$85,000 for signs (photo)

NEWS RELEASE

BRYAN HAYES, SAULT MP

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Member of Parliament Bryan Hayes (Sault Ste. Marie), on behalf of the Honourable Greg Rickford, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor), announced today an investment to support the growth and diversification of Northern Ontario’s tourism industry.

The investment of $214,500 will support four initiatives to help enhance tourism products and services across Northern Ontario, which in turn will attract more visitors for longer stays in the region, helping to create jobs and strengthen the economy.

Quick Facts

• According to Statistics Canada, tourism represents approximately $2 billion in revenue for Northern Ontario, with nature-based tourism and angling attracting most of the visitors to the region.
• The funding announced today is provided through FedNor’s Northern Ontario Development Program, which supports projects that promote sustainable community economic development, enhance business development and growth, and facilitate innovation throughout the region.
• Since 2006, through FedNor’s Northern Ontario Development Program, the Harper Government has invested $329 million in support of more than 1,600 projects. These investments have supported more than 21,500 jobs throughout Northern Ontario.

Tourism Northern Ontario $98,000

Northern Ontario Regional Tourism Organization 13 (Tourism Northern Ontario) will receive a FedNor investment of $98,000 in support of two pan-Northern Ontario initiatives.

Of the total, $50,000 will assist tourism operators with packaging tourism products and online purchasing, enabling consumers to combine components, such as accommodation and attractions, to conveniently book a complete experience. Specifically, this initiative will provide the required training for tourism operators to assist them in developing packages based on market demand.

The remaining $48,000 will be used to assess the feasibility of implementing an experiential tourism product development program in Northern Ontario. The project will assist tourism operators and stakeholders in enhancing tourism experiences, ultimately translating into increased revenues. Tourism Northern Ontario is one of 13 independent, not-for-profit regional tourism organizations established by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

Algoma Kinniwabi Travel Association $85,000

This not-for-profit organization will receive $85,000 in FedNor funding to design, develop and install interpretive signage highlighting various sites in the Algoma region and along the north shore of Lake Superior that were captured on canvas by the Group of Seven, renowned Canadian landscape artists who frequented the area in the 1920s. This initiative will help build a new regional tourism attraction.

Algoma Highlands Conservancy $31,500

A FedNor investment of $31,500 will enable this not-for-profit organization to hire a youth intern for a one-year period. While on the job, the intern will assist Algoma Highlands Conservancy with the development and implementation of a business plan and marketing strategy for its newly constructed eco-tourism facility.

The facility is located at Bone Lake, north of Sault Ste. Marie, on the eastern edge of wilderness forest trails which are used to support cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing activities. Since its inception, FedNor has helped more than 1450 young graduates obtain that crucial first job experience in Northern Ontario, while providing countless local organizations with access to a qualified and talented workforce.

Quotes

“Tourism is a proven economic driver for communities throughout Northern Ontario and our Government is proud to support initiatives that help market our region’s inherent strengths at home and abroad. Today’s announcement will assist the efforts of three organizations dedicated to building and promoting the Northern Ontario brand and ensuring that tourism businesses can continue to grow and create jobs right here in the North,” said Bryan Hayes, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie.

“We would like to thank FedNor and the federal government for their support that will help encourage tourism product development and investment across the region. Through the initiatives announced today, we are helping the industry meet and exceed consumers’ expectations which will drive new business opportunities,” said David MacLachlan, Executive Director, Northern Ontario Regional Tourism Organization.