News Release

For Immediate Release
November 8, 2004


Ingonish Skiing and Recreation go Hand-in-Hand

Ingonish, NS –– “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow,” that’s what Cape Smokey skiers will say this winter. The Honourable Mark Eyking, MP for Sydney-Victoria, on behalf of the Honourable Joe McGuire, Minister for Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation, announced funding for two Ingonish projects today. The Ski Cape Smokey Society will receive $500,000 for hill improvements and the Smokey Recreation Society will receive
$192,358 for a multi-use facility.

The first project will see that Ski Cape Smokey is once again fully operational. Funding will purchase snow making and grooming equipment, and make other needed improvements.

The second project will renovate the former Ingonish Beach School site into a multi-use facility for outdoor concerts, festivals, lectures, weekend markets, children’s camps, and outdoor skating.

“Ski Cape Smokey is one of Cape Breton’s most marvelous mountains” says Mr. Eyking. “The hill is a vital piece of the economic infrastructure for northern Cape Breton and the improvements announced today will help anchor Ski Cape Smokey as a viable economic generator for the area.”

Marie Cummings, Manager of the Ski Cape Smokey Society is optimistic about the project. “Northern Cape Breton has a great deal to offer in terms of winter activities and we look forward to providing skiers with an excellent experience.”

Speaking on behalf of the Smokey Recreational Society, Chester Whitty, Vice-Chair says, “Our facility will contribute to efforts to promote four season tourism in northern Cape Breton. We will be able to host a variety of events that will benefit both residents and tourists.”

Total costs for the ski hill project is $625,000. ECBC will provide a non-repayable contribution of $500,000 to the Ski Cape Smokey Society. Total costs for the multi-use facility is $269,959 of which ECBC will provide a
non-repayable contribution of $192,358 to the Smokey Recreation Society. Both projects are funded through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’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:

ANNOUNCED TODAY, GOVERNMENT OF CANADA FUNDING WILL ASSIST TWO INGONISH PROJECTS. THE SKI CAPE SMOKEY SOCIETY WILL RECEIVE $500,000 FOR SKI HILL IMPROVEMENTS AND THE SMOKEY RECREATION SOCIETY WILL RECEIVE $192,358 FOR A MULTI-USE FACILITY.

THE FIRST PROJECT WILL SEE THAT SKI CAPE SMOKEY IS ONCE AGAIN FULLY OPERATIONAL. FUNDING WILL PURCHASE SNOW MAKING AND GROOMING EQUIPMENT, AND MAKE OTHER NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS.

THE SECOND PROJECT WILL RENOVATE THE FORMER INGONISH BEACH SCHOOL SITE INTO A MULTI-USE FACILITY FOR OUTDOOR CONCERTS, FESTIVALS, LECTURES, WEEKEND MARKETS, CHILDREN’S CAMPS, AND OUTDOOR SKATING.

TOTAL COSTS FOR THE SKI HILL PROJECT IS $625,000. ECBC WILL PROVIDE A NON-REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTION OF $500,000 TO THE SKI CAPE SMOKEY SOCIETY. TOTAL COSTS FOR THE MULTI-USE FACILITY IS $269,959 OF WHICH ECBC WILL PROVIDE A NON-REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTION OF $192,358 TO THE SMOKEY RECREATION SOCIETY. BOTH PROJECTS ARE FUNDED THROUGH ACOA’S STRATEGIC COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND (SCIF).

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Valérie Poulin
Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire
(613) 948-7293

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

Marie Cummings
Manager, Ski Cape Smokey Society
(902) 929-2246

Chester Whitty
Vice-Chair, Smokey Recreational Society
(902) 285-2670

D.A. Landry
Director of Communications, ECBC
(902) 564-3950