Government of Canada Invests in Red Bay National Historic Site
News Release
July 17, 2017 Red Bay, Labrador Parks Canada Agency
Parks Canada is responsible for protecting and presenting nationally significant examples of Canada’s natural and cultural heritage. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, the Government of Canada invites Canadians to experience nature and discover our rich and varied history.
The Government of Canada is investing $1.8 million in Red Bay National Historic Site in Labrador. During the celebrations of the opening of the visitor season at Red Bay, Yvonne Jones, Member of Parliament for Labrador and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, made the funding announcement, on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna.
With this infrastructure funding, Parks Canada will combine the interpretive facilities at Red Bay National Historic site, which are currently housed in two separate locations. With one main visitor centre, the story behind Red Bay’s World Heritage status can be presented as a whole and the site’s environmental footprint will be reduced. Infrastructure investments at Parks Canada’s places ensure that more Canadians, including youth and newcomers, can connect with nature and learn about our country’s history and cultural heritage.
National parks and historic sites like Red Bay will play a big part in the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Confederation. Parks Canada invites Canadians to discover exciting new interactive activities, meaningful exhibits, and fun events at Parks Canada’s places across Newfoundland and Labrador this summer.
To celebrate Canada 150, the Government of Canada is creating opportunities for Canadians to participate in a year-long celebration and help shape the best that Canada can be in the future. The Government is also very pleased to offer free admission for all visitors to national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas in 2017.
Quotes
“As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, the Government of Canada is proud to invest in the protection and presentation of Red Bay National Historic Site. Through infrastructure investments at Parks Canada places, we are creating middle class jobs and sustained economic growth, while ensuring high-quality and meaningful visitor experiences for years to come. I encourage Canadians to visit Parks Canada destinations in Newfoundland and Labrador as part of Canada 150 to experience the province’s natural and cultural treasures.”
Yvonne Jones,
Member of Parliament for Labrador and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
Quick Facts
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In 2013, Red Bay National Historic Site, the most complete example of early industrial-scale whaling in the world, was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List for its outstanding universal value. During the mid-16th century, large numbers of right and bowhead whales drew whalers from the Basque region of Spain and France to the Strait of Belle Isle, where they established a major whaling port at Red Bay. For some 70 years, Basque whalers made the dangerous, month-long journey across the Atlantic to hunt whales and produce the oil that lit the lamps of Europe.
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Red Bay was designated a national historic site because of the large number of well-preserved artifacts on land and under water that were part of one of the main 16th-century Basque whaling ports in Canada. The various sea vessels found at Red Bay are also significant examples of the evolution of ship design and construction in the 16th century.
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Parks Canada is investing an unprecedented $3 billion dollars over five years to support infrastructure work to heritage, tourism, waterway, and highway assets located within national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas across Canada. These investments will ensure that Canada’s cherished places are protected and secured for the future.
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Contacts
Marie-Pascale Des Rosiers
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
613-462-5473
marie-pascale.desrosiers@canada.ca
Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca