Prime Minister Stephen Harper announces support for Abitibi-Témiscamingue Tourism Industry

February 25, 2011

VAL-D’OR, QUEBEC – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced support for the Cité de l’Or historic site, the location of the Bourlamaque mining village and former Lamaque mine, one of the most prolific gold mines of the 20th century. The planned work will help boost tourism in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, a key economic generator for the region.

“By investing in one of Abitibi-Témiscamingue’s major attractions, our Government is helping to improve the region’s tourist appeal and raise the profile of the mining industry, a key sector of Canada’s economy,” said Prime Minister Harper. “At the same time, this investment will make it possible to preserve a site of tremendous historic and heritage value for the region.”

The Cité de l’Or project will include the set-up of the reception building to make it accessible year round, the addition of a permanent exhibition, and improvements to outdoor areas. The underground tour route will also undergo improvements to enable tourists to get a feel for the work done by the miners of the past through simulations.

The funding announced today is provided through the Community Diversification Program of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec. The Program helps Quebec’s regions maintain and develop their economic activity base.

The work at Cité de l’Or will be carried out by the Corporation du Village minier de Bourlamaque, whose mission is to protect, enhance and raise the  profile of the Cité de l’Or historic, heritage and tourist sites.



Backgrounder

CITÉ DE L’OR HISTORIC SITE

Located in Val-d’Or, on the site of the former Lamaque mine, one of the most prolific gold mines of the 20th century, Cité de l’Or is a historic and tourist site that testifies to the key role the mining industry played in the development of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region.

One of the region’s biggest tourist attractions, Cité de l’Or plunges visitors into the heart of the mining industry. In addition to providing an interpretive tour of the Bourlamaque mining village and a historic log house depicting life in the past, since 1995, Cité de l’Or has also taken visitors up to 91 metres below ground for a guided tour of the mine shafts.

The federal investment of $1,106,448 over three years will be used among other things for the set-up of the Cité de l’Or reception building to make it accessible year round, the addition of a permanent exhibition and improvements to outdoor areas. As well, the underground tour route will undergo improvements to enable tourists to get a feel for the work done by the miners of the past, through simulations. The project will also involve international marketing activities to promote Cité de l’Or abroad.  

The federal funding is provided through the Community Diversification Program of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, whose aim is to help the regions to maintain and develop their economic activity base.

By investing in Cité de l’Or, the Government of Canada is helping to improve the region’s tourist appeal and raise the profile of the mining industry, a key sector of Canada’s economy, while helping to preserve a site of tremendous historic and heritage value.

The work at Cité de l’Or will be carried out by the Corporation du Village minier de Bourlamaque, whose mission is to protect, enhance and raise the profile of the Cité de l’Or historic, heritage and tourist sites.