News Release

For Immediate Release
November 29, 2004

From a One Room Red School House to a Heritage Museum

Dominion, NS – The Dominion Heritage Museum located in the community’s former one room red school house is getting a new lease on life with help from the Government of Canada.

“I am proud to announce $45,539 in funding for renovations to the Dominion Heritage Museum,” says Rodger Cuzner, MP for Cape Breton-Canso, on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister for Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC). “By investing in projects such as this one, we are building a stronger Cape Breton, one community at a time.”

Upgrades will include a small addition, access to the second floor, new display cases, and other renovations to make the old school house fully accessible.

“This school has been a focal point in Dominion since 1888,” says
Catherine MacIntyre, Chair of the Dominion Heritage Committee. “Now a museum and tourist information site, this funding will see that the building will continue to welcome people for years to come.”

The total cost of this project is $59,923. ECBC will provide a non-repayable contribution of $45,539 through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF).

SCIF 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:

THE DOMINION HERITAGE MUSEUM, LOCATED IN THE FORMER ONE ROOM RED SCHOOL HOUSE IS UNDERGOING A MAJOR UPGRADE WITH HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA.

MP RODGER CUZNER ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE DOMINION HERITAGE COMMITTEE WILL RECEIVE $45,539 FOR MUSEUM RENOVATIONS.

UPGRADES WILL INCLUDE A SMALL ADDITION, ACCESS TO THE SECOND FLOOR, NEW DISPLAY CASES,  AND OTHER RENOVATIONS TO MAKE THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE FULLY ACCESSIBLE.

THE TOTAL COST OF THIS PROJECT IS $59,923. ECBC WILL PROVIDE A NON-REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTION OF $45,539 THROUGH THE ATLANTIC CANADA OPPORTUNITIES AGENCY’S STRATEGIC COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND (SCIF).

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

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

Catherine MacIntyre
Chair, Dominion Heritage Society
(902) 563-5013

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