Government of Canada supports creation of enhanced visitor experience honouring mining culture, contribution to Cape Breton's history

April 28, 2022 * Glace Bay, Nova Scotia * Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

Atlantic Canadian tourism organizations and operators are working hard to recover from pandemic challenges and find new approaches to deliver world-class tourism experiences that tell the stories of the region, and what makes it such a special visitor destination. That is why the Government of Canada is supporting the Cape Breton Miners Museum in the expansion of an enhanced visitor experience that preserves and commemorates Cape Breton's coal mining legacy.

Federal government supports expansion of cultural experience

Today, Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton - Canso, announced a non-repayable contribution of $800,000 through the Canada Coal Transition Initiative Infrastructure Fund (CCTI) to the Cape Breton Miners' Foundation to implement Phase II of its Interpretive Renewal Plan. The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA.

The Province of Nova Scotia is contributing $800,000. The Cape Breton Miners' Foundation is also making a significant contribution of $400,000 generated through fundraising and sponsorship.

One of the primary areas of focus will be the Men of the Deeps Theatre, which will be renovated to tell the mining story through graphics, a display wall, and a dedicated stage entrance for the coal miners chorus. A permanent memorial will be created to honour those lost in Cape Breton's coal mines. Navigational aids for visual and hearing-impaired individuals will be created, and solar panels and LED lighting will be installed to minimize the museum's reliance on fossil fuels. This project will help the museum attract more visitors and generate revenue, while sharing the region's mining history in an authentic, interactive way.

The CCTI - Infrastructure Fund was launched on August 20, 2020. This $150 million over five years, delivered by Canada's regional development agencies (RDAs), aims to help communities move away from coal by investing in infrastructure. The initiative is set to end on March 31, 2025. ACOA is delivering $55 million under CCTI initiatives. The Government of Canada remains committed to working with partners to make this transition easier. These investments help communities diversify economies, create jobs, and prepare for the future.