SHARING THE MEMORY, SHAPING THE DREAM

Government of Canada announces funding for the restoration of the historic Kingston-Pembroke Train Station and to publish the history of the Canada Locomotive Company of Kingston.

(KINGSTON,March 20, 2000) – Peter Milliken, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands, on behalf of Deputy Prime Minster Herb Gray, Minister responsible for the Government of Canada's millennium initiative, today announced support for two Canada Millennium Partnership Program (CMPP) projects in Kingston and the Islands. The Kingston Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO) will receive $46,434 and the Canadian Railroad Historical Association will receive $18,317. The Canada Millennium Partnership Program (CMPP) encourages public and private sector participation to create millennium projects that will make a difference in the lives of Canadians and their communities. Federal funding for each CMPP project is limited to a maximum of one third of all eligible project costs. The other two thirds come from partners in the community.

The projects announced today are among those identified by applicants as having a completion date of April 30, 2000, or earlier. More projects are still bring processed and will be announced later in the spring.

"This program has given us the means to join with communities like Kingston and the Islands, non-governmental organizations like KEDCO and the Canadian Railroad Historical Association and with the private sector to help raise awareness of our history, support our youth and our arts and culture, sustain the environment and develop our communities," said Mr. Gray. " The response to the program indicates that we have been successful in establishing a millennium partnership program that meets Canadians' desire to mark the millennium – we received more than 10,000 project proposals during the four application phases.

KEDCO, in partnership with QECVI, the Frontenac Historic Foundation, the City of Kingston, local businesses, and the Millennium Partnership Program will restore KEDCO's Tourist Information Office, located at the historic Kingston-Pembroke train station. The station, built in the 1880s is officially designated as being of architectural and historic value. The project will restore the ceiling back to its original form, restore the exterior doors and doorways, and restore the stain glass and etched glass windows as well as the period moldings and the Station Master's Office. The initiatives' goals are to educate visitors about the station's historic significance, provide students of KEDCO's construction internship program with restoration skills and knowledge, and improve the quality of visitor experiences in Kingston.

The Canadian Railroad Historical Association (CRHA), Kingston Division, in partnership with the National CRHA, the Davies Charitable Foundation and the Millennium Partnership Program will publish an industrial history book focusing on the Canada Locomotive Company of Kingston. Founded in 1850, the company was, at different times in its history, the only Canadian locomotive company, and then the largest. For a while, it was also the biggest employer in the city of Kingston. CLC trains were sold throughout the world before the company finally closed in 1969. The book will be printed in time to be released at the CRHA's popular Kingston Train Show.

"Both of these projects involve elements of Kingston's extensive history and of the major role Kingston has played in shaping our country" said Mr. Milliken. "As has been the case with past Millennium projects, both of these were made possible by elaborate partnerships and community involvement." 

For more information on these projects or on the Government of Canada's millennium initiative, visit the Canada and the Millennium Web site at www.millenium.gc.ca.

For more information: Jeff Garrah (613) 992-2013