Employment leader
Federal grants supporting Membertou projects
Membertou has become one of the largest employers in Cape Breton and federal grants of almost $1 million help it support that position.
The grants totaling $953,000 from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency were announced Friday at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre by Sydney-Victoria MP Mark Eyking on behalf of Minister Navdeep Bains. The money has already been received and spent.
Chief Terry Paul said the grants were needed to upgrade the sound system and communications equipment at the trade and convention centre and other facilities, which accounted for about $750,000 of the funding. It also includes new floorboards to sit atop the ice surface at the Membertou Sports and Wellness Centre, which will allow it to host additional events.
“What’s good for Membertou is great for Cape Breton,” Eyking said. “Your efforts help our island and our province, for a better place to live, work and grow.”
The grants also allowed for the purchase of a chiller for the data centre to protect the security of files there in the event of a power outage.
The funding also toward Membertou’s cultural tourism product, supporting the creation of an exhibit chronicling the history of Membertou, from its birth as the Kings Road Reserve to its current location.
“It’s to make it more of a destination rather than just a drive-through, I think it’s important that we promote our products very well,” Paul said.
The addition of the arena allows the community to host larger events in concert with the convention centre, Paul noted. “We’ll be attracting much larger events than what the trade centre can handle, it will be working hand in hand with the wellness centre and we certainly are gaining more and more events to the community,” he said. “Because of our ability to promote those areas we’ve been able to attract national events. I feel that’s a very good niche to have.”
Membertou employs about 400 year-round, and up to 750 at peak, depending upon the events the community is hosting.
Paul said he takes the community’s role as the CBRM’s third largest employer seriously.
“We really appreciate that and we take that as a responsibility,” he said.
They also purchased a backup
diesel generator that will enable the convention centre to act as an emergency warming station during natural
disasters, such as the Thanksgiving Day.