The Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) announced free shuttle service to the Fortress of Louisbourg earlier this month.
While this is exciting news that connects the town of Louisbourg to our downtown core, hopefully boosting commerce in both communities, it raises an important question: why only the Fortress?
The CBRM is rich with history, the legacy of coal and steel, the story of fossils and our prehistoric past, and the heritage of each town. We’re home to world-class museums such as the Cape Breton Miners Museum, Old Sydney Society, Glace Bay Heritage Museum, Atlantic Memorial Park, Sydney & Louisbourg Railway Museum, Membertou Heritage park and many more.
With tariffs on the rise and a mission to support local, why aren’t we investing in access to these local museums and parks? Most of these museums are non-profits that heavily depend on admissions. While downtown Sydney museums benefit from nearby cruise ship traffic, others struggle to bring cruise ship passengers to their doors. Bus service still remains inadequate for these institutions for locals.
The CBRM should develop a transportation network that connects visitors, not just from the port, but to museums across all communities. For the 30th anniversary, we should support our rich historical institutions that rely on visitors rather than the government.
I’m not against providing shuttles to an important historical site, but only to the fortress? Something has to change. These institutions are vital to our history. Let’s fulfill our national mission, support local.
Original article – https://www.saltwire.com/cape-breton/opinion-cape-breton/letter-free-cbrm-shuttle-service-should-expand-to-other-museums