Minister Visits Annapolis Valley Tourism Operators
TOURISM/CULTURE--Minister Visits Annapolis Valley Tourism Operators
Tourism and Culture Minister Rodney MacDonald has been touring Hants, Kings, Annapolis and Digby counties this week. He is promoting the benefits of partnering and investing in tourism, culture and heritage. As minister responsible for the Sport and Recreation Commission, he will also emphasize the importance of physical activity and recreation to the health and well-being of Nova Scotians.
"I enjoy getting out into the communities where I can meet the people we partner with," said Mr. MacDonald. "We're all working towards the same goals to make improvements in our various sectors and to create opportunities here at home. We are achieving those goals by working together."
The Annapolis Valley Macdonald Museum in Middleton is one of several community museums in the region that receives assistance from the province.
"We're pleased to be part of a program which encourages museums to work together to achieve high standards of operation," said Sherry Griffin, director of the Annapolis Valley Macdonald Museum
This year the museum received about $38,980 in annual operating support from the department. In the Annapolis Valley, the department also invests in the James House in Bridgetown, Tupperville School Museum, Admiral Digby Museum, Musée Ste. Marie in Church Point, Islands Museum in Tiverton, the West Hants Historical Society Museum in Windsor, the Avon River Heritage Society Museum, the Charles MacDonald Concrete House Museum in Centreville, Kings Co., the Kings Historical Society, the Kings County Museum and the Randall House Museum in Wolfville.
The department invests over $140,000 in museums throughout the Annapolis Valley region under two programs.
Tourism and Culture also provides assistance to local visitor information centres through the Evangeline Trail Tourism Association (ETTA).
"As a regional tourism industry association, we work hard together with the province to promote our region and the province as a whole," said Jennifer Taylor, executive director of ETTA. "Such investment and partnership allows us to leverage funds, work with private industry and continue to market this province."
In addition, the department provides support for cultural activities and organizations, including arts councils and cultural workshops. This year, over $300,000 in cultural programming support from the department went to the Annapolis Valley region.
As minister responsible for the Sport and Recreation Commission, Mr. MacDonald also noted the benefits of supporting recreation, including improved physical and mental health. Organizations in this region that receive recent support from the Sport and Recreation Commission include Annapolis Royal Recreation, Canning District Recreation, Hansport Recreation, Middleton Recreation, Acadia University in Wolfville, the Windsor Rotary Club, the Wolfville Lions Club, the Hants Shore Community Health Centre, Port Williams Recreation Commission, Digby Area Recreation Commission and the Three Mile Plains School in Hants County. The Sport and Recreation Commission has invested almost $200,000 in the 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.
Mr. MacDonald's tour included stops at the Digby visitor information centre, the James House Museum, Kings Theatre and the Admiral Digby Museum.