During a three-day visit to Cape Breton that coincided with Atlantic Official Languages Week and Gaelic Nova Scotia Month, Darrell Samson, the Member of Parliament for Sackville-Preston-Chezzetcook and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA, met with educators, arts administrators, and economic development leaders to discuss the region's unique cultural heritage, as well as its competitive advantages, challenges, and plans for future growth.
Parliamentary Secretary Samson spoke with representatives of the Centre de la Mi-Carême in Grand Étang and Les Trois Pignons in Chéticamp about how they are preserving Acadian heritage and enhancing experiences for locals and tourists who are exploring Acadian culture. In downtown Sydney, he met with representatives of the Highland Arts Theatre (HAT) who are providing a year-round professional theatre presence as well as enriching the lives of residents, through youth programs and training for emerging artists. The HAT is an inspiring success story and an important draw for visitors to the region.
The directors at the Beinn Mhàbu campus of Colaisde na Gàidhlig / The Gaelic College hosted the Parliamentary Secretary for a discussion about their year-round programming in Gaelic culture, music, language, crafts and traditions. This new post-secondary institution is an expansion from the main college, which was founded in 1938 and is the only school of its kind in North America.
Mr. Samson also had the opportunity to visit Université Sainte-Anne, Nova Scotia's only French language post-secondary school. There, he met with scientists and faculty at the university's Petit-de-Grat campus on Isle Madame and toured the recently upgraded and modernized Marine Research Centre. The centre is working to help rural fishing industries adapt to changes in the aquaculture sector through innovation and community education programs.
This visit to Cape Breton also involved discussions on economic development in the region. In Chéticamp, Parliamentary Secretary Samson participated in a community consultation led by the Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse (CDÉNÉ). In Sydney, he met with senior representatives of the Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC), Coastal Business, to hear more about how they are supporting entrepreneurs, youth, and underrepresented groups start and grow their businesses.
The Government of Canada is committeed to building on the economic momentum in the Atlantic by showcasing the region's significant competitive advantages, including the vibrant culture, that make this part of the country so unique.
