The Department of Transportation and Public Works today announced a land donation on behalf of the province towards the future expansion of the Orwell Corner Pioneer Village.
"Our department, along with other departments, works closely wherever possible to assist local community development efforts," says Transportation and Public Works Minister Don MacKinnon. "It gives me great pleasure as Minister of Transportation and Public Works to make this announcement today which will spur future development of this worthy initiative."
The parcel of land to be donated by the province is comprised of 26 acres which had been assembled by the Department of Transportation and Public Works. The land parcel fronts on the Trans-Canada Highway and the Old Uigg Road. The province will retain ownership of the land on behalf of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation in order to enable an expansion of the Orwell Corner Pioneer Village. The provincial cost of the land assembly was approximately $140,000. The province also anticipates further involvement in land assembly for this initiative.
"The Orwell Corner Pioneer Village is important as a community resource and tourist attraction," said Belfast-Pownal Bay MLA Wilbur MacDonald. "I welcome this announcement, on behalf of the province, which will be good news for the future of this project and will benefit the community for years to come."
Opened in 1973, Orwell Corner Pioneer Village is a replica of a late nineteenth century settlement common to Prince Edward Island at the time. Many of the current residents of the community are descendants of Scottish and Irish settlers and United Empire Loyalists. The site is managed by the Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation.