News Release

For Immediate Release
March 14, 2005

Glace Bay Museum Rises to Next Level

Glace Bay, NS – The Rodger Cuzner, MP for Cape Breton-Canso, on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC), announced today that the Glace Bay Heritage Museum Society will receive $600,000 in Government of Canada assistance for museum upgrades and renovations.

“The volunteers of the Glace Bay Heritage Museum Society have worked tirelessly to develop this fine museum and to restore the historic town hall,” says MP Cuzner. “By investing in the museum today, we are not only preserving local history for future generations, but we are diversifying the local economy by growing the Island’s tourism industry.”

Renovations will include the complete development of the second floor of the building. This includes restoration of the former council chambers, mayor’s office, with additional displays, artifacts and exhibits highlighting the history and culture of the community.

Funding for this project, specifically from the Short Term Adjustment Initiative (STAI), will create seven new short-term jobs and maintain two. STAI addresses immediate needs and improves economic development by providing short-term employment to individuals and communities who have been affected by the closure of the cod fishery.

“At one time, this building, the Glace Bay Town Hall, was the hub of activity in the town,“ says Elke Ibrahim Vice Chair of the Glace Bay Heritage Museum Society. “Now 100 years later, it is a vibrant heritage museum – a testament to the struggle and triumphs of the town’s people.”

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation will provide non-repayable contributions totaling $600,000.

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.

ECBC 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:

RODGER CUZNER, MP FOR CAPE BRETON-CANSO, ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE GLACE BAY HERITAGE MUSEUM SOCIETY WILL RECEIVE NON-REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TOTALING $600,000 FROM ENTERPRISE CAPE BRETON CORPORATION FOR UPGRADES TO THE FORMER GLACE BAY TOWN HALL.

UPGRADES WILL INCLUDE THE COMPLETE REFURBISHMENT OF THE SECOND FLOOR AND THE PREPARATION OF THE EXHIBITS AND DISPLAYS.

FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT WILL CREATE SEVEN NEW SHORT TERM JOBS AND MAINTAIN TWO.

MP CUZNER COMMENDED THE COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO DEVELOP THE MUSEUM AND RESTORE THE HISTORIC TOWN HALL.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

Office of Rodger Cuzner
MP Cape Breton-Canso
(902) 842-9763

Elke Ibrahim
Chairperson, Glace Bay Heritage Museum Society
(902) 842-5345

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