The Tignish Historical Preservation Foundation today announced plans to construct a $555,000 Cultural and Heritage Centre in Tignish, Prince Edward Island. On hand to announce the $430,000 in funding assistance for the project were Joe McGuire, MP for Egmont, on behalf of Government of Canada, and the Honourable Don MacKinnon, Minister of Development for Prince Edward Island.
The Tignish Cultural and Heritage Centre will house an interpretative centre, a library, a visitor's area and will provide spaces for lease to local businesses. Information provided at the centre will include information about the history of the area including local tourist sites and attractions.
"This Cultural and Heritage Centre will be an important piece of infrastructure in the community of Tignish and surrounding areas," said Mr. McGuire. "This part of the Island has a lot to offer to tourists, and this facility will help tie it all together. In addition, the centre will stimulate other activity in the area, which in turn will create employment."
Spin-offs from this project are expected to impact on other areas of the local economy such as retail, accommodations and the food industry. More immediately, the project will create 10 full-time seasonal sustainable jobs; and another 20 short-term jobs will be created during the construction phase of the project.
"This centre is an example of our government's commitment to partnering with community-based organizations for projects at the local level," said Minister MacKinnon. "Not only will this centre be used as the centerpiece for the Tignish Bicentennial Celebrations, it will also stand as a constant reminder of the rich and diverse history of the Community of Tignish."
Funding assistance for this project has been provided by a number of partners. Human Resources Development Canada is allocating $170,000 through the Transitional Jobs Fund, the Government of Prince Edward Island is contributing $100,000, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is investing $80,000 under the Business Development Program, and the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Bicentennial Committee are contributing $80,000 and $100,000 respectively. The Tignish Historical Preservation Foundation is providing the land for the project, valued at $25,000.
"We have spent many years and much effort looking forward to this day. In the traditional Tignish way, a co-operative group of like-minded individuals have come together to make this a reality," said Louie Shea of the Tignish Historical and Preservation Foundation. "We believe that joining together to provide a common place for this facility will help our community move forward."
This project supports the Government of Canada's Jobs Strategy. The Jobs Strategy is based on strengthening the economic fundamentals and establishing a favourable climate for job creation by making strategic investments in priority areas where the government can make a difference — areas such as youth, trade, technology and infrastructure. This announcement is an example of how the Government of Canada is prioritizing its spending so that it can better serve Canadians by making efficient use of their tax dollars.