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NEWS RELEASE (CNS777) -->> ECONOMIC RENEWAL--CAPE BRETON
TOWNS AND VILLAGES GO NATION WIDE




ECONOMIC RENEWAL--CAPE BRETON TOWNS AND VILLAGES GO NATION WIDE
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Television viewers across Canada will get the inside track on
tourism and business opportunities in some of Cape Breton's towns
and villages next year.

The Arichat multi-media company, Telile, is producing 10
half-hour television programs, called Towns and Villages of
Canada: The Cape Breton Series. The series helps promote the
region as a tourist destination and a place to locate for
business.

Economic Renewal Minister Richie Mann announced the $150,000
project today, saying it will be an important marketing tool for
the region.

"Cape Breton's communities have a lot to be proud of and a lot of
attractive qualities for incoming businesses. This is a chance to
show the rest of the nation just what we can do, and to promote
ourselves as a tourism destination as well as a good place to do
business," Mr. Mann said.

The project also maintains five full-time jobs and four summer
jobs at Telile, a non-profit society providing communication and
information services to the bilingual community of Isle Madame.
The company also produces training videos, and work safety
programs and is managed by a community-based board of directors.

To distribute the programs, Telile will partner with Seaside
Cable, which is a member of the Canadian Cable Association
Network. Copies of the tapes will also be sold through retail
tourist businesses to generate additional revenue.

The planning process for the programs has involved dozens of
people in 10 different communities. "We had great support from
all communities," said Paulette LeBlanc, editor and producer of
community programming for Telile. She said the tapes would also
be shown in each of the featured communities before the end of
the year.

The communities highlighted in the series are Sydney, Glace Bay,
Eskasoni, Port Hawkesbury, Isle Madame, St. Peter's, Cheticamp,
Port Hood, Baddeck and Ingonish. The project is funded by the
Economic Renewal Agency's Community Opportunities Fund ($27,000),
the Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation ($75,000), Parks Canada
($3,000), the Strait Highlands Regional Development Agency
($7,500), Telile ($27,000) and corporate sponsors from the
communities ($10,500).

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Contact: Economic Renewal Minister Richie Mann  902-424-5790

trp                    Nov. 08, 1996 - 11:35 a.m.