One of the region’s main tourist attractions is looking at a rather lean summer season, as the federal government cuts back on funding for the North Pacific Fishing Village in Port Edward.
Human Resources Development Canada which regularly has approved grant applications for staffing requirements at the Village has reportedly turned down applications from heritage sites across the northern BC, that according to Karin Ljungh, who is the manager of the Port Edward historical site, which is currently run on a non profit basis.
The Daily News examined the situation from the Fishing Museum point of view in Tuesday’s paper, providing details of the process that the operation at North Pacific goes about applying for grants and what they use that money for. During the course of the article however, there were no details on why Human Resources Development Canada has taken the stand that it seems to have embarked on. An answer to that question might be something that could help shed some light onto what seems to be a rather confusing situation. Perhaps it's a cause that the local MP, Nathan Cullen could examine and report back on for his constituents.
What all of this may mean for the Fishing Village remains to be seen, but with the high profile that the Mayor and others locally have given to tourism in the Northwest of late, it would seem that decisions like these are working at cross purposes as far as developing the tourism potential for the Northwest.
CANNERY STRUGGLES TO COPE AS FUNDING IS PULLED
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Pages one and two
It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
After all, an increase in cruise ship visits, a return to full summer B. C. ferry service, and the grant approved to repair the existing dock, and one would think that 2007 had the potential to be a banner year for the North Pacific Fishing Village in Port Edward.
But then the federal government stepped in and ruined the party, and the cannery’s manager, Karin Ljungh, is worried about how the season may turn out.
“This year got us right out of nowhere,” she said. “I can’t do anything that costs money,”
In the past, the cannery has used HRDC grants to basically pay for the extra staff required for the summer season.
“I have three (employees) that come in over the summer,” said Ljungh. “I apply for four, and usually get three.
“This year we didn’t get anything.”
But this time, HRDC turned down applications from not only the cannery, but from the museums and heritage sites from all over Northern B. C.
“Not one museum got approved,” she said.
“We got hit really hard.”
Unfortunately, the cannery had already gone ahead and hired three summer workers for the tourism season, said Ljungh, now the cannery is not sure exactly how they will be paid.
“We need to do something for the summer,” she said. “We’re in a tough place.”
“We are operating as a tourism site but also as a national historic site, and we’re non-profit, so I don’t understand why (HRDC turned the cannery down for a grant.)”
Generating a profit, then, maybe the only way the cannery can manage to get through the summer, and the increase in cruise ship traffic- which in essence saved the North Pacific last summer in light of the sinking of the Queen of the North – should help with tourism numbers.
“We were in much better shape at the end of last year than expected,” said Ljungh.
“So that’s what we’re focusing all of our energy on.”
The North Pacific cannery has set up short tours specifically aimed at the cruise ship passengers, while the more extensive tours will continue to be reserved for the walk-up traffic, like those travelers coming in via Highway 16, or journeying up the Inside Passage on B. C. Ferries.
The best of those tours, said Ljungh, is a dinner package that includes a salmon dinner that tourists are already raving about.
“The (longer) tour is focused more so on what the cannery life was really like,” she said.
Due to money constraints, the main event of the summer will be the annual music festival, Rollin’ on the river, scheduled for noon until 7 p. m. on Sun. June 3 (watch for a full preview on the festival later this week in the Daily News).
After that show, the cannery will host music cafes, throughout the summer every Saturday.
In addition, Ljungh is hoping to get two main projects underway at the cannery, including getting new flowers in the 34 flower boxes.
She is also hoping to paint the building, but both of these projects will depend on how the local businesses respond with a call for offers to help.
“We faxed our letters to everybody,” she said.
The cannery is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a. m. until 5 p. m. Then as of July 1, it will be open seven days a week.
Human Resources Development Canada which regularly has approved grant applications for staffing requirements at the Village has reportedly turned down applications from heritage sites across the northern BC, that according to Karin Ljungh, who is the manager of the Port Edward historical site, which is currently run on a non profit basis.
The Daily News examined the situation from the Fishing Museum point of view in Tuesday’s paper, providing details of the process that the operation at North Pacific goes about applying for grants and what they use that money for. During the course of the article however, there were no details on why Human Resources Development Canada has taken the stand that it seems to have embarked on. An answer to that question might be something that could help shed some light onto what seems to be a rather confusing situation. Perhaps it's a cause that the local MP, Nathan Cullen could examine and report back on for his constituents.
What all of this may mean for the Fishing Village remains to be seen, but with the high profile that the Mayor and others locally have given to tourism in the Northwest of late, it would seem that decisions like these are working at cross purposes as far as developing the tourism potential for the Northwest.
CANNERY STRUGGLES TO COPE AS FUNDING IS PULLED
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Pages one and two
It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
After all, an increase in cruise ship visits, a return to full summer B. C. ferry service, and the grant approved to repair the existing dock, and one would think that 2007 had the potential to be a banner year for the North Pacific Fishing Village in Port Edward.
But then the federal government stepped in and ruined the party, and the cannery’s manager, Karin Ljungh, is worried about how the season may turn out.
“This year got us right out of nowhere,” she said. “I can’t do anything that costs money,”
In the past, the cannery has used HRDC grants to basically pay for the extra staff required for the summer season.
“I have three (employees) that come in over the summer,” said Ljungh. “I apply for four, and usually get three.
“This year we didn’t get anything.”
But this time, HRDC turned down applications from not only the cannery, but from the museums and heritage sites from all over Northern B. C.
“Not one museum got approved,” she said.
“We got hit really hard.”
Unfortunately, the cannery had already gone ahead and hired three summer workers for the tourism season, said Ljungh, now the cannery is not sure exactly how they will be paid.
“We need to do something for the summer,” she said. “We’re in a tough place.”
“We are operating as a tourism site but also as a national historic site, and we’re non-profit, so I don’t understand why (HRDC turned the cannery down for a grant.)”
Generating a profit, then, maybe the only way the cannery can manage to get through the summer, and the increase in cruise ship traffic- which in essence saved the North Pacific last summer in light of the sinking of the Queen of the North – should help with tourism numbers.
“We were in much better shape at the end of last year than expected,” said Ljungh.
“So that’s what we’re focusing all of our energy on.”
The North Pacific cannery has set up short tours specifically aimed at the cruise ship passengers, while the more extensive tours will continue to be reserved for the walk-up traffic, like those travelers coming in via Highway 16, or journeying up the Inside Passage on B. C. Ferries.
The best of those tours, said Ljungh, is a dinner package that includes a salmon dinner that tourists are already raving about.
“The (longer) tour is focused more so on what the cannery life was really like,” she said.
Due to money constraints, the main event of the summer will be the annual music festival, Rollin’ on the river, scheduled for noon until 7 p. m. on Sun. June 3 (watch for a full preview on the festival later this week in the Daily News).
After that show, the cannery will host music cafes, throughout the summer every Saturday.
In addition, Ljungh is hoping to get two main projects underway at the cannery, including getting new flowers in the 34 flower boxes.
She is also hoping to paint the building, but both of these projects will depend on how the local businesses respond with a call for offers to help.
“We faxed our letters to everybody,” she said.
The cannery is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a. m. until 5 p. m. Then as of July 1, it will be open seven days a week.
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