New Initiatives at St. Lawrence Parks Commission
Candy Pollard

Building on the momentum established last season, the St. Lawrence Parks Commission is optimistic about the potential to draw even more visitors to Eastern Ontario this summer and extend its season into the Fall months with an array of new special events, facilities, programming, partnered initiatives, and a significant increase in marketing. Many of these new activities celebrate the 50th anniversary of the St. Lawrence Seaway and Power Project as well as Ontario’s first and only UNESCO world heritage site --- Fort Henry (managed by the Commission), the Rideau Canal, and the Kingston Fortifications. Details for these new initiatives were announced at a pre-season Sneak Peek Preview held at the UPPER CANADIAN COOKHOUSE (at UPPER CANADA GOLF COURSE) today. The Commission's heritage attractions - UPPER CANADA VILLAGE and FORT HENRY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE OF CANADA - both open this Saturday, May 17, kicking off a range of summer activities along the St. Lawrence River and Rideau Canal corridors.

“With gas prices being so high and the growing interest in greener vacations closer to home, we are working hard to attract more visitors to the St. Lawrence and Rideau corridors“, stated Pat Macdonald, General Manager and CEO of the Commission. “We believe that we have a compelling story to tell and have put together a solid mix of upgrades, new programming activities, intriguing special events, and partnered initiatives that we hope will generate renewed interest amongst area residents while also attracting new visitors who will stay longer in our communities.” She went on to add that early signs indicate a good season, although high gas prices and weather are obviously unknown. Camping reservations are running 22% ahead of last year, and seasonal boaters and golfers are also showing increases of 2% and 13% respectively. Upper Canada Village got a head start to its season with its first “Upper Canada Artisan Marketplace” showcasing local works and early Grade 3 education days.

A new soft adventure program including an 18-passenger Voyageur Canoe interpretive heritage experience on the St. Lawrence River and expanded water sports at the Crysler Park Marina, a huge new Medieval Festival, a professional theatre production of “A Seaway Story” portraying the impact of the seaway with drama, music and humour, significant upgrades to camping facilities, a 50th anniversary Seaway exhibit at Upper Canada Village and a "frightfully fun" Fort Fright Fall event at Fort Henry are just a few of the new activities visitors will be able to enjoy this season.

Following a successful 2007 season which saw revenues climb almost 13% and real visitor growth of almost 3% , the Commission will increase the investment in marketing by another 57% this season, in order to leverage the recent UNESCO world heritage designation for Fort Henry and to build off increased visitor interest in heritage attractions, festivals and green tourism in Eastern Ontario. The Commission hopes to maintain its recent momentum in visitor growth in what appears to be shaping up as a challenging season for the tourism market. These new marketing initiatives follow the government’s infusion of $2.8 Million for capital projects last November. In addition, the Commission was recently awarded a total of $460,125 for four successful Celebrate Ontario festival grants as well as an additional one-time incremental allocation of $500,000 to assist with operating costs and capitalize on the marketability of the UNESCO achievement.

“These funds will allow us to continue to invest in our massive infrastructure, while also introducing new initiatives so necessary for growth,” stated Commission Chair Peter Watson. “The Commission’s operations now contribute an estimated $100 Million to the Province’s economy, and we are committed to implementing the changes and additions necessary to drive economic and tourism growth for the region.”

Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry MPP Jim Brownwell, who is also the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, is also thrilled at the new developments coming to the Commission and the area. "I am so pleased with these new initiatives, and I am especially excited that the Commission gained additional funding for new festivals this summer, under the provincial Celebrate Ontario program,” he said. “The festivals and events sector in Ontario is vibrant and plays a huge role in drawing tourists, and Eastern Ontario will benefit from the new visitors coming into our region and over-nighting here. While they are here, we can encourage them to visit our many other attractions, stay in our parks and shop in our communities.”

The Commission will focus a great deal of its 2008 resources on the celebration of the St. Lawrence River and the 50th anniversary of the Seaway, with much of its new products designed to connect visitors and residents alike with the water and enhance its heritage attractions, as well as to improve the Commission’s camping facilities. In addition, the Commission intends to capitalize on the broader international profile generated for Eastern Ontario by the recent awarding of Fort Henry, the Rideau Canal and the Kingston fortifications of the coveted UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) world heritage designation through increased special event programming at Fort Henry.

“This prestigious UNESCO award means that Ontario now has its very first “world heritage” site right here in Eastern Ontario, one of only 12 others in Canada as recognized by this world body. This gives our communities more international awareness, setting the stage for an influx of new visitors over the coming years,” said Pat Macdonald, General Manager and CEO of the Commission. "This summer, we hope that ALL Ontario residents will embrace Ontario’s first and only UNESCO site and explore Fort Henry, the Rideau communities and Kingston.”

Ms. Macdonald explained that both the Commission Board and staff have worked really hard over the winter months to implement upgrades and develop innovative program enhancements for this season, stretching its capital funds and incremental festival dollars generated from four success Celebrate Ontario grants. “We are clearly focused on becoming more customer-oriented and addressing badly needed improvements to our facilities, including significant camp site and registration upgrades, more RV sites, a new comfort station and forward tees at the golf course, a new lower Fort washroom, increased internet, more water sports rentals and increased bike rentals so that guests can access our extensive bike paths all the way to Cornwall,” she explained. “We hope to draw more visitors with scores of new special events & festivals, our new OPG Community Pavilion, and partnerships with other area initiatives like the BMX Bike Parade Festival and the North American Police Equestrian Championships, both occurring in Eastern Ontario for the first time this summer.

Most of the Commission’s new initiatives are in concert with partners, the most significant being the new Ontario Power Generation Community Pavilion, a fully-enclosed 80 by 100 foot space that can accommodate up to 700 people. This new pavilion will feature a range of entertainment, including professional summer theatre, live music from local artists, community events, trade shows and marketplaces. The pavilion’s first production will be “A Seaway Story”, by Janet Irwin with James Fagan Tait & Dialogue Theatre, fresh from its successful run at Upper Canada Playhouse and performed by the same professional team. The play will run a matinee and evening schedule from July 10 to August 3, and a number of ticket options are now available including combo play-Village tickets. Tickets for the play are only $20 for adults (ages 18+), $16 for seniors (ages 65+), $12 for youths (ages 5-17). Children 4 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased on-line at the secure TicketWeb site at www.ticketweb.com at the Community Pavilion, the Marina or the Upper Canada Village front gate windows.

Bob MacLaren, Manager R.H. Saunders St. Lawrence Generating Station said: "This year OPG is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the R.H. Saunders Station and our support of the new Ontario Power Generation Community Pavilion pays tribute to a more than fifty year relationship with this community. We wish the Parks Commission a very successful 2008 season."

For information on other news and upcoming events in Cornwall and Seaway Valley, click on the following links:

• Other Candy Reports
• Calendar of Events