Angie MacIsaac is busy at the Strait Area Museum today, guiding a bus tour from the U.S. through the history of the Canso Causeway. Across from the museum, an empty building that once housed the Visitor Information Centre in Port Hastings, N.S., stands as a reminder of provincial budget cuts that led to its closure in February.
In response to the closure, MacIsaac and her museum team have launched a one-year pilot project for a “community visitor information centre” in Cape Breton. They aim to fill the gap left by the shutdown and eventually establish the museum as a permanent welcome center for tourists.
Following the closure announcement, Destination Cape Breton mobilized the island’s municipalities to fund a partial reopening of the centre. Nova Scotia Public Works has plans to demolish the former visitor centre and a nearby gift shop to make way for a new roundabout by 2029.
The museum lobby now showcases pamphlets previously found at the visitor centre, with new highway signage in the works to direct tourists. MacIsaac and the Port Hastings Historical Society are providing training for volunteers to ensure smooth operations during the tourism off-season.
MacIsaac sees the museum as a prime spot for visitors’ initial contact with Cape Breton, aiming to offer a warm island welcome. While the province isn’t providing funding for the project, the historical society can seek support from the Community Visitor Information Centre funding program.
Local accommodation owners support the museum’s initiative, citing the success of similar community-run visitor centers in the region. Yvette MacPhee of Chéticamp emphasizes the importance of such centers due to limited cell coverage in Cape Breton, which can leave travelers struggling to find lodging.
Overall, the community-driven approach at the Strait Area Museum aligns with the goal of enhancing tourists’ experiences and promoting Cape Breton’s unique attractions.