Place Fort LaTour Taking Shape On The Saint John Waterfront
SAINT JOHN – Place Fort LaTour, under construction on the Saint John waterfront, can now truly come to life thanks to a $245,000 funding commitment from the federal government, says Beth Kelly Hatt, chair of the Fort La Tour Development Authority
“The buildings need interpretation. You need infrastructure but you need to bring them to life,” said Kelly Hatt at the Fort LaTour site Wednesday. “This project receives this crucial funding to really complete the interpretative elements needed to make Place Fort LaTour a reality.
The federal funds from the Canadian Cultural Spaces will be used to develop programming for locals, visitors, school children to learn more about the cultural and historical significance of this site.
“Fort LaTour was originally built in 1631 and became one of the earliest centres of the French fur trade with the region’s first peoples,” said Kelly Hatt. “The French and the British after them continued to trade at this site, which eventually really grew into the city of Saint John.
“Place Fort LaTour will celebrate this important cultural site where first peoples, francophones and anglophones all share a very special connection.”
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Fort LaTour, until now a large mostly empty patch of land on the city’s waterfront, will soon have building replicas of old forts, walking paths and an outdoor amphitheatre.
Kelly Hatt says construction is expected to be completed by early September. They will have a soft opening this fall and host a few school programs to get the site “warmed up,” she said. The grand opening will take place in the early spring of next year in time for tourism season and cruise season.
Wayne Long, MP for Saint John-Rothesay, says tourism is an important part of growing the economy and Place Fort LaTour will add to the growing stable of cultural assets that make Saint John an appealing place to visit.
“We are seven hours north of 15 million people,” said Long. “Diversifying our economy and embracing tourism is a natural way for us to grow the economy.
“Where you see a growing arts and culture community, you see a thriving community.”
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