May 19, 2009
Devon, Alberta
Today, James Rajotte, Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Leduc, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification announced funding to the Canadian Petroleum Discovery Centre to develop its tourism marketing program and expand its industry training capacity.
"Our Government understands that investing in training and tourism creates new jobs and new opportunities," said Mr. Rajotte. "Today's support will improve the profile and capacity of the Canadian Petroleum Discovery Centre and strengthen our local communities."
The investment will enable the Leduc/Devon Oilfield Historical Society to enhance the profile of the Canadian Petroleum Discovery Centre as a destination for tourism and training. Funding will also allow the Centre to increase its efforts to attract more visitors, as well as new industry clients to undertake training at the Centre.
"Thanks to the generous support from Western Economic Diversification Canada, we can effectively market our Centre and expand our learning facilities to provide greater opportunities for training and teaching career oilfield workers and the Alberta public about the 'patch'", said Don Hunter, President of the Leduc Devon Oilfield Historical Society. "Helping us to reach more Albertans is critical to our long-term success and important to the long-term economic strength of Alberta."
Western Economic Diversification is providing funding of more than $822,000 toward the Canadian Petroleum Discovery Centre. The project will involve the development and implementation of a comprehensive marketing strategy that will include a plan to increase visitorship; an industry outreach strategy to inform oil and gas companies about the Centre's training facilities; an endowment fund development strategy; a staffing plan; and a general advertising plan. Four additional classrooms will also be added to the Centre to increase its capacity for hosting industry training courses and events.
Opened in 1997, the Canadian Petroleum Discovery Centre is located on the historical site of the Leduc No.1 Discovery Well. It is owned and operated by the Leduc/Devon Oilfield Historical Society. A recent capital expansion has made the Centre the largest privately held, not-for-profit interpretive centre dedicated to the oil and gas industry.
For additional information, contact:
Donna Kinley
Manager, Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Phone: (780) 495-6892
Cell: (780) 991-7432
Dianne Allen
Executive Director
Leduc/Devon Oilfield Historical Society
Phone: (780) 987-4323
Cell: (780) 974-7617
E-mail: dallen@c-pic.org
WD Toll-Free Number:1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1 877 303-3388
Website: WD is online at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
Subscribe to news releases and keep up-to-date on the latest from WD.
