Press/Stories
Harbour Passage Final Design Work Receives ACOA Funding
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 2002
Saint John, NB – The Harbour Passage Project received a significant boost today as a result of a $70,295 financial commitment by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). The ACOA investment in this project, under its Business Development Program (BDP), will go towards the final design elements of the Harbour Passage project. The City of Saint John has previously committed an additional $95,000 for final design work, while the Province of New Brunswick is supporting the design efforts through the Heritage Branch of its Culture and Sport Secretariat.
The concept for the Harbour Passage was developed as a result of the formation of the Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership in 2001. The Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership consists of the City of Saint John, Saint John Development Corporation, Saint John Port Authority, Uptown Saint John, Saint John Board of Trade and Enterprise Saint John. The Partnership was formed to launch a new era of community development for the City of Saint John by encouraging economic, aesthetic, and environmental improvements along the City’s waterfront.
“Waterfront development and the Harbour Passage project is a priority for Saint John,” commented John Wallace, President of the Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership, and we are very pleased to receive support for the final design elements of this project from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Government of Canada.”
“There’s no question that Saint John Harbour is a key entry point to the City of Saint John,” said the Honourable Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of Labour and MP for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe, on behalf of the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). “From the early settlers of this region to today’s many thousand cruise ship tourists, the Harbour is the first impression that people have of New Brunswick’s port city. The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is pleased to support the final design work for the Harbour Passage project.”
“Working to enhance the waterfront of the historic seaport of Saint John is important as it also means that the City’s heritage can be appreciated, “said Education Minister Dennis Furlong, Minister responsible for the Culture and Sport Secretariat. “Partnerships such as this that promote awareness and accessibility of our heritage are objectives of the Cultural Policy for New Brunswick.”
“The City of Saint John is committed to making waterfront development happen,” stated Mayor Shirley McAlary. “Common Council has allocated significant financial and staff resources to the final design and planning work for the Harbour Passage project. The Harbour Passage will help encourage new investment, new commercial development and new tourism activity in Uptown Saint John.”
Final design work for the Harbour Passage project includes landscape architectural, engineering, environmental and interpretive planning components. These final design components are required before construction could begin on a series of interconnected waterfront parks, recreation spaces and heritage sites extending along the Saint John Inner Harbour from Market Square to the Department of National Defence’s HMCS Brunswicker facility and Chesley Drive.
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For further information:
Peter A.H. Graham
Office of the Minister of State
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(613) 294-1990
Patrick Lacroix
Regional Communications Manager
ACOA
(506) 452-3113
Neil Jacobsen
General Manager
Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership
(506) 632-6112
Steve Benteau
Communications
Department of Education
(506) 444-4714