THETFORD MINES, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Aug. 19, 2014) - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

Acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, the Honourable Christian Paradis, Member of Parliament for Mégantic-L'Érable, Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie, today announced that the Musée minéralogique et minier in Thetford Mines has been granted funding for the first phase of its project to develop the former King Mine (KB-3) into an interpretation centre. Minister Paradis was on site to take part in the sod-turning ceremony for the new centre.

This assistance has been awarded in the form of a $931,110 non-repayable financial contribution through the Canadian Initiative for the Economic Diversification of Communities Reliant on Chrysotile.

Quick facts

• The funding will enable the Thetford Mines mineralogical and mining museum to carry out the first phase of its Centre historique de la mine King (KB-3) project, which will consist of landscaping work, the renovation of three buildings, the construction of restrooms facilities and the installation of an elevator leading to a belvedere.
  
  
• The establishment of this interpretation centre will help stimulate the region's tourism sector and revitalize Thetford Mines' downtown core.
  
  
• The Canadian Initiative for the Economic Diversification of Communities Reliant on Chrysotile is intended to support projects linked with the economic diversification of the Des Appalaches and Des Sources RCMs that have the potential to create jobs in the short and long terms.
  
  

Quote

"As this funding for the creation of the Centre historique de la mine King (KB-3) in Thetford Mines clearly shows, our government is committed to supporting projects that help diversify Quebec's regional economies, in this case through tourism development."

Christian Paradis, Member of Parliament for Mégantic-L'Érable, Minister of International Development and for La Francophonie

Related link

News release of June 13, 2013, on news.gc.ca

Government of Canada Launches the Canadian Initiative for the Economic Diversification of Communities Reliant on Chrysotile

Keep up with the latest news from Canada Economic Development by visiting www.dec-ced.gc.ca or subscribing to Twitter @CanEconDev.