Thursday, April 19, 2019
The Province of Nova Scotia and the Government of Canada are investing $1.5 million to revitalize and enhance the Big Boat Shed on Nova Scotia’s iconic Lunenburg waterfront.
The Big Boat Shed was the main boatbuilding facility of the Smith and Rhuland Shipyards, which opened in 1900. Over its 67 years of operation, more than 270 boats were built on site including prominent vessels such as Bounty, Rose, and Bluenose II.
The Province of Nova Scotia is contributing $1 million, including $750,000 through the Tourism Revitalization of Icons Program administered by Tourism Nova Scotia, and $250,000 from Develop Nova Scotia.
Develop Nova Scotia is overseeing the project as part of its work with the community to revitalize the waterfront.
The first phase of the project includes stabilizing the building, re-constructing the floor, and installing a full-length concrete slipway. This will be followed by improvements to the structure and windows and doors, while preserving the historical feel of this authentic building.
The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), through its Innovative Communities Fund, is providing $500,000 toward new accessible viewing deck for the public to observe large boat construction and repair activities taking place in the original building. In partnership with the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, an exhibit area will be part of the expansion as well as programming space to teach traditional boatbuilding skills to future generations.
The Town of Lunenburg is an internationally-recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of Nova Scotia's most visited attractions. This investment will help make the Big Boat Shed a new immersive experience on Lunenburg’s waterfront, providing visitors with another compelling reason to visit.
See the press release for more information.
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