Normandin, Quebec, June 23, 2009 − The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, took the opportunity of today’s official inauguration of the ÉCONOMUSÉE du pelletier-bottier to underscore the important role played by the federal government in the realization of this project.
Since 1995, Canada Economic Development has been instrumental in supporting the establishment of such museum workshops in Quebec. To date, the Agency has awarded six contributions totalling more than $6 million to the Société ÉCONOMUSÉE du Québec, an organization dedicated to promoting the province’s traditional trades.
This funding has led to the creation of more than 50 museum enterprises in Quebec, including this latest economuseum, as well as to the upgrading of existing establishments and the improvement of the overall quality of the tourism offering and products across the network. The ÉCONOMUSÉE du pelletier-bottier is linked to the firm Nature 3M, a company specializing in the tanning and processing of animal hides and furs.
“This inauguration of the ÉCONOMUSÉE du pelletier-bottier is something to be celebrated by the craftspeople and population of Normandin. Thanks to this financial support from Canada Economic Development, Nature 3M will now be in a position to showcase its unique know-how to the general public. Through this economuseum, the company will be helping to build the region’s tourism offering while optimizing its own competitive standing,” explained the Minister of State.
“The economuseum network plays an important part in furthering the growth of traditional craft enterprises and the development of the Quebec tourism industry. Last January, the Government of Canada implemented an economic action plan that calls for major investments in this sector. Moreover, this past June 4, we announced a new strategy for stimulating the development of tourism, an economic activity critical to the growth of our country,” he concluded.
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Sources:
Nadia Marceau
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 418-668-4602 or 1-800-463-9808
Cell: 418-321-0295
E-mail: nadia.marceau@dec-ced.gc.ca
Stéphanie Desforges
Senior Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Cell: 514-496-1282
E-mail: stephanie.desforges@dec-ced.gc.ca