‘We’re all going to lose:’ Albert County residents unhappy with Cape Enrage closure

The closure of the Cape Enrage tourist site in Waterside, N.B., is leaving Albert County residents unhappy.

The closure of the Cape Enrage tourist site in Waterside, N.B., really hits home for Alyssa Steeves and her family.

Steeves was married at Cape Enrage two years ago and her husband worked there when he was in high school.

“It’s not only personal for us, it’s personal for our community. A lot of our friends and loved ones have worked in Cape Enrage in the past and they still do and now they’re without jobs,” said Steeves.

Steeves and her three-year-old son Fenton were among the 40 or so people who gathered in a parking lot in Riverside-Albert on Friday to have their voices heard about the closure.

The Board of Directors of Cape Enrage Interpretive Centre (CEIC) announced Wednesday it will not be open to visitors for the 2026 season, saying it was denied about $100,000 in provincial funding.

The site is known for its breathtaking cliffside view of the Bay of Fundy and the 183-metre zipline that attracts tourists and locals every summer.

Fundy Albert Mayor Jim Campbell said it was good to see the tourism-driven community come out in numbers.

“I’m saddened. It’s a big loss to our community, it’s a loss to the economy,” said Campbell. “We’re going to lose 20,000 to 25,000 guests that come every year and go to Cape Enrage.”

Campbell, who is on the CEIC board of directors and has worked at Cape Enrage in the past, said the site usually receives $30,000 in funding for the season and then another $100,000 in funding for any repairs, upgrades and operations.

In a statement made last week, the CEIC cited the absence of a formal operating contract with the province since March 31 and said it is unable to responsibly plan or execute a safe and sustainable season without it.

In a statement to CTV News on Thursday, Tourism Minister Isabelle Thériault said it’s unfortunate that the CEIC decided to cease operations for the year.

“We have been working diligently with them on how best to keep operations running this coming season by offering to continue the $30,000 in operational funding. We remain open to further discussions,” said Thériault.

Campbell said $30,000 is a start, but it’s simply not enough.

“We also have to pay insurance on those buildings which is a further $20,000 a year and we did ask the province to contribute that further $20,000 and we thought we could open and they refused that. They said no,” said Campbell.

Campbell said he has a meeting with representatives from the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture in May.

As far as he’s concerned, Campbell doesn’t see any scenario where Cape Enrage opens this summer.

“No. We don’t have enough cash,” said Campbell.

That’s devastating for Waterside Farms Cottage Winery owner Linda Martell who has been in business for 20 years and is located roughly 10 minutes away from Cape Enrage.

She said tourists on their way to Fundy National Park will often stop by and ask if it’s worth going to Cape Enrage.

“Trip Advisor, a number of years ago, voted Cape Enrage one of the top views in Canada. So people were coming from all over the world to visit this area,” said Martell.

Martell said Cape Enrage is a stop between Hopewell Rocks and Fundy National Park that benefits her winery and other businesses in the area.

“It’s a tour along the way that will be devastated by the loss of tourism,” said Martell.

Brenda Collins lives in nearby Harvey and organized Friday’s gathering.

She said anybody that comes to Cape Enrage stops at other businesses along the way.

“They stop to eat in restaurants or they’re getting gas, they’re doing something, they’re spending money in the area,” said Collins. “We’re all going to lose. It doesn’t make sense that the government won’t help us a little bit because it’s just going to help the tourism economy so much more.”

Bill Kudla lives in nearby Lower Coverdale and called Cape Enrage a special place.

“The economy of this area, it thrives in the summer and when someone comes to see Cape Enrage then they go to Alma, they go to Fundy Park and they tour around the whole Fundy basin,” said Kudla. “They spend money here.”

Kudla said the closure will especially have a big impact on the people who live in Riverside-Albert because it’s so close to the site.

“They’re going to suffer,” said Kudla.

The gathering of dozens of concerned residents wasn’t a surprise at all to Steeves.

“We’re family in Albert County, so this closure, it affects all of us and everybody we know,” said Steeves.

With files from CTV’s Laura Brown

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