Despite splashy N.L. tourism ads, advocates worry about future of heritage sites
Organizations want the province to increase spending by $5M over 5 years
Despite tourism ads beckoning visitors to explore Newfoundland and Labrador, heritage advocates say the province's heritage sites are in danger of shutting down if the government doesn't make more money available.
In October they sent a letter to Tourism Minister Steve Crocker, asking for $5 million more over five years to support museum operations across the province.
Newfoundland and Labrador Historic Trust president Luke Quinton said he doesn't have a problem with the millions of dollars the province allocates to tourism commercials, but takes issue with featuring heritage structures prominently in those ads without supporting them financially.
"We need to make sure that we're supporting these buildings that, you know, once the camera is off might fall into the ocean," Quinton told CBC Radio's The Signal.
He said the Crown corporation Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, which funds heritage buildings through its grant program, is severely underfunded.
"They have something like $150,000 a year to spend for over 300 buildings. It's just not enough. I mean, that's the price of basically like a fancy shed these days," said Quinton.
He also sent a letter to Crocker requesting more money, but said the response essentially said the province supports heritage organizations without committing to increasing funding.
Colony of Avalon executive director Kate Pitcher said organizations need more money to maintain operations.
"The Colony of Avalon, along with many different museums, are struggling immensely lately to keep up with our salary requirements. To keep up with keeping the lights on," she said.
The Ferryland site is extensive, she said, with a museum, interpretation centre, a conservation lab, a dig site, a 17th-century kitchen as well as a gift shop. The site is also open for about half the year, and receives approximately 15,000 visitors annually.
"So there's a lot of things that go on," said Pitcher.
Like Quinton, Pitcher said she's disappointed by Crocker's response.
"We got a letter from Minister Crocker that basically said that unfortunately they are unable to do this at this time," she said.
CBC News has asked Crocker for an interview.
Year of Heritage
Bell Island No. 2 Mine Tour and Museum executive director Teresita McCarthy said the government is failing to recognize the value of historic sites.
"We protect. We preserve. We promote. We present our heritage and our culture. That's why we're here. That's what we were built to do," said McCarthy.
In a six-month period in 2024, she said the Bell Island museum welcomed 18,000 visitors and has been a big boost to the area.
"We have basically replaced the mining industry with a small seasonal tourism entity that employs eight adults, four students, and the economic spinoffs for this small community are exponential," said McCarthy.
Heritage sites also help boost other nearby businesses, she said, adding that when the Bell Island museum temporarily closed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a local restaurant owner told McCarthy that her revenue dropped by 40 per cent.
The provincial government named 2024 as year of the arts, following it up by making 2025 as the year of sport, but McCarthy said the government needs to recognize heritage site contributions to the province as well.
"Where is the year of heritage? Where is the bandwagon that says, 'You know what, we have to recognize these heritage sites that are basically helping to keep rural Newfoundland and Labrador alive.'"
"We are doing far more than protecting our heritage and culture. We're doing far more than promoting it. We are basically creating economic engines within communities."
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With files from The Signal
