The announcement coming this week the Boys & Girls Club of Grand Manan is finalizing a one-year agreement with the province to take over operations of the Anchorage Provincial Park for 2013. The park was set to close this year in an effort to find efficiencies and cut costs.
Charlotte-The Isles MLA Rick Doucet tells Tide News the club came up with their proposal only weeks ago. "They've had little time to prepare and the camping season is already upon us, so there's got to be a lot of work from the Department of Tourism and from government to help them out to get them through the season because this is a big undertaking for a volunteer group."
Doucet says when the closure was first announced, the entire island took part in signing petitions and letters to keep the park open. He says, "It took every Islander who could print or write their name to sign a petition. There were countless letters that went into government. Bad press and bad social media, the Mayor was demanding a meeting with the Premier, and we also had a debatable motion in the legislature on the park."
He adds he applauds the people of Grand Manan for keeping the issue alive.
