Official Opening of the Gateway to Labrador Visitor Centre
Posted 27 June 2006, 9:33 am NDT
(Photos of the Gateway Exhibits can be found in our Gallery)
L'Anse au Clair, Newfoundland and Labrador, June 26, 2006 - The Town of L'Anse au Clair now has more to offer tourists and its residents. The renovated Gateway to Labrador Visitor Centre, the Jersey Trail and the new AMG Town Centre were celebrated at ribbon cutting ceremonies today.
His Worship Nath Moores, mayor of L'Anse au Clair, and Doug Robbins, president of the Labrador Straits Historical Development Corporation joined with the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and other representatives of the federal and provincial governments and the community at two separate events – one to open the visitor centre and another at the Town Centre.
The AMG Town Centre houses a family resource centre, new council chambers, a gym and a Community Access Program (CAP) site where residents will be able to access the internet.
"The new Town Centre will serve as the heart of our community," said Mayor Moores. "This facility provides not only a place for the council and staff to conduct the business of running the town but creates a gathering place where we can strengthen our bodies, our minds and our sense of family and community."
The Gateway to Labrador Visitor Centre is a beautifully restored early 20th century, Labrador version of a Gothic Revival style church. The painted exterior, the pointed arch windows, the signature cinquefoil design window in the front of the central bell tower, and the hexagonal roofed bell tower make the Gateway a stunning building. Being the first building on the entrance to L'Anse Au Clair travelling north, it makes a perfect welcoming place for visitors to Labrador.
"A newly installed series of interpretative panels, art pieces, and artifacts makes it a definite must see for all visitors to Labrador Coastal Drive," said Mr. Robbins. "Panels with beautiful photography relate the story of the people of Labrador from the first inhabitants who arrived some 9000 years ago to present day settlers. Continue the tour of the region's historic attractions, including Red Bay, Battle Harbour, the Point Amour Lighthouse and the L'Anse Amour Burial , and visitors will get the full, incredible story of the people of Labrador."
Of particular interest in this exhibit is a series of reproduction artifacts, including a Thule harpoon and many of the artifacts recovered at the 7500 year old site at L'Anse Amour. The Gateway will also house a display of artifacts from the recently excavated Jersey Room at nearby L'Anse Au Cotard.
The pine walls and unique architecture of the interior of the Gateway are perfect backdrops for several commissioned pieces of art. The vibrant silk paintings by renowned artist Diana Dabinett bring the flowers, birds, whales, and icebergs of Labrador to life in dramatic style. The beauty of the Northern Lights is captured in a winter landscape by local artist, Janet Howell.
The Gateway also serves as the region's information centre. Visitors will find information on ferry schedules, accommodations, hiking trails, craft shops, restaurants, maps, points of interest and more.
The opening of the Jersey Trail, in nearby L'Anse au Cotard, was also celebrated today. The trail now offers a more comprehensive interpretation of the remains of premises established by Jersey fishermen in the late 1700s. Stone building foundations and an extensive stone-paved walkway are still visible. This site is also now prepared for future archaeological development.
In conjunction with the opening of the Gateway to Labrador Visitor Centre, the Labrador Straits Historical Development Corporation will be hosting a Flintknapping Workshop on June 27th with Tim Rast, who created the reproduction pre-contact artifacts on display at the Gateway Visitor Centre. Two workshops will be held, one from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm, and one from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm, at the Natural Heritage Centre, Point Amour. Participants will learn how a stone is transformed into an arrowhead or spearpoint, and will make an arrowhead themselves. This workshop is presented free of charge as part of the opening celebrations of the Gateway to Labrador Visitor Centre.
L'Anse au Clair, Newfoundland and Labrador, June 26, 2006 - The Town of L'Anse au Clair now has more to offer tourists and its residents. The renovated Gateway to Labrador Visitor Centre, the Jersey Trail and the new AMG Town Centre were celebrated at ribbon cutting ceremonies today.
His Worship Nath Moores, mayor of L'Anse au Clair, and Doug Robbins, president of the Labrador Straits Historical Development Corporation joined with the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and other representatives of the federal and provincial governments and the community at two separate events – one to open the visitor centre and another at the Town Centre.
The AMG Town Centre houses a family resource centre, new council chambers, a gym and a Community Access Program (CAP) site where residents will be able to access the internet.
"The new Town Centre will serve as the heart of our community," said Mayor Moores. "This facility provides not only a place for the council and staff to conduct the business of running the town but creates a gathering place where we can strengthen our bodies, our minds and our sense of family and community."
The Gateway to Labrador Visitor Centre is a beautifully restored early 20th century, Labrador version of a Gothic Revival style church. The painted exterior, the pointed arch windows, the signature cinquefoil design window in the front of the central bell tower, and the hexagonal roofed bell tower make the Gateway a stunning building. Being the first building on the entrance to L'Anse Au Clair travelling north, it makes a perfect welcoming place for visitors to Labrador.
"A newly installed series of interpretative panels, art pieces, and artifacts makes it a definite must see for all visitors to Labrador Coastal Drive," said Mr. Robbins. "Panels with beautiful photography relate the story of the people of Labrador from the first inhabitants who arrived some 9000 years ago to present day settlers. Continue the tour of the region's historic attractions, including Red Bay, Battle Harbour, the Point Amour Lighthouse and the L'Anse Amour Burial , and visitors will get the full, incredible story of the people of Labrador."
Of particular interest in this exhibit is a series of reproduction artifacts, including a Thule harpoon and many of the artifacts recovered at the 7500 year old site at L'Anse Amour. The Gateway will also house a display of artifacts from the recently excavated Jersey Room at nearby L'Anse Au Cotard.
The pine walls and unique architecture of the interior of the Gateway are perfect backdrops for several commissioned pieces of art. The vibrant silk paintings by renowned artist Diana Dabinett bring the flowers, birds, whales, and icebergs of Labrador to life in dramatic style. The beauty of the Northern Lights is captured in a winter landscape by local artist, Janet Howell.
The Gateway also serves as the region's information centre. Visitors will find information on ferry schedules, accommodations, hiking trails, craft shops, restaurants, maps, points of interest and more.
The opening of the Jersey Trail, in nearby L'Anse au Cotard, was also celebrated today. The trail now offers a more comprehensive interpretation of the remains of premises established by Jersey fishermen in the late 1700s. Stone building foundations and an extensive stone-paved walkway are still visible. This site is also now prepared for future archaeological development.
In conjunction with the opening of the Gateway to Labrador Visitor Centre, the Labrador Straits Historical Development Corporation will be hosting a Flintknapping Workshop on June 27th with Tim Rast, who created the reproduction pre-contact artifacts on display at the Gateway Visitor Centre. Two workshops will be held, one from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm, and one from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm, at the Natural Heritage Centre, Point Amour. Participants will learn how a stone is transformed into an arrowhead or spearpoint, and will make an arrowhead themselves. This workshop is presented free of charge as part of the opening celebrations of the Gateway to Labrador Visitor Centre.