By SooToday.com Staff
SooToday.com
Friday, November 20, 2009

NEWS RELEASE

DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP

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Orazietti announces $1 million to improve Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site

McGuinty government investment boosting tourism and creating jobs

SAULT STE. MARIE - The McGuinty government is investing $1 million to make substantial improvements to the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site in Sault Ste. Marie to increase tourism and offer a more innovative educational experience to visitors while creating new jobs, David Orazietti, MPP announced today.

"By constructing a new Discovery Centre and restoring the Old Stone House, we are ensuring that the Ermatinger site will have improved facilities to educate future generations about our community's founders," said Orazietti. "This investment will help keep a key piece of our local history alive while attracting more tourists and creating new jobs."

The province, through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), is partnering with the City of Sault Ste. Marie to construct a heritage discovery centre that will offer hands on demonstrations and programming.

In addition, the summer kitchen in the Old Stone House is being restored to its original state.

“Our investment will help revitalize this National Historic Site and help position it as one of Sault Ste. Marie’s culturally significant centres, attracting more tourism to the area,” said Michael Gravelle, minister of northern development, mines and forestry and chair of the NOHFC.

The project is expected to create 40 construction-related jobs and two new full-time jobs.

On October 2, 2009 Orazietti announced $59,800 for celebrations leading up to the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 including a historical re-enactment at the Ermatinger Clergue site.

“This announcement is fantastic news and with the new addition of the Heritage Discovery Centre this will help make the Ermatinger Clergue site a key cultural tourism attraction at the east end of the downtown core. The construction will also address accessibility needs and the new building will meet LEED Gold Certification. It will house the 1812 Gallery as well as a new 50 seat theatre,” said Kathy Fisher, curator of the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site.

Other McGuinty government investments to support tourism in Sault Ste. Marie include:

- $5 million to revitalize the Agawa Canyon Tour Train

- $3.5 million to construct, expand and improve the Hub Trail and Waterfront Walkway

- $570,000 for Downtown improvements

- $170,000 for Bushplane museum

- $60,000 to promote the tour train in Canada and the US

Quick facts

- The NOHFC is providing $1 million for this project under its Infrastructure and Community Development Program, which helps northern communities improve critical infrastructure, create jobs and improve economic prospects

- The Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site consists of two of the oldest stone buildings northwest of Toronto

Learn more

Read about the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site

About the NOHFC’s programs

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