ST. ANDREWS, New Brunswick – The provincial government has signed a long-term lease with a nonprofit organization to protect, preserve and develop Ministers Island, a nationally and provincially designated historic site.

Wellness Culture and Sport Minister Hidard Albert recently announced the signing of the lease with Van Horne Estate on Ministers Island Inc. The lease will run 25 years at a cost of $1 a year.

Ministers Island, located in the Bay of Fundy just outside St. Andrews, was the 500-acre summer estate of Sir William Van Horne, the visionary builder of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The island is open to visitors during the summer season, and final visitor statistics for the 2008 season showed an increase in visits of 24 percent.

The Van Horne Estate on Ministers Island Inc. is a nonprofit organization governed by a board of directors elected from its membership.

More information about Ministers Island is available at www.ministersisland.org.