22 August 2006
Brudenell Point, Prince Edward Island
Tourists will have an even greater reason to visit eastern
PEI thanks to the announcement today of federal and
provincial funding for Roma at Three Rivers. This
historical site brings to life the stories of the 18th
century French settlers who established the first
commercial enterprise on PEI in 1732. Three Rivers Roma Inc. completed Phase I of development at
the site in 2004, which introduced basic infrastructure and
established the site as a tourism destination. The funding
announced today represents Phase II and includes work on
nature trails and landscaping, interpretive signage and the
addition of a BBQ shelter with a period brick bread oven,
decking, benches, a viewing tower, and expanded parking."This project is an example of all partners working
together for the benefit of Eastern PEI," said Bill Casey,
Member of Parliament for CumberlandColchesterMusquodoboit
Valley, Nova Scotia, on behalf of the Honourable
Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister
of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). "Roma
at Three Rivers preserves the story of one of PEI's
earliest settlements, and these investments will help draw
even more visitors to the site and the surrounding area.""The Government of Prince Edward Island is pleased to
support a community-driven project that builds on the
strengths of our province's rich cultural history to grow
our tourism product," said the Honourable Pat Binns,
Premier of Prince Edward Island. "Roma at Three Rivers pays
tribute to the many positive contributions of the French
settlers to our Island culture and our government is
pleased to be a willing partner in its continued
development.""We're thrilled with the public reaction to the site so
far," said Edgar Dewar, Chair of Three Rivers Roma Inc.
Project Committee. "As Roma at Three Rivers develops, more
people will come to appreciate the history of the site and
how it is a symbol of true pioneering spirit and
entrepreneurship. We want to make the history live so our
visitors will experience it, not only read about it. Our
group is grateful for the financial support we've received
from both the Government of Canada and the Province of
Prince Edward Island."The second phase of the project will be made possible with
assistance from a number of partners. ACOA, through its
Innovative Communities Fund, will contribute $329,000;
Service Canada will provide $77,745 through the
Canada/Prince Edward Island Labour Market Development
Agreement, co-managed with the provincial Department of
Development and Technology; and the Prince Edward Island
Department of Development and Technology will contribute
$40,000 through the Community Development Bureau.FOR BROADCAST USE ONLY:
Three Rivers Roma will get a new look thanks to funding
from the federal and provincial governments. Today, the
volunteer group that oversees the historic site announced
it can proceed with planned development because of funding
from ACOA, Service Canada and the Province of Prince Edward
Island. The group will build on existing nature trails,
conduct additional landscaping, and place interpretive
signs. It will also construct a BBQ shelter with a period
brick bread oven, decking, benches, a viewing tower, and
expanded parking.For more information, please contact:
Krista Kelly
ACOA PEI and Tourism (902) 566-7569
Stephen Ramsay
Service Canada (902) 566-7686
Dennis King
Development and Technology (902) 368-6574
Edgar Dewar
Chair, Three Rivers Roma Inc. Project Committee (902) 838-
4590
Background:History of the siteThe first large successful commercial business on PEI was
established in1732 at Brudenell Point (Trois Rivières) by
Jean Pierre Roma. Roma was director of a company of French
merchants that had been deeded the land by the French Crown.
The site started modestly with 80 workers who cleared land,
erected buildings, and farmed and fished. It soon became a
busy trade centre for French interests in the region, and
became part of a network which extended to Louisbourg,
Quebec, France, and the West Indies. The settlement was
destroyed by the English in 1745. In the early 1800's, two
Macdonald brothers established a store and built at least
eight ships at the Point. Andrew Archibald MacDonald, one
of the Fathers of Confederation, was born here. It was
designated a National Historic Site in 1933.About Three Rivers Roma Inc.Three Rivers Roma Inc. is a not-for-profit group
established to develop the Three Rivers/Jean Pierre Roma
Site. Its purpose is to make the site a popular destination
for people interested in nature, archaeology, and history.
It was incorporated in 2002 and is managed by a volunteer
board of directors.
