Angie MacIsaac is busy today guiding a bus tour from the United States at the Strait Area Museum, recounting the history of the Canso Causeway. Across the rotary in Port Hastings, N.S., an empty building formerly home to the Visitor Information Centre catches the eye. The center closed in February due to provincial budget cuts.
In response to the closure, MacIsaac and her museum team have launched a one-year pilot project for a “community visitor information centre” for tourists visiting Cape Breton. Their goal is to fill the void left by the closure of the former visitor center and potentially establish the museum as a permanent welcoming hub for visitors.
Destination Cape Breton, a tourism advocacy group, rallied the island’s municipalities to fund the reopening of the center on a limited basis following the February announcement. The former visitor center building and an adjacent gift shop are set to be demolished within the next two years by Nova Scotia Public Works to make way for a new roundabout expected to be completed by 2029.
The lobby of the Strait Area Museum now showcases brochures previously available at the visitor center, with the province designing new highway signage to guide tourists. MacIsaac and the Port Hastings Historical Society are providing training to society members and other volunteers to ensure smooth operations, especially during the tourism off-peak season when student staff will conclude their duties by the end of August.
MacIsaac sees the museum as a prime spot to be the initial contact point for visitors to Cape Breton, aiming to offer a warm welcome that reflects the essence of the island. While the province is not currently providing financial support for the museum’s new initiative, the historical society can apply for funding through the province’s Community Visitor Information Centre program.
Local accommodation owners in Cape Breton support the museum’s efforts, noting the success of community-run visitor centers in other areas like St. Peter’s, Baddeck, and Chéticamp. Yvette MacPhee, owner of Ocean View Motels and Chalets in Chéticamp, emphasized the importance of visitor centers due to limited cell coverage in Cape Breton, which often leaves tourists struggling to find lodging upon arrival.
The Strait Area Museum’s endeavor aligns with the need for accessible tourist information and support in the region, catering to visitors seeking a genuine Cape Breton experience.
