Village to consider tourism recommendations

The village of Port Elgin is being asked to consider several suggestions concerning tourism initiatives for the upcoming 2008 tourist season.
Local business owner Lynda Lukey addressed council at its regular monthly meeting held in council chambers last Wednesday evening.
"We have all of these businesses here, we have events, we're viable," she stressed.
Lukey noted that at a recent meeting of tourism stakeholders from both the Port Elgin and regional tourism area and including a number of representatives from the Central Nova Scotia Sunrise Trail committee, a number of suggestions and recommendations were made concerning signage leading to and from the village.
"The most important discussions concerned the building of an information kiosk to be located in Port Elgin's Centennial Park (across from Murphy's Variety on Shemogue Road). Throop Signs of Sackville and Lipton Spence of Port Elgin have both expressed interest in building this sign and local businesses have approved the design format which will be multi- purpose - constructed as a small rain shelter also," Lukey explained.
She added that one side of the double-sided kiosk would display a map of the village of Port Elgin, including a list of various travel distances as well as a copy of the village's historical walking tour. The reverse side would note the regional businesses and points of interest from Cape Tormentine to the Sunrise Trail in Nova Scotia.
"What I'm asking tonight is council's permission to allow this kiosk to be constructed and placed in Centennial Park," Lukey said, adding that the cost of the venture would be covered solely by business operators.
Lukey also recommended that council be open to consider all offers of approved sponsored signage from reputable sources prior to the 2008 tourism season.
"We have had an offer of sponsorship for a high quality tourism sign for the village and local regions. A high quality sign gives a favourable impression for any location and we would like to see the existing sign at the traffic circle, which is currently in need of repair, replaced with a bigger and better sign," Lukey said.
She also noted that local and regional business owners have been asked to consider the repair and maintenance of the existing sign located at the traffic circle in the event a new sign is not forthcoming.
Lukey also noted that local business owners and operators had recommended the installation of Village Welcome signs to be placed along the highways leading into the village.
"A village welcome sign advises drivers that they are in fact entering a village proper and many tourists then begin to look for local events, activities and businesses," Lukey said.
Council noted that this type of signage would well exceed the village's annual tourism budget.
"We would require three signs, one for each entrance and exit to the village and we certainly don't have the funds to cover that, although perhaps we could afford one sign each year," noted Councillor Val MacDermid.
Lukey noted that local and regional business owners and tourism operators anticipate completion of the plans for the kiosk within the next month.
"We hope to have it and possibly new signage in the village in time for the 2008 tourism season," she noted.
Mayor Courtney Wall said council would consider Lukey's suggestions and recommendations and noted that council would reach a decision on her request at the February council meeting.