Grand Manan lighthouse, research station to be upgraded

Grand Manan's Swallowtail Lighthouse and theWhale and Seabird Research Station are getting a combined total of nearly $200,000from the provincial and federal governments.

"Our government firmly believes in investing to upgrade and modernize our tourism infrastructures to create more economic opportunities and rebuild New Brunswick," Healthy and Inclusive Communities Minister Dorothy Shephard said on Wednesday, on behalf of Economic Development Minister Paul Robichaud.

"Investments such as these represent important steps toward strengthening local economies and improving the quality of life in our communities,"said Rob Moore, minister of state for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

The lighthouse, a tourism icon for the community, will see:

• Construction of a boardwalk.
• Improvements to the footbridge.
• The production of marketing materials.
• Project administration costs.

The Swallowtail Keepers Society is handling the project.

The lighthouse, built in 1858 and considered one of the most photographed in the Maritimes, sits on a spit of land on the north head of Grand Manan Island in the Bay of Fundy.

Improvements to the research station will include the excavation and installation of a proper basement and walls, repositioning of the new foundation, and the installation of a new roof.

The non-profit research station, founded in 1981,is dedicated to studying the Bay of Fundy ecosystem, educating visitors on the uniqueness of the region and promoting conservation.

The provincial government is investing $60,000 in the Swallowtail Lighthouse, while the federal government is providing $109,000 under the Innovative Communities Fund. The Village of Grand Manan is contributing $20,000, while the Swallowtail Keepers Society is providing $29,100.

Funding for the research station includes $8,000 from the provincial government; $21,888from the federal government, through ACOA,under the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund; $25,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundationand $7,939 fromprivate donors.