The Elliott Premises News and Events
NAIA Hold Wine and Cheese Reception at the Elliott Premises
On the evening of September 19, 2007, The the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA) will hold a wine and cheese reception at the Elliott Premises. The reception is being held to Launch an aquaculture showcase, an event in the Coast of Bays region intended to raise awareness of the industry that has received much attention over the past few years. Full coverage available from The Coaster.
Grand Opening July 5, 2007
The people of Harbour Breton celebrated the official opening of the Elliott Premises and other related tourism infrastructure developments today with a special ceremony that paid tribute to the many men and women of the community who worked to bring the variety of community-based projects to a successful completion.
In attendance were the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans; the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation; and His Worship Don Stewart, Mayor of the Town of Harbour Breton; along with officials and citizens from Harbour Breton and surrounding communities.
"Canada’s New Government is continuing to get things done for the people of Harbour Breton and the surrounding areas," said Minister Hearn, on behalf of the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). "This great tourist facility will make a significant contribution to the growth and development of the tourism industry which is important to the economic growth of the region."
"Today's official opening of the Elliot Premises demonstrates the success and ingenuity of the people of Harbour Breton to use all means at their disposal to grow the economy," said Minister Hedderson. "By combining history, art and culture, this innovative combination of an historic interpretation area, performance space and marina has tremendous potential for economic development through cultural tourism. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is proud to support this initiative."
"For the last several years, the Town of Harbour Breton has been pursuing strategic diversification of our economy in response to the devastating impact of the cod fishery closure in 1992," said Mayor Stewart. "Until a few years ago, the economy of Harbour Breton was entirely dependent on the fishery and the processing jobs associated with it. Although the industry is still the backbone of our economy, we realized we had to diversify by capitalizing on aquaculture opportunities along the coastline, and the unique history and beauty of the community and the surrounding area as a tourism attraction."
The investments by Canada’s New Government and Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in the Town of Harbour Breton were a direct response to the short-term crisis created when the town’s fish plant was closed, displacing over 300 employees. The various projects undertaken by the town were supported by a contribution of just over $2.3 million under ACOA’s Strategic Community Investment Fund and $1.25 million from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.