September 21, 2004 Stanhope, Prince Edward Island Local residents and visitors to the Stanhope area will soon be able to better enjoy a walk alongside beautiful Covehead Bay. Contributions from the Government of Canada, the Province of Prince Edward Island and the Municipality of North Shore will be used to construct a promenade along Route 25 from entrance of the National Park through to the old wharf adjacent to the Stanhope Golf and Country Club. The North Shore Community Council identified an increasing need for a safe, multi-use trail along the roadway. With the municipality experiencing one of PEI's fastest growth rates, the need for a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists has become critical. A promenade along the shoreline was viewed as the most viable solution. "The Government of Canada is proud to support this community, as it strives to create a better quality of life for its citizens, new tourism opportunities, and growth for businesses and the local economy," said the Honourable Wayne Easter, Member of Parliament for Malpeque on behalf of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. The 2.9 kilometre trail, which will run along Bay Shore Road, will include the development of a small green space with benches and additional parking. Interpretive panels will illustrate history of the area. "The completion of this promenade will encourage residents and visitors to walk to local attractions rather than drive," said the Honourable Jamie Ballem, MLA for Stanhope- East Royalty, on behalf of the provincial government. "By providing safer access for residents and visitors to enjoy the magnificent views and tranquil surroundings this area has to offer, the Council is finding one of the best ways to encourage them to patronize businesses along the route." The Municipality of North Shore was incorporated in 1974 and includes the communities of Stanhope, Covehead Road and West Covehead. In addition to the rising number of tourists, the population of the municipality has risen 7.5 per cent since 1996. "There's no question, given the traffic along Route 25, that there is a need for this project in our community," said Jim Lee, chair, Municipality of North Shore. "We're very grateful for the tremendous financial support being provided by the federal and provincial governments to help make this important endeavour a reality". Federal funding for this project is being provided by ACOA and HRSDC. ACOA is providing $420,000 through the Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF) which includes the "Island Streetscapes Initiative" whose key purpose is to effect downtown and waterfront revitalization in order to support overall community development and tourism enhancement - to act as a catalyst for continued private sector investment in the community. The provincial government is providing $210,000 through the Community Development Bureau and the Department of Transportation and Public Works. The Canada/PEI Labour Market Development Agreement, co-managed by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and the provincial Department of Development and Technology is contributing $84,300 toward participant wages and overhead costs. The Municipality of North Shore is providing $10,000. - 30 - Ron Crozier Office of the Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities />Agency (902) 888-4150 Ann Thurlow Province of Prince Edward Island (902) 569-0571 Jim Lee, Chair North Shore Municipality (902) 368-5685 Stephen Ramsay Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (902) 566-7686 Lynn MacDonald ACOA PEI and Tourism (902) 566-7491 lynn.macdonald@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
