News Release

For immediate release
May 19, 2004

The Whycocomagh and Area Recreation Centre to Undergo Major Upgrade with Government Of Canada Assistance

Whycocomagh, N.S. - The Whycocomagh and Area Recreation Centre will undergo a major upgrade with Government of Canada assistance announced today by Rodger Cuzner, MP for Bras d’Or-Cape Breton.

“Projects like this demonstrate this Government’s commitment to community economic development in rural areas,” said Rodger Cuzner. “The Whycocomagh and Area Recreation Centre is a focal point for communities from Marble Mountain to Lake Ainslie. It is a valuable community asset providing a venue for many events. The funding announced today improves that asset enabling it to become more of an economic generator for the area.”

Improvements include a new roof, renovations to the interior and the purchase of new equipment. The Centre is currently used as a venue for many local events including festivals, auctions, fishing derbies and to host Celtic Colours events. With the improvements announced today, the Whycocomagh Development Commission plans to make the Centre suitable for a wider range of activities, especially those catering specifically to tourists. The Centre will become more self-sufficient as a result of increased revenues and improved operating efficiencies.

“The Centre is the only facility in this rural area that can be used to host community and tourist-related events,” said Jim Austin, President of the Whycocomagh Development Commission. “Not only will the improved Centre better serve the needs of residents, it will enable us to derive greater economic benefit from the hundreds of thousands of tourists who pass our way every year.”

The total cost of this project is $155,000. Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) is providing the Whycocomagh Development Commission with a
non-repayable contribution of $124,000 through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF).

The Whycocomagh Development Commission was established in 1988. Its volunteer board of directors draws on representatives from surrounding communities, including the Waycobah First Nation. The group’s mandate is to identify and pursue suitable economic development opportunities for the rural communities it serves.

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:

AN INVESTMENT IN A LOCAL COMMUNITY DRIVEN ORGANIZATION WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY BY BRAS D’OR – CAPE BRETON MP RODGER CUZNER.

THE WHYCOCOMAGH DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION HAS RECEIVED A
$124,000 NON-REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTION THROUGH ECBC TO IMPROVE THE CENTRE. PLANS ARE TO MAKE IT SUITABLE FOR A WIDER RANGE OF ACTIVITIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE CATERING SPECIFICALLY TO TOURISTS. THE TOTAL COST OF THIS PROJECT IS $155,000.

MP RODGER CUZNER SAYS THAT THE CENTRE IS A FOCAL POINT FOR COMMUNITIES FROM MARBLE MOUNTAIN TO LAKE AINSLIE. IT IS A VALUABLE COMMUNITY ASSET PROVIDING A VENUE FOR MANY EVENTS.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

Jim Austin, President
Whycocomagh Development Commission
Tel: (902) 756-9042

Office of Rodger Cuzner
MP Bras d’Or-Cape Breton
Tel: (902) 842-9763

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