Upgrades planned for Grand Pré National Historic Site
Grand Pré, N.S. – The minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine Mckenna, was at Grand Pré National Historical Site earlier this month for a very special reason.
Mckenna was there to announce upgrades. Said the investment of $925,000 will help upgrade the theatre and exhibits to “enable new and innovative experiences to be offered, so Canadians can learn more about our diverse heritage.”
Maintenance to the Memorial Church, including its repointing and similar work on Grand Pré’s monuments, will help preserve these important cultural symbols, she said.
In addition, a replacement of the operations building will improve the workspace for staff to support the ongoing maintenance of the buildings and grounds of the site. A new structure will be built on the former parking lot east of the site.
“These investments ensure that more Canadians, including youth and newcomers, can learn about our environment and cultural heritage,” Mckenna said, “while experiencing the natural wonder of our treasured places.”
Looking around the park that is known as the site of the Deportation of 1755, she added the upgrades will allow for an acknowledgement of “the sad and terrible events of which we need to be reminded.”
“As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, the government of Canada is proud to invest in the protection and conservation of Grand-pré National Historic Site. Through infrastructure investments at Parks Canada places, we are creating middle class jobs and sustained economic growth, while ensuring high-quality and meaningful visitor experiences for years to come.”
Mckenna added, “I encourage Canadians to visit Parks Canada destinations across Nova Scotia as part of Canada 150 to experience the province’s natural and cultural treasures.”
Glooscap First Nations Chief Sydney Peters and Mindy Gallant-zwicker took part in the announcement. He brought greetings and she offered traditional Mi’kmaw prayers.
Peters invited all those gathered to the peace and friendship event being held at the park in August.
Kings-hants MP Scott Brison also escorted Mckenna on a tour of another national historic site, this time in Windsor.
Windsor Mayor Anna Allen met the visitors and showed them the venerable military blockhouse at Fort Edward.
A national historic site since 1921, the blockhouse is the oldest surviving structure of its kind in Canada and one of the few remaining 18th century structures in the province.
The blockhouse is all that remains of the historic fort, connecting present day Windsor to the richness of Canadian history. For example, Flora Macdonald, who gave sanctuary to Bonnie Prince Charlie, spent the winter of 1779 at Fort Edward.