ST. JOHN’s, N.L. — Thanks to the Turning the Tide board, the Home from the Sea Elliston Sealers Memorial now has $50,000 for operating costs, an annual contribution presented each year at the Marine Industry Awards.
Myrtle Stagg of Home from the Sea accepted the donation on behalf of the board, at a gala at the Convention Centre in St. John’s, with 450 guests on hand to celebrate the second annual awards event which presents awards to industry leaders.
Leo Power, who is a board member of Turning the Tide and also on the board for the Home from the Sea campaign, presented the donation to Stagg.
Power told The Packet this project has been “a resounding success,” with over 5,000 visitors to the site at Elliston since it was established in 2014.
“It’s a magnificent revelation and education for people with respect to the realities and the truth of the history of our sealing industry,” says Power.
Last year, Home from the Sea was presented with $95,000.
The annual funding supplements any operating costs on top of admissions and any other revenue at the John C. Crosbie Sealers Interpretation Centre in Elliston, ensuring there are no annual deficits.
“It not only contributes to the economic development and creates some jobs in a small community in rural Newfoundland like Elliston, but it’s a profoundly important project both from the perspective of history and drawing new visitors to Elliston,” Power added.
He says the organizers and leaders in Elliston work hard and do a good job and they’re happy to work with them.
“There’s a lot of hard work and sweat equity, but it’s worth it in the end.
“By hosting an annual event in St. John’s we’re hoping to remind people of the opportunities for sightseeing and education … There’s so much potential that, if we put our minds to it, we have a lot more exciting and interesting projects to add to the wealth that we already have in rural Newfoundland.”
Twitter: @jejparsons
