News release

Minister Promotes Partnerships and Key Sectors

Tourism and Culture (Aug. 1999 - Dec. 2003)

Tourism and Culture Minister Rodney MacDonald toured Antigonish, Pictou, Cumberland and Colchester counties today, July 16. He was promoting the importance of partnerships and investments in tourism, culture and heritage for the province's economic and social growth. As minister responsible for the Sport and Recreation Commission, he also highlighted the importance of physical activity and recreation.

Mr. MacDonald visited the Port Hastings and Pictou visitor information centres. He also visited the Antigonish Heritage Museum, the Hector Heritage Quay and the Wallace and Area Museum, and made informal stops at various tourism operations.

"I think it's important to get out and visit the people we partner with in communities across Nova Scotia," said Mr. MacDonald. "We're all working towards the same goals to create opportunities here at home and we are achieving those goals by working together."

The Antigonish Heritage Museum is one of several community museums in the northern region that receives assistance from the province.

"The Antigonish Heritage Museum takes great pride in helping locals and visitors discover or rediscover the history of this region," said Jocelyn Gillis, curator of the Antigonish Heritage Museum, which is housed in the town's former train station. "The support we receive enables us to continue to provide our services and make our facility more responsive to the needs of our visitors."

This year the museum received about $10,866 in annual operating support from the department. In the northern region, the department also invests in the Age of Sail Heritage Centre in Port Greville, Amos Seaman Museum in Minudie, Avon River Heritage Society Museum, Carmichael-Stewart House in New Glasgow, Colchester Historical Society Museum, Cumberland County Musem, Guysborough Historical Society, Hector Centre, Historic Ottawa House Museum in Parrsboro, Little White Schoolhouse Museum in Truro, Malagash Heritage Museum, Musquodoboit Railway Museum, Springhill Miners Museum, Sunrise Trail Museum, Wallace and Area Museum, West Hants Historical Society Museum, the Whitman Museum and four Nova Scotia Museum sites.

Under two programs the department invests over $280,000 in museums throughout the northern region.

Tourism and Culture also provides assistance to local visitor information centres through the Pictou County Tourist Association. The association is a non-profit membership-driven organization dedicated to the growth of the tourism industry in Pictou County.

"Tourism plays an important part in Pictou County's economic and social growth," said Susan Higdon, marketing officer with the Pictou County Tourist Association. "The partnership we have with the province is helping to boost tourism in Pictou County along with our culture and heritage sectors. Visits like this prove that Mr. MacDonald and his department are very committed to growing tourism in every region of the province."

In the northern region, the department also supports the Central Nova Tourism Association and the Antigonish-Eastern Shore Tourism Association in related tourism initiatives.

In addition, the department provides support for cultural activities and organizations, including arts councils and cultural workshops. This year, over $200,000 in cultural programming support from the department went to the northern region.

As minister responsible for the Sport and Recreation Commission, Mr. MacDonald also noted the importance of supporting recreation. Organizations in the northern region of the province receiving recent support from the Sport and Recreation Commission include the Ivor MacDonald Memorial Arena in Thorburn, Tor Bay/Charlos Cove Community Centre, Stellarton Town Council, Monastery Ballfield, Sunnyville Community Development Association, Antigonish Golf and Country Club, Pictou Golf Club - Pictou Lions Club, Pictou YM-YWCA, Pictou County Snowriders, Country Harbour Recreation and Gun Club, Chignecto-Central Regional School Board, Bell Park Development Association, Cumberland Snowmobile Club, Wallace and Area Recreation Committee, Truro Town Council, West Colchester United Arena, Pugwash Village Commission and the Nova Scotia Community College. The Sport and Recreation Commission has spent about $350,000 in the northern region this year.

Nova Scotia's billion-dollar-plus tourism industry translates into jobs for more than 34,000 Nova Scotians. Tourism is also a significant export industry, with more than half of the money generated coming from outside the province.

The province's culture sector is also growing in leaps and bounds. The business of culture has emerged as one of the fastest-growing sectors in this province, with an estimated value of $808 million. Moreover, it's estimated that culture creates more than 29,000 direct and indirect jobs.