Infrastructure funding will improve trails, roads and visitor facilities
INGONISH, NS, Aug. 10, 2016 /CNW/ - Parks Canada's places belong to all Canadians. They represent the very best that Canada has to offer and tell the stories of who we are, including the history, cultures and contributions of Indigenous Peoples.
Today, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, announced $66 million in funding for various projects at Parks Canada places on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. Minister McKenna was joined by local Members of Parliament, Mark Eyking and Rodger Cuzner.
This funding will be used to to revitalize trails, day-use areas, and campgrounds and improve visitor facilities in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park interpretation centre. Other projects include the preservation of buildings at the Fortress of Louisbourg and Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Sites. With this funding, more Canadians, including youth and newcomers, can learn about our environment and cultural heritage, while experiencing the natural wonder of the park.
Investments in infrastructure – such as visitor centres and campgrounds, as well as roads and bridges – will provide visitors high-quality experiences, and help maintain the ecological and commemorative integrity of national parks and national historic sites across Canada.
Quotes
"The Government is committed to preserving our national parks, providing more opportunities for Canadians to get outdoors to experience and learn about our environment. Today's investments will help protect the natural and cultural heritage of Cape Breton Highlands National Park and enhance the experiences of Canadians and visitors from around the world to this national treasure."
The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada
"The natural beauty of Cape Breton Island is something that all Canadians should have the opportunity to explore and enjoy. These investments will ensure the quality and reliability of the visitor facilities that help Canadians to connect with nature, while supporting the regional economy and contributing to the growth of the tourism sector over the long-term."
The Honourable Mark Eyking, Member of Parliament for Sydney-Victoria
"Investments in National Historic Sites, like the Fortress of Louisbourg and Alexander Graham Bell, will ensure that these special places, which reflect the rich and varied heritage of our nation, continue to provide opportunities for Canadians to learn more about our diverse history."
Rodger Cuzner, Member of Parliament for Cape Breton-Canso
Quick Facts
- One third of the Cabot Trail, a world-famous scenic highway, runs through Cape Breton Highlands National Park along the coasts and over the highlands. Approximately 175,000 people visit this site per year.
- Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site is a place where interactive exhibits, films, artifacts, replicas and hands-on activities come together to share the work of one of history's most accomplished inventors. The site is visited by approximately 73,000 people each year.
- The Fortress of Louisbourg is the largest reconstructed site in North America. An average of 82,000 people visit this site every year. The original settlement was founded in 1713 by the French and developed over several decades into a thriving centre for fishing and trade.
- Parks Canada is investing an unprecedented $3 billion dollars over 5 years to support infrastructure work to heritage, visitor, waterway and highway assets located within national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas.
Associated Document
Backgrounder: Parks Canada Infrastructure Investments for Cape Breton Island – 2016
Associated Links
Parks Canada
Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site
Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site
SOURCE Parks Canada
Caitlin Workman, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, 819-938-9436; Media Relations, Parks Canada, 855-862-1812, [email protected], https://twitter.com/parcscanada
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