News Release

For Immediate Release
January 6, 2005


PRESERVING THE HISTORY OF FORT PETRIE

New Victoria, NS –– The Honourable Mark Eyking, MP for Sydney – Victoria, today announced Government of Canada funding for improvements to Fort Petrie on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister responsible for Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

The Sydney Harbour Fortification Society is spearheading the Fort Petrie Military Museum and site project. This, the second of three phases of development, will see electrical upgrades, walkway enhancements, landscaping and benches for a Memory Lane dedicated to veterans.

“With over 14,000 visitors each year, Fort Petrie is a tourist draw, especially to cruise ship patrons,” says MP Eyking. “While it is popular with visitors, locals see the site as a reminder of the sacrifices many made defending the area and serving in the two World Wars.”

The Sydney Harbour Fortification Society’s mission is to preserve the area’s heritage, history and culture, while honouring veterans and educating the public on the military history of Cape Breton.

“Funding from the Government of Canada will enable us to make much needed upgrades to the museum,” says Patricia Grezel of the Sydney Harbour Fortifications Society. “It complements our on-going efforts that have resulted in the Society attaining federal heritage museum status.”

In addition to infrastructure improvements, funding for Fort Petrie will help to ensure staffing of the site. The total cost of this project is $45,000. ECBC will provide a non-repayable contribution of $33,750 through ACOA’s Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF).

The Strategic Community Investment Fund provides $135 million over five years to help communities in Atlantic Canada create an environment that encourages and enhances economic development.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA's programs on Cape Breton Island and in the Mulgrave area.

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FOR BROADCAST USE ONLY:

SYDNEY-VICTORIA MP MARK EYKING, TODAY ANNOUNCED GOVERNMENT OF CANADA FUNDING FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO FORT PETRIE.

THE SYDNEY HARBOUR FORTIFICATION SOCIETY IS SPEARHEADING THE FORT PETRIE MILITARY MUSEUM AND SITE PROJECT. THIS THE SECOND OF THREE PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT WILL SEE ELECTRICAL UPGRADES, WALKWAY ENHANCEMENTS, UNIFORMS, LANDSCAPING AND BENCHES FOR A MEMORY LANE DEDICATED TO VETERANS.

EYKING SAYS FORT PETRIE SERVES AS A REMINDER OF THE SACRIFICES MANY MADE DEFENDING THE AREA AND SERVING IN THE TWO WORLD WARS.

THE TOTAL COST OF THIS PROJECT IS $45,000. ECBC WILL PROVIDE A
NON-REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTION OF $33,750 THROUGH ACOA’S STRATEGIC COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND (SCIF).

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Valérie Poulin
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire
Minister of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(613) 941-7241

Office of Mark Eyking
MP Sydney-Victoria
(902) 567-6275

Patricia Grezel
Secretary, Sydney Harbour Fortifications Society
(902) 862-8367

D.A. Landry
Communications, ECBC
(902) 564-3617