Government of Canada invests more than $6.7 million in 53 tourism projects to enhance offerings for visitors

“We have so much to be proud of in our beautiful region, and so much to share with visitors. As we launch the tourism season, we are reaffirming the sector’s vital importance to our economy, and are committed to helping tourism businesses and organizations in New Brunswick develop the world-class experiences that make Atlantic Canada such a sought-after destination.”

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

“It’s time for Canada’s tourism sector to push past reviving all the way to thriving. Our government’s investments in tourism over the last three years focused on sustaining and rebuilding the tourism ecosystem, promoting what we have and designing for the future. A fully recovered and robust tourism sector is key to our government’s ongoing work to build an economy that works for everyone. Together, we can make sure that Canada’s tourism sector is something that visitors and Canadians alike will celebrate and enjoy for generations to come.”

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

“Our glamping project would not have happened without support through the Tourism Relief Fund. It was essential in securing the rest of the funding needed to complete our project, which will benefit the whole community through economic spinoffs.”

-        Frank Richard, President, Camping Plage Aboiteau Beach Inc.

“The funding for the New Brunswick Potato Museum from ACOA’s Tourism Relief Fund is a huge help for our project to update many parts of the museum along with the outside facility and storage areas.  With the expansion and improvements, the facility will now offer longer hours and 7 days per week for visitors. As a major attraction in the river valley, we are excited that this will bring even more tourists to our area and community.”

-        Tammy Kirkland, Manager, New Brunswick Potato Museum Inc.

“The Tourism Relief fund has been an invaluable support to our company during a very uncertain time. It has allowed us to continue to invest and seek out new opportunities for our business when we may otherwise have not.”

-        Andrew Cuthbertson, Owner, Second Nature Outdoors Inc.

“I cannot thank ACOA enough for their generous support of our project. Their assistance enabled us to bring our vision to life, and the upgrades to the building have been a huge success. Everyone involved in this project has been incredibly grateful for their support. ”

-        Patricia Dunnett, General Manager, Metepenagiag Heritage Park

"We would like to thank ACOA for providing us the opportunity to upgrade our historic inn. It is helping us to deliver an enhanced customer experience and establish Salty Towers as a recommended accommodation in Saint Andrews."

-        Carmel Rioux, Treasurer, Salty Towers Inn

“We just completed a portion of the TransCanada Trail within the original boundaries of the Town of Grand Falls last fall.  It was completed as a ‘green’ trail for bicycling, walking, skateboarding, etc with funding from ACOA, RDC, Infrastructure Canada and the Town of Grand Falls.  Without the multilevel funding given to our organization this project would never have seen the light of day.”

-        Earl Toner, President, Grand Falls Cycling/Veloroute de Grand-Sault

• The Tourism Relief Fund was a $500-million national program to support the tourism sector in Canada, including $485 million for regional priorities administered by Canada’s regional development agencies and $15 million for national priorities administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

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

• $48.5 million from the Tourism Relief Fund was allocated to the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency to administer in the Atlantic region. 

• Launched in July 2021, the Tourism Relief Fund ended on March 31, 2023. 

Associated links

• Tourism Relief Fund

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

Ann Kenney
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
ann.kenney@acoa-apeca.gc.ca

Metepenagiag Heritage Park Inc.
Patricia Dunnett
General Manager
Patricia@metpark.ca
506-836-6118

Camping Plage Aboiteau Beach Inc.
François Richard
President
francoismrichard@hotmail.com
506-533-4278

New Brunswick Potato Museum Inc
Tammy Kirkland
Manager
tours@potatoworld.ca
506-392-1955

Salty Towers Inn Ltd
Carmel Rioux
Treasurer
Rioux.carmel@gmail.com
514-463-7470

Second Nature Outdoors Inc
Andrew Cuthbertson
Owner
andrew@secondnatureoutdoors.com
506-460-2260

Grand Falls Cycling Committee Inc.
Earl Toner
President
eartoner@nbnet.nb.ca
506-473-6038

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