(Left to right) Darian Huskilson, Mayor for the Town of Lockeport, Gerald Keddy, MP for South Shore - St. Margaret's and Bil Atwood, Project Manager for the Town of Lockeport, stand outside the Little School House Museum where it now stands on its new foundation. The new foundation will ensure the long-term sustainability of this facility and protect the cultural treasures within.
Lockeport, NS (October 1, 2011) - The Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), is supporting the continued revitalization of the Town of Lockeport with an investment in three local tourism projects.
“The community of Lockeport is capitalizing on one of its many strengths by enhancing the visitor experience to this picturesque Nova Scotia treasure,” said Gerald Keddy, Member of Parliament for South Shore-St. Margaret’s and Parliamentary Secretary for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), on behalf of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the ACOA and La Francophonie. “This investment will support Lockeport’s tourism development and demonstrates our government’s commitment to enhancing tourism capacity in rural communities in order to stimulate economic growth.”
The ACOA investment of $34,896, through the Innovative Communities Fund, will allow the Town of Lockeport to undertake a series of activities that will compliment the community’s recent revitalization efforts.
The first project is the creation of a cultural park in the community’s downtown core and will include a public garden, interpretive signage, a gazebo and space for parking. In addition, the existing heritage facility, the Little School House Museum, will be raised and placed on a new foundation to ensure its long-term sustainability. Also, new sound and lighting equipment will be purchased for the popular Seacaps Park Lighthouse Stage. The equipment will allow the venue to remain competitive and attract larger acts.
“These projects create many opportunities for our community and will become revenue generators for this area,” said Darian Huskilson, Mayor of the Town of Lockeport. “This investment has allowed us to lay the foundation, quite literally, for the future development and growth of these important pieces of community infrastructure."
The Innovative Communities Fund invests in strategic projects that build the economies of Atlantic Canada’s communities. Working in partnership with Atlantic communities and stakeholders, ICF builds on the strengths of communities and provides the tools needed to identify opportunities available for their sustainable economic growth.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is investing nearly $35,000 to support three tourism projects in Lockeport.
The investment will allow for the creation of a cultural park in the community’s downtown core, a new foundation for the Little School House Museum and new sound and lighting equipment for the Seacaps Park Lighthouse Stage.
MP Gerald Keddy said the investment demonstrates the government’s commitment to enhance tourism capacity in rural communities.
