Museums and visitor centres closures in Nova Scotia draw criticism

Nova Scotia will permanently close three provincially run museums and most provincially operated visitor information centres, and affected staff were informed they will lose their jobs. Provincial officials say the moves are meant to modernize services and reduce repair and maintenance costs amid a larger budget shortfall.

Three provincially run museums and most provincially operated visitor information centres in Nova Scotia have been announced for permanent closure, and employees were told they will lose their jobs. The affected museums named were the Fisherman's Life Museum, Prescott House Museum and the Sutherland Steam Mill Museum. The government said the changes are part of an effort to modernize the museum system and update how tourism information is delivered. Officials also linked the decision to rising repair and maintenance needs and the province's broader budget pressures. Key points: - The three museums will be permanently closed and staff at those sites were informed they will be laid off. - Visitor information centres at Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Peggys Cove, Port Hastings and Yarmouth will close; the Amherst centre will move to seasonal (May–October) operation. - The Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage said province-wide museum repairs and maintenance total more than $10 million, and estimated labour costs for the three museums were about $260,000 per year; the government described the actions as a way to reduce costs and focus investment elsewhere. - The department said artifacts will be managed according to professional museum standards and that it will complete the administrative process of closing the sites before engaging local communities about future uses of the buildings. Summary: The announcement prompted criticism from museum employees and tourism workers who said the closures will affect local heritage preservation, community identity and tourism services. Officials have outlined administrative steps for closing the sites and indicated a future process to engage with communities about possible uses of the properties.