The Basin Head complex is a major attraction in the Eastern Kings area for local residents and visitors during the tourism season. Opened in 1973, the Basin Head Fisheries Museum highlights the history of Prince Edward Island’s inshore fishery. In addition to the museum, there are related attractions along with wharves and a bridge providing access to the Basin Head beach. The facilities at Basin Head attract approximately 50,000 visitors annually. The facilities at Basin Head experienced heavy damage from a winter tidal surge in late 2004, requiring significant structural repairs. Work began on the repairs earlier this year following public consultations as well as the design and tendering phases.

“Getting the repairs done to Basin Head has been a big job but an important one,” said Souris-Elmira MLA Andy Mooney, on behalf of Transportation and Public Works Minister Gail Shea and Tourism Minister Philip Brown. “I’m pleased that the work was organized so that the public has been able to continue to enjoy access to the beach area during the summer tourist season, because the facilities at Basin Head are a big tourist draw for this end of the province,” said Mooney.

The construction schedule for this project has been structured to work around the summer tourism season, allowing visitors to still enjoy use of the museum, beach area and water activities during the summer months. Public access and use of the beach area at Basin Head was unaffected as repairs continued on the cannery support structure. The remaining repair work to the east and wharves will be addressed during this phase of the construction project.

“We appreciate the effort by the province to do these repairs while balancing the needs of operators during the busy tourist season,” noted Anne Garrett of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation. “People are really looking forward to the project’s completion and the facilities being restored to their previous condition.”

Final work on this project is anticipated to be complete late this fall, weather and work schedule permitting. Public access to the beach area will be restricted during this period for safety reasons. The Basin Head Museum will remain open to the public until October 4, as in previous years.