July 20, 2005
Pointe-du-Chêne, New Brunswick
Community residents, invited guests and visitors were
joined today by local MP Dominic LeBlanc in celebrating the
completion of the Pointe-du-Chêne wharf restoration
project. Mr. LeBlanc was on hand for the official opening
of the project in which the Atlantic Canada Opportunities
Agency (ACOA) supported through a $1,960,000 Strategic
Community Investment Fund (SCIF) investment. The project, which is 90 per cent complete, was done in two
phases. The first phase involved the preparation of a
business plan, long-range development plan, pre-engineering
and engineering services, and project management. In the
second phase, the Harbour Authority repaired and restored
the main wharf and northeast breakwater, redeveloped the
Pan American wharf, and extended water, sewer and
electrical services. In addition, new washroom facilities
were constructed in a lighthouse-like structure. Work on
the wharf is currently on schedule."The restoration of the Pointe-du-Chêne wharf will help to
maintain this region as a first-class tourism location and
open up further economic opportunities for the area," said
Dominic LeBlanc, MP for Beauséjour, on behalf of the Hon.
Joseph McGuire, Minister for ACOA. "Through SCIF the
Government of Canada has made a significant investment in
community economic development in Atlantic Canada.""The restoration of the Pointe-du-Chêne wharf will result
in greater tourism and boating activity in this region,"
said Frank Boudreau, President of the Pointe-du-Chêne
Harbour Authority. "We are grateful for the vision and
investment that the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
has given to this important development."
The Shediac area attracts nearly a million visitors
annually, many of whom include a visit to visit to the
Pointe-du-Chêne wharf on their itinerary. Pointe-du-Chêne Harbour Authority Inc. is a not-for-profit
organization formed in 1988. Its Board of Directors is
composed of volunteers from the neighbouring communities.
It currently operates at a breakeven level with revenues
from such sources as rentals, berthing, tolls and
fundraising. SCIF was created to support strategic initiatives that
contribute to community economic development in Atlantic
Canada. Its purpose was to help communities create
opportunities for economic development that would stimulate
employment and attract investments. SCIF was a component of
the initial Atlantic Investment Partnership (AIP). Building on the foundation laid by SCIF which ended this
year, the new Innovative Communities Fund (ICF) will
strengthen and diversify the economies of communities
across the region, with a primary focus on rural areas. ICF
was officially launched this month as part of the new five-
year $708-million AIP - The Second Wave.For more information on ACOA's programs, visit our web site
at: www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca
For more information:
Valérie Poulin
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire
Minister of ACOA
(613) 941-7241
Paul C. J. LeBlanc
Senior Communications Officer
ACOA NB
(506) 452-3310
Frank Boudreau
President
Pointe-du-Chêne Harbour Authority Inc.
(506) 532-4098
