Legacy Society Advances Efforts for Canada 150 Funding Support
(Annapolis Royal, NS) Canada’s 150th birthday milestone is just a little over a year away and our regional municipalities are stepping up their plans to secure funding to make sure that the heritage of southwest Nova Scotia is prominently promoted.
The members of the 2017 Canada Legacy Society (CLS) met on December 21 with Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil and West Nova Member of Parliament Colin Fraser to update government members about their planning and secure ongoing funding commitment.
Their message to the provincial and federal political representatives was a reminder that the area intends to speak as one community in taking full advantage of federal government funding assistance to commemorate national heritage milestones in 2017, and that they currently have an extensive proposal before the Department of Canadian Heritage seeking its support.
Following that meeting Premier McNeil and MP Fraser also met individually with municipal leaders to brief them on current planning and commitments.
The provincial government has indicated financial and administrative support for the initiative and the Premier reiterated his government’s intentions saying, “Western Nova Scotia has contributed significantly to the heritage tapestry of contemporary Canada, and we want to build on Canada’s awareness of that contribution.”
The West Nova MP also pledged his active participation in the process.
“I have already acquainted myself with this initiative and the application currently before Heritage Canada, and I will be communicating with Department officials the importance of this project for all of Canada”, Fraser said. I am impressed with the effort and I look forward to working with your communities to move this forward.”
The Canada Legacy Society was incorporated this past September and is comprised of nine municipal units, the Municipality of the County of Kings; the Town of Middleton, The Municipality of the County of Annapolis; the Town of Annapolis Royal; The Municipality of the District of Digby; the Town of Digby; the Municipality of Argyle; the Town of Yarmouth and the Municipality of the District of Yarmouth.
The community leaders from the participating municipalities came together in a strategic decision that led to the forming of a collaborative Society. Demonstrating nine communities were; not only together, but steadfast in their desire to secure maximum funding support for the proposed signature initiative to Heritage Canada that would benefit all Canadians.
Momentum continues; there has been interest recently expressed by three additional municipal units all wanting to join the Canada 150 proposal and the inter-municipal agreement
“We have received interest from three other municipal units in western Nova Scotia about joining the Society”, revealed CLS President Michael Tompkins, Mayor of Annapolis Royal, adding “ Which tells us that we are definitely on the right path because speaking as one voice was the best way to secure maximum funding support so Canadians experience their country’s early beginnings”.
Other members of the Society’s executive are Annapolis County Councillor Marilyn Wilkins as Treasurer; and Municipality of the District of Digby Warden Linda Gregory as Secretary.
Also attending the meeting were Kings County Warden Diana Brothers; Middleton Mayor Calvin Eddy; Annapolis County Warden Reg Ritchie; Digby Mayor Ben Cleveland; Municipality of Yarmouth Warden Murray Godwin; and Argle Warden Aldric d”Entremont.
The Municipality of the County of Annapolis hosted the meeting, and its Warden Reg Ritchie said “This a collaborative approach that I think is an unprecedented occasion in inter municipal cooperation; that’s why we have been fully supportive from the start and been willing to contribute staff and resources to facilitate the process over the past year”.
In its submission the Society has prepared and delivered a detailed and inclusive promotional strategy for southwest Nova Scotia to the Government of Canada and will be releasing their plans once funding support has been secured.
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For additional information contact:
Peter MacLellan
Canada Legacy Society
Communications Coordinator
(902) 308-3331
