Cupids Cove Chatter

The Winterton Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador will launch the Official Opening and Keel-laying Ceremony of  The Indeavour Saga Exhibit on Wednesday, June 14th at 11am.

From the press release:

Alan Doyle, along with MP Scott Andrews, Minister Terry French and MHA Charlene Johnson, Bill Grandy, Program Manager ACOA will be in Winterton, Trinity Bay on June 14th, 2010 at 11:00 AM to launch the Official Opening and Keel-laying Ceremony of The
Indeavour Saga Exhibit.

Master of Ceremonies for the event will be Alan Doyle of Great Big Sea.

The schedule for this historic event will include Museum tour, an Official Keel-Laying Ceremony, greetings from Government of Canada, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador and Cupids 400 Inc.
To conclude the event invited guests will attend a time a the SUF Lodge #2 (across the street from the museum building) where refreshments will be served and  entertainment will be provided by Alan Doyle and friends.

For more information contact:
Beverley King
Project Administrator
Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador
(709) 583-2070

Email: bkingheritage@gmail.com

Website: woodenboatnl.com

BACKGROUNDER:

Indeavour - 12 ton bark for exploring the island

The Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to safeguarding the legacy of our Province’s wooden boat building heritage.  The exhibit is named for John Guy’s ship “The Indeavour,” which was used on his voyage from Cupids to Trinity Bay in 1612. This 34ft wooden vessel played played an important role in Newfoundland’s History, as it was the first decked wooden boat built in North America.  The boat was also used to   explore the nearby coast and locate the Beothuk people.   The exhibit itself will be a two – fold experience:  the history of the vessel is retold by elaborate illustrations and story boards in the Museum’s main building, featuring works by Robert Haliday, Hilary Cass and and Kevin Coates. The vessel construction takes place outside in the boat building shed, where the keel, stem, counter and main frames of this full sized exhibit will come to life.

The Indeavour Saga Exhibit was first announced in July 2009 as the first regional project for the 2010 Cupids 400 Inc. celebrations. Other partners in the project are the Town of Winterton, the Winterton Heritage Advisory Board, the Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation, ACOA, and Government of NL through the departments of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.

For more information see – Building Full Sized Model of the ‘Indeavour’  >>

Hon. Terry French, Minister Tourism, Culture and Recreation

Originally uploaded by John Guy2010

Statement given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation on June 8th:

Yesterday I had the honour of being in Cupids for the launch of Tourism Awareness Week in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Tourism Awareness Week is an opportunity to acknowledge tourism operators in this province who are working hard to further build this important industry – an industry which contributes about $850 million annually to the provincial economy.

It was certainly appropriate that the launch of Tourism Awareness Week took place in Cupids, which this year celebrates the 400th anniversary of its establishment as the first English colony in Canada.

There have already been several events throughout the region to mark this milestone, and we expect to see an influx of visitors this summer who will take the opportunity to tour the Cupids archaeological site, take in live theatrical productions, and visit the newly-constructed Cupids Legacy Centre.

The Provincial Government has invested $5.3 million in support of the anniversary celebrations, including upgrades to municipal infrastructure, beautification initiatives and construction of the Legacy Centre. This fabulous facility, which will open to the public next week, will showcase the history of the region and chronicle the establishment of the English presence in the New World. It will serve as an anchor tourism attraction which will serve Cupids and surrounding areas for many years to come.

This year is shaping up to be an excellent year for tourism throughout the province and that is due in large part to the growing professionalism within our tourism industry and the operators who are providing visitors with the unique experiences they come here to enjoy.

In acknowledging Tourism Awareness Week, I ask my colleagues in this Honourable House to join me in congratulating Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, the province’s tourism industry association, and all the individual tourism operators who are ensuring that Newfoundland and Labrador remains a travel destination of choice.

More photos from the opening of Tourism Awareness Week launch in Cupids  > >

In June of 2009, the Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced that the Provincial Government will provide an additional $1.8 million to help fund the construction of the Cupids 400 Legacy Centre, bringing the province’s total commitment to the Cupids celebration and related infrastructure to over $3.8 million.

