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For Immediate Release

Over 8,000 Participate in Ferry Animation Program

Partnership Between Princess of Acadia and New Brunswick Museum –
 an Overwhelming Success

October 3, 2007
 
Saint John - A unique partnership between Bay Ferries’ Princess of Acadia and the New Brunswick Museum gave 8,731 passengers an opportunity to learn more about the Bay of Fundy and spend more time in the region. Staff from New Brunswick’s provincial museum offered daily bilingual animation on the ship from June 24th to Sept 8th, 2007. Based on the theme “Bay of Fundy, 8th Wonder of the World,” Museum staff used costumed characters, music, storytelling, museum artifacts and historic photographs to interpret key components of the Bay of Fundy’s natural science and human history for passengers of all ages.

“The response to the program was so positive, onboard and off,” said Jane Fullerton, Director of the New Brunswick Museum. “We saw an increase in traffic as passengers spent more time here as a direct result of the program. Passengers felt they wanted to learn more. In fact, one of our animators, Brian Bordage, was nominated for a Saint John Tourism Award by a passenger who spent an extra day in the city because of his presentation.”

Seven days a week, including holidays, a Museum staff member was on board each morning for the crossing from Saint John to Digby, and for each 1:00 pm return crossing. Staff mingled with passengers on board, answered questions and provided several formal animated presentations per crossing. Topics included New Brunswick’s marine life, ecology and conservation, the Bay’s geological formations, the Fundy tides, First Peoples’ use of the Bay, regional historical settlements, shipbuilding, and fisheries.

The program was part of an upgrade to the Princess of Acadia’s service offerings designed to increase ridership on the ferry and to promote tourism in the ferry’s ports of call by inviting passengers to “Sea Adventure.” The upgrade is the result of a partnership that recognizes the importance of the Digby-Saint John ferry service between the federal government and the Provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

“Programs like this will form the backbone of our service as we promote the Bay of Fundy as a destination,” said Mark MacDonald, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bay Ferries Limited. “We will continue to cultivate unique initiatives so that passengers and communities benefit."

In addition to the New Brunswick Museum’s programming, the refurbishment of the Princess of Acadia also included upgrades to passenger areas, the restaurant, lounge and washrooms, and the addition of an internet café serving Starbucks® coffee, a children’s play area, and a gift store.
  
For more information, contact:
  
Debbie Rathwell
Sales and Marketing Executive
Bay Ferries Limited / Northumberland Ferries Limited
Ph: 506-849-4062      Email: drathwell@nfl-bay.com
 
Wendy Martindale
Manager, Interpretive Services
New Brunswick Museum
Ph: 506-643-2339      Email: wmrdale@nb.aibn.com