News Release

For immediate release
May 18, 2004

Enhanced Experience for Visitors to the Bras d’Or Lakes

Baddeck, N.S. – Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) funding for two community infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing the experience of visitors to the Bras d’Or Lakes area of Cape Breton Island was announced today by the Honourable Mark Eyking, Member of Parliament for
Sydney-Victoria.

The Bras d’Or Yacht Club in Baddeck will undergo an expansion and modernization. The renovations will provide showers for visiting boaters and for the construction of public washrooms and an administration office to better greet and serve transient boaters. The Bras d’Or Yacht Club will be the only facility on the entire Baddeck waterfront that has the capacity to provide public washrooms to the thousands of tourists who visit the village annually.

The Washabuck Community Centre Association has received assistance to upgrade the local Community Centre. The project, which is currently underway, includes an expansion of the existing building, the installation of a kitchen, a new, wheel-chair accessible entrance and deck, as well as other interior and exterior renovations designed to make the facility more functional and attractive.

“Visitors from around the world are attracted to Cape Breton by the beauty of the Bras d’Or Lakes and these community-based projects build on that natural resource by providing amenities and attractions that enhance the experience of tourists and locals alike,” said MP Mark Eyking. “The Government of Canada is pleased to assist local communities enhance these facilities because of the economic benefits they bring to the area.”

“Boating is a growing component of the tourism industry and to attract visitors, we must offer the services they are looking for,” said Peter Patterson,
vice-commodore of the Bras d’Or Yacht Club. “Our club will mark its 100th anniversary this year, so it is fitting that we are able to celebrate by giving something back to visitors.”

“The Community Centre is a focal point for the residents of the area,” said
Vince MacLean, president of the Washabuck Community Centre Association. “The community comes alive in the summer months with tourists, cottage owners and former residents. We are looking forward to putting the Centre to better use as we will now be able to host more cultural and social events.”

The total estimated cost of the Bras d’Or Yacht Club project is
$117,500. ECBC will provide a non-repayable contribution of $88,125 through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF).

The Washabuck Community Centre expansion and upgrade has a total cost of $108,100 and ECBC has provided a non-repayable contribution of
$75,000 through SCIF.

The Bras d’Or Yacht Club was established in July 1904, to promote the sport of sailing and the development of area youth through participation in the sport. The facility, unlike many private clubs, is open to the tourist public complimenting the entire Baddeck Marina.

The Washabuck Community Centre has been in operation since 1972, and is located in the former Washabuck School. Over the years it has been host to a number of regular community events throughout the year, as well as the Barramen’s Feast, an annual Celtic music dance and the Celtic Colours International Festival.

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:

TWO COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AIMED AT ENHANCING THE EXPERIENCE OF VISITORS TO THE BRAS D’OR LAKES AREA WERE ANNOUNCED TODAY BY MARK EYKING, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR SYDNEY - VICTORIA.

THE BRAS D’OR YACHT CLUB HAS RECEVIED AN $88,125 NON-REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTION THROUGH ECBC TO RENOVATE AND MODERNIZE THE CLUB. THE RENOVATIONS WILL ALLOW VISITING TOURISTS EASY ACCESS TO AMENITIES, SUCH AS RESTROOMS, AT GROUND LEVEL AND PROVIDE IMPROVED AMENITIES FOR VISITING BOATERS. THE TOTAL COST OF THIS PROJECT IS $117,500.

THE WASHABUCK COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION HAS RECEIVED ASSISTANCE TO UPGRADE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTRE. THE PROJECT INCLUDES AN EXPANSION OF THE EXISTING BUILDING, AS WELL AS OTHER INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR RENOVATIONS AT A TOTAL COST OF $108,100. ECBC HAS PROVIDED A NON-REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTION OF $75,000.

MP EYKING SAYS THAT THESE COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS BUILD ON THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE AREA BY PROVIDING AMENITIES AND ATTRACTIONS THAT ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE OF TOURISTS AND LOCALS ALIKE.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ralph Meechan
Office of the Minister of ACOA
Tel: (613) 941-7241

John Coady
Office of Mark Eyking, MP
Sydney – Victoria
Tel: (902) 567-6275

Peter Patterson
Vice Commodore Bras d’Or Yacht Club
Tel: (902) 295-7245

Vince MacLean, President
Washabuck Community Centre Association
Tel: (902) 725-1231

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