“Next year, in 2010, we will celebrate the 400th anniversary of Cupids, the first English colony established in what is today Canada,” said Premier Williams. “While it is important that we mark the occasion with a major celebration, it is equally important that we use this opportunity to build a legacy for the people of Cupids, the surrounding areas, and the entire province. Our government is a proud supporter of our rich heritage and we look forward to the celebrations next year.”

The Premier was joined by the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, the Honourable Tom Hedderson, MHA for Harbour Main, and Roy Dawe, Chairman of Cupids400 Inc.

“Investment in the preservation and promotion of our history is also an investment in our future and we are pleased to support this important initiative,” said Minister Jackman. “The Cupids400 celebrations will focus worldwide attention on our province, and the Legacy Centre will serve as an anchor attraction to draw visitors to the area.”

Minister Hedderson noted the construction of the centre, which is expected to begin in July, will bring new economic opportunities to the region.

“A facility of this nature and quality will add to the cultural and tourism attractions that are present throughout the region and promote further economic development and employment opportunities,” said Minister Hedderson.

The centre will house more than 110,000 artifacts uncovered since the discovery of the original John Guy Plantation site in 1995. It will also include a history/genealogical resource centre, a multi-purpose hall, and an archaeology lab where visitors will learn about the processes of archaeology.

“We are delighted to have this final portion of funding confirmed,” said Mr. Dawe. “The province has been behind the Cupids anniversary project from the beginning and today’s announcement means that our new Legacy Centre will be a world-class facility and an important attraction in the Northern Avalon region.”

The events around the 400th anniversary celebrations in Cupids – which will culminate in a week of activities August 17-22, 2010 – are projected to inject $15 million into the provincial economy and provide long-term tourism-related benefits to the town and region.

Press Release from Executive Council, Tourism, Culture and Recreation

More photos from Premier William’s announcement in June 2009  > >

Mrs. Ginevra (Akerman) Wells [December 11, 1917] was very happy with the announcement.  In October 1983, she was founding member of the Cupids Historical Society.  Like many people from the community who have worked hard over the years to preserve community heritage, 2010 will be the culmination of years of dedication for Mrs. Wells.

August 14, 2008 Prime Minister Stephen Harper, joined by Regional Cabinet Minister Loyola Hearn and Senator Fabian Fanning (who at time was MP for the district of Avalon), announced over $3 million in addition federal support for Cupids 400th anniversary celebrations in 2010.

The $3 million dollars announced by Prime Minister Harper will help local organizers stage a number of educational, cultural and social events that will be held throughout 2010.

More photos from the announcement > >

At the time of the announcement, a number of the planned events  included:

Cultural Celebrations:  The centerpiece of the Cupids 400 celebrations will include a number of cultural festivals with preliminary plans in place for a Creative Arts Festival, Theatre Festival, Buskers Festival, Folk Festival, and several Historical re-enactments featuring professional performers.

Aboriginal Contact:  In 1612 John Guy explored Trinity Bay and made contact with the Aboriginal people of Newfoundland, the Beothuk.

Education: The Cupids 400 Celebrations will also include a number of educational tools which will be made available, in both official languages, to interested students and teachers in Newfoundland and Labrador and throughout Canada.

Ceremonies: The formal Cupids 400 celebrations will begin with an official opening Ceremony on August 17, 2010, with a full schedule of events planned through to August 22, 2010.

Family Reunions:  The Cupids 400 celebration will include a genealogy program that will help local families trace their family roots and hold 2010 family reunions.

Conventions & Symposiums:  The Cupids 400 committee is actively recruiting international conventions and symposiums to the province in 2010.  Already the Society of Post-Medieval Archaeology is planning to hold its annual conference in Cupids.

During the announcement the small town of Cupids got its first visit by a large press corps.  They formed a strange contrast with the traditional buildings in the small Newfoundland town.