ski Wentworth, one of the largest ski destinations in Atlantic Canada. The mountain has more than 20 alpine trails, terrain parks, freestyle skiing facilities and trails suitable for beginner to expert skiers.

  • Since 2018, Two Islands Brewing Company has produced beer on the shores of the Bay of Fundy. The company’s name is inspired by the two basalt islands located along the Parrsboro shore, an area steeped in Mi’kmaq legends of Glooscap.

  • The tourism sector is a key contributor to the Canadian economy. In 2019, tourism generated over $104 billion in revenue and directly employed 692,000 people, including those in underrepresented groups like women, students, racialized people, and Indigenous populations.

  • With a national budget of $500 million, including $485 million for regional priorities administered by Canada’s Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and $15 million for national priorities administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the Tourism Relief Fund is part of the billion dollars in tourism support announced in Budget 2021. 

  • A minimum of $50 million of the fund’s budget has been earmarked for Indigenous tourism projects. Indigenous communities that rely heavily on tourism have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

  • $48.5 million from the Tourism Relief Fund has been allocated to ACOA to administer the fund in the Atlantic region.

     

Associated links

Contacts

Marianne Blondin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Official Languages and of the
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Marianne.Blondin@acoa-apeca.gc.ca

Chris Brooks
Communications Director
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
902-830-3839
Chris.Brooks@acoa-apeca.gc.ca

Leslie Wilson
President & General Manager
Ski Wentworth
902-895-9281
lwilson@kerrcontrols.ca

David Beattie
President
Two Islands Brewing Company
902-728-2221
david@gillespiehouseinn.com

Stay connected

Follow ACOA on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Page details

Date modified: