FORT STEELE – Fort Steele Heritage Town will receive $2.65 million to assist in the conservation and management of this important provincial heritage property over the next three years, Tourism, Culture and the Arts Minister Bill Bennett announced today. “B.C.’s heritage sites are vital expressions of our communities’ identity and pride, educating not only British Columbians about their inspiring history, but our visitors as well,” Bennett said. “This investment will support Fort Steele – a vital social and economic resource for the Kootenays and the rest of B.C.” The funding is part of $8.1 million invested by the Province to assist with the management and conservation of a dozen provincial heritage sites operated by third-party community agencies under heritage site management agreements. Other sites include Barkerville, Point Ellice House, and Craigflower Manor and school.
“Fort Steele Heritage Town is a popular attraction that plays a key role in building the sustainability of our region’s tourism sector,” said Laura Williams, CEO of Fort Steele Heritage Town. “This funding will be instrumental in our ongoing work toward the management and promotion of Fort Steele as a first-class heritage tourism experience.” In 2008/09, more than 81,000 people visited Fort Steele. A 2007 economic impact study estimated that the 38,000 visitors who came from outside of the Regional District of East Kootenay to visit Fort Steele spent $2.71 million in the region. The Province encourages and facilitates the protection and conservation of heritage property in British Columbia by helping to develop effective community heritage planning and management of B.C.’s heritage places in partnership with local and federal governments, community groups and site managers. For more information about Fort Steele and other Provincial heritage sites, please visit the Heritage Branch website at www.tca.gov.bc.ca/heritage/.
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