Canada 2017 Legacy Planning Quickly Moving Ahead in Southwest Nova Scotia
(Annapolis Royal, NS) Planning for the Canada 150 Legacy initiative in southwestern Nova Scotia got a real boost this week with a major funding announcement in Annapolis Royal.
On Tuesday Greg Kerr, Member of Parliament for West Nova, on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada announced infrastructure investments totalling more than $3.2 million for Fort Anne and Port-Royal National Historic Sites.
The news provided encouraging impetus to the work being done by a regional Legacy Committee, chaired by Municipality of Annapolis Chief Administrative Officer John Ferguson.
In February, six area municipal units announced plans to develop an inter-Municipal Agreement to finance a regional heritage and cultural funding strategy, and pursue specific legacy initiatives. Several other area municipalities have since joined or are planning to participle, including most recently the Municipality of the County of Kings.
The Agreement would allow for a not-for-profit municipal corporation to be created, giving more flexibility to the municipal units.
The Legacy Committee Chair said that he expected that the formal signing of an inter-Municipal Agreement would be completed before the end of the month.
“The momentum and backing for this national initiative, supported by several municipalities and community organizations, is taking off at a phenomenally brisk pace”, Ferguson said, pointing out that “This funding announcement further underlines the federal government’s commitment and the need for us as municipal government and business leaders to move ahead equally swiftly”.
And Legacy Committee members, with high level representation from the area municipalities, were in full attendance at the federal government announcement to show their appreciation and support. Also attending in cooperation were senior representatives from the Digby, Annapolis Royal and Annapolis Valley Boards of Trade.
Regional municipal leaders have backed the need to move in collaboration.
“This is a unique opportunity to take advantage of multi-level government infrastructure and promotional funding to develop our area’s natural and historic heritage”, said Digby mayor Ben Cleveland.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to share with the rest of Canada, indeed the world, the rich contribution this area has made to our national heritage’, added Reg Ritchie, Warden, Municipality of Annapolis.
Earlier this month the area Legacy planning team also met with representatives from the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage (NSCCH) to discuss the province’s supporting role in this initiative. That role is also expected to be announced shortly.
West Nova MP Kerr was delighted with the show of support and cooperation from across the area.
““It’s wonderful to see the whole region working together to design and advance a plan that recognizes, supports and promotes our shared cultural legacy,” Kerr said.
A detailed promotional strategy to showcase the area’s cultural contribution to Canada is expected to be announced soon after the signing of the inter-Municipal Agreement.
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For further information contact: Peter MacLellan
Legacy Committee Communications Coordinator
(902) 308-3331
John Ferguson
Legacy Committee Chair
(902) 532-3130
