Dubbed by many as the greatest explorer of his time, Captain James Cook honed his cartography and navigational skills while charting the rugged shores of Newfoundland and Labrador from 1763 to 1767.

Today, the Corner Brook Economic Development Corporation (EDC) announced it will undertake a detailed development plan to enhance the Captain James Cook Site, the most popular tourist destination in Corner Brook. The site commemorates Captain James Cook as a National Historic Person of Canada.

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) will provide $42,555 in funding under the Business Development Program, while $17,000 in funding will be provided by the City of Corner Brook.

“Captain James Cook spent about four years in Newfoundland and Labrador exploring and charting our coastline before the British sent him off for his famed South Pacific adventures,” said the Honourable Gerry Byrne, M.P. Humber- St. Barbe-Baie Verte, on behalf of Minister Joseph McGuire. “His cartographic maps of Newfoundland’s coastline are recognized as being superior for their attention to detail and accuracy. Given his stature in marine history and the length of time he spent in Newfoundland, it is not surprising that, annually, we are seeing approximately 30,000 visitors to the Captain Cook site. This development plan will help the City of Corner Brook capitalize further on this unique part of its history and increase this site’s tourism potential.”

“Tourism is already an important sector in Corner Brook and visitors have consistently been intrigued by the story of Captain James Cook and his connection to our region,” said Priscilla Boutcher, Mayor of Corner Brook. “By improving our infrastructure and expanding programming and services at the Cook site, we can improve the tourist experience, and ultimately create more business opportunities for our local entrepreneurs, artists and service industry.”

This project will entail creating a development plan for the Captain James Cook Site that will build on the site’s current infrastructure, as well as consider future programming. Specifically, a consultant will be hired to assess the viability of enhancements including, site and road upgrades, landscaping, construction of a concession building for local arts and crafts, an amphitheatre for theatrical performances, as well as accessible parking lots and washroom facilities.

“We have already had tremendous success with our current tourist programming at the Cook site,” said Phil Hicks, chair of the Corner Brook EDC. “This plan will help us to approach new programming strategically and enable us to provide a high quality tourist product to our various tourism markets, including our increasing number of motor coach and cruise ship visitors.”

In the past, the Captain James Cook Site has held popular tourist activities such as Theatre by the Bay, live performances of the life and times of James Cook, and James Cook—Letters and Logs. The site is located on Crow Hill, which offers a panoramic view of the Bay of Islands and currently houses copies of the charts Cook created of the west coast of Newfoundland.

Corner Brook tourism has been steadily increasing. In the 2002 summer tourist season, there were approximately 41,000 visitors to the city, which is an increase of 25 per cent since 1997.

The Corner Brook Economic Development Corporation is a not- for-profit corporation established by the City of Corner Brook to support and enhance the community’s plan for improving the quality of life by fostering a positive business environment for entrepreneurship and business investment.

ACOA is providing funding for this initiative under the Business Development Program, which offers non-commercial investments to support the promotion of entrepreneurship, trade, marketing and education through industry, community, youth and business associations.

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Today, the Corner Brook Economic Development Corporation announced it will undertake a development plan to enhance the Captain James Cook Site, the most popular tourist destination in Corner Brook.

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency will provide $42,555 in funding under the Business Development Program and the City of Corner Brook will provide a further $17,000 in funding. The announcement was made today by the Honourable Gerry Byrne, M.P. Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte, on behalf of Minister Joseph McGuire, ACOA and Priscilla Boutcher, Mayor of the City of Corner Brook.

“Given Captain Cook’s stature in marine history and the length of time he spent in Newfoundland, it is not surprising that we are seeing approximately 30,000 visitors to the Captain Cook Site. This development plan will help the City of Corner Brook capitalize further on this unique part of its history and increase this site’s tourist potential,” said Byrne.

For more information, please contact:

Valérie Poulin
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire
Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(613) 941-7241

Doug Burgess
Director, Public Affairs
ACOA 
(709) 772-2935

Phil Hicks
Chair, Corner Brook Economic Development Corporation
(709) 637-1588

Priscilla Boutcher
Mayor, City of Corner Brook
(709) 637-1537