New Brunswick commits $50 million to new provincial museum in Saint John

Saint John can expect a new provincial museum in the near future after the provincial government announced  $50 million in funding for the construction of the attraction on Monday.

“The New Brunswick Museum promotes culture and our important tourism industry,” said Premier Brian Gallant.

“Money invested in infrastructure helps create jobs and grow our economy.”

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Shannon Merrifield, the New Brunswick Museum Chair said she was estatic to hear the news.

“It’s fantastic news, not only for the people, but also for the staff that’s working here as well,” Merrifield said.

“It will allow them to do their jobs better and also it will allow new investment in the city as well because when you have a museum, a new build, it’s obviously going to have all kinds of great benefits for the city as well”

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According to the government, it will seek additional funding from both the federal government and the private sector.

While the exact location of the new museum, and its scale, has not been determined the province says its goal is to have preliminary work on a site in downtown Saint John begin by this spring.

Saint John Mayor Don Darling was at the announcement and said that Monday was a great day for Saint John and for the museum.

“I can tell you this museum, 175 years of rich history in Canada’s first incorporated city… I can’t think of any better place in this province to continue the marriage and the relationship if you will between Saint John and the love that we have for our New Brunswick Museum and I’m so excited about this next phase,” he said.

The province is expected to find a new purpose for the museum’s building on Douglas Avenue.

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According to the province, any new purpose will respect the building’s historic significance to the city.

Repairs are currently being carried out on the building to ensure that it exists well into the future.

Between its two facilities, the New Brunswick Museum attracts more than 100,000 every year.