Minister Ritcey Tour

This month, I welcomed the Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage to Kings South for a full day of meetings and community visits across Wolfville, New Minas, and Grand Pré.

We began at the Al Whittle Theatre, where Jeremy Banks and Sheonagh McCullough shared more about the theatre’s programming, partnerships, and important role in the region.

From there, we visited Devour! Studios to meet with Michael Howell and Lia Rinaldo for an update on Devour! The Food Film Fest, its recent strategic planning work, and the opportunities ahead for culinary tourism in Nova Scotia.

At my constituency office, the Minister met with Mayor Corkum from Kings County and Deputy Mayor Ingham the Town of Wolfville for a broad discussion on local priorities, including recreation, libraries, and regional cooperation.

We also heard from CBDC Hants-Kings about its programming and the opportunities it is helping create for local entrepreneurs and businesses.

Valley REN provided an update on its Regional Tourism Infrastructure and Services Gaps Analysis, along with its work to better understand the needs of community organizations, tourism operators, and regional assets such as trails, parks, and community centres.

We finished the tour at Grand Pré Wines, where we had an opportunity to discuss the importance of our local wine industry, tourism sector, and the businesses that help make the Annapolis Valley such a special place to live and visit.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to meet with us, share their experiences, and speak openly about both the opportunities and challenges facing our region. These conversations help ensure that local voices are part of the ongoing work to strengthen our communities, support tourism, and grow our regional economy.

   **Have questions or need assistance with a provincial matter? Please reach out to our constituency office mlajulievanexan@gmail.com.You can also visit our website and sign up for our monthly newsletter to stay informed about local updates, community events, and the work happening across Kings South.