News Release

For Immediate Release
November 4, 2005

UNIQUE CENTRE TO BE BUILT IN MULGRAVE

Mulgrave, N.S. – A uniquely-designed structure will soon catch the eye of anyone traveling to the coastal community of Mulgrave. Rodger Cuzner, MP for Cape Breton-Canso, on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister for Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), today announced funding for the Scotia Ferry Interpretation and Visitor Information Centre. The new centre will be an on-land replica of the well-known Scotia Ferry.

The first train ferry that sailed from Mulgrave to Port Hawkesbury in 1890 was known as the S.S. Mulgrave. In 1901, a second larger ferry was built, called the Scotia I, and the last ferry that crossed from the mainland to Cape Breton Island was the Scotia II. The Scotia Ferry system is an integral part of the history of the picturesque town of Mulgrave, and the community connection to the sea continues today.

Rodger Cuzner is happy to report the project enjoys broad-based community support. “The impact this venture will have on the local tourism industry will be consequential, with the potential to better position Mulgrave as the northern gateway to Marine Drive,” he says. ACOA will be providing a non-repayable contribution towards the project in the amount of $516,000 under the Strategic Community Investment Fund.

The uniquely-designed centre will be comprised of two levels to provide space for the Scotia Ferry Interpretive Centre, a Visitor Information Centre, a Tea Room/Café, as well as expansive exterior decks.

The Town of Mulgrave has agreed to donate land at Venus Cove appraised at $75,000.

Ron Chisholm, MLA for Guysborough-Sheet Harbour is excited to have the plan underway. “The people of Mulgrave have a vibrant history. This type of project allows us to showcase that history while helping to ensure the growth of the Cape Breton Island tourism industry,” he says. The Province has assisted by contributing funds of $100,000.

The Scotia Ferry Interpretation centre project is being led by The Mulgrave Museum and Cenotaph Committee, who have been existence since 2003.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’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, TODAY ANNOUNCED FUNDING FOR A SCOTIA FERRY INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE. THE NEW CENTRE WILL BE AN ON-LAND REPLICA OF THE WELL-KNOWN SCOTIA FERRY.

CUZNER SAYS THE IMPACT THIS VENTURE WILL HAVE ON THE LOCAL TOURISM INDUSTRY WILL BE CONSEQUENTIAL AND WILL BETTER POSITION MULGRAVE AS THE NORTHERN GATEWAY TO MARINE DRIVE.

ACOA WILL PROVIDE A NON-REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $516,000 UNDER THE STRATEGIC COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND.

THE UNIQUELY-DESIGNED CENTRE WILL BE COMPRISED OF A SCOTIA FERRY INTERPRETIVE CENTRE, A VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE, A TEA ROOM/CAFÉ, AS WELL AS EXPANSIVE EXTERIOR DECKS.

THE TOWN OF MULGRAVE HAS AGREED TO DONATE LAND AT VENUS COVE APPRAISED AT $75,000.

RON CHISHOLM, MLA FOR GUYSBOROUGH-SHEET HARBOUR IS EXCITED TO HAVE THE PLAN UNDERWAY AND SAYS THE PROJECT WILL SHOWCASE MULGRAVE’S VIBRANT HISTORY. THE PROVINCE HAS ASSISTED BY CONTRIBUTING FUNDS OF $100,000.

THE SCOTIA FERRY INTERPRETATION CENTRE PROJECT IS BEING LED BY THE MULGRAVE MUSEUM AND CENOTAPH COMMITTEE, WHO HAVE BEEN EXISTENCE SINCE 2003.
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For additional information contact:

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

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

Ron Chisholm, MLA
Guysborough - Sheet Harbour
Tel: (902) 533-2676

George Freer
Mulgrave Museum & Cenotaph Committee
(902) 747-2428

Jennifer Crocker
Communications
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation
(902) 564-3917