4 August 2011
LAC BAKER , New Brunswick
Today, representatives of the federal, provincial and municipal governments participated in the inauguration of the permanent festival tent, a fine, new recreational facility built on the shore of Lac Baker that will benefit the entire community.
The inauguration ceremony was led by the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and for La Francophonie; Yvon Bonenfant, MLA for Madawaska-les-Lacs; and Jean-Marc Nadeau, Mayor of Lac Baker.
“Our support of the construction of a permanent festival tent and the recent upgrades to the lakeside pavilion are investments in the health of the families who are building their futures in the Lac Baker area and in the vitality of a community itself,” said Minister Valcourt. “This investment will help diversify the region’s economy and allow Lac Baker to support activities like the Acadian World Congress in 2014.”
"The Province of New Brunswick is proud to be a partner in this recreational infrastructure project," said Yvon Bonenfant, MLA for Madawaska-les-Lacs on behalf of Economic Development Minister Paul Robichaud.
The construction of the permanent festival tent is the second major initiative undertaken by the municipality to revitalize the Lac Baker park and beach, providing the community with improved recreational facilities and attracting more visitors to the region. With the recent renovations to the lake-side pavilion housing the park change rooms and washrooms, the municipality can now offer better amenities to residents and visitors who participate in water sports, swimming, volleyball and hiking by the lake. The new facilities will also enable Lac Baker to host larger-scale events such as its popular Lac Baker Tourism Festival during the summer, and pond hockey and ice fishing tournaments in the winter. The facilities will also be used to support the Acadian World Congress in 2014.
“The community is very proud of its new permanent tent…it will be a new tourism attraction for Lac Baker,” declared Mayor Nadeau. “Several interesting activities, like the Tourism Festival, can take place here. This year it attracted record crowds and I’m certain that the permanent tent was the main reason. I would like to thank the provincial and federal governments for their financial support in the realization of this wonderful project.”
The Government of Canada supported the construction of the festival tent with an investment of $61,000 through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program, a key economic stimulus initiative under Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The Government of New Brunswick, through the Regional Development Corporation, contributed $63,000 to the project, and the Municipality of Lac Baker contributed $65,000.
In 2009, the federal government helped the community renovate the park’s lake-side pavilion with a contribution of $30,000 through the RInC program. The Village of Lac Baker contributed $66,000 to the project.
For more information on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca
FOR ELECTRONIC MEDIA USE:
Today, Bernard Valcourt, the Minister of State for ACOA, and Yvon Bonenfant, MLA for Madawaska-les-Lacs joined the Mayor of Lac Baker, Jean-Marc Nadeau, to formally open for operation a permanent festival tent in Lac Baker.
This new recreational facility provides residents, and visitors who participate in lakeside outdoor activities, with better services, and the municipality will be able to host larger-scale events such as the summer Tourism Festival. The new facility will also be used to support activities tied to the Acadian World Congress in 2014.
The Government of Canada invested $61,000 in the project through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program. The Province of New Brunswick contributed $63,000 and the Municipality of Lac Baker, $65,000.
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INFORMATION:
Andrea Richer
Press Secretary
Cabinet of Minister Valcourt
613-790-3637
Bruce Macfarlane
Regional Development Corporation
506-444-4606
Lisa Gautreau
Acting Communications Officer
ACOA New Brunswick
506-452-3987
lisa.gautreau@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Jean-Marc Nadeau, Mayor
Village of Lac Baker
506-992-6060
