Renfrew County is renowned for its lakes, rivers, forests and four-season tourist attractions that draw domestic and international visitors each year. The Government of Canada is committed to helping local tourism businesses recover from the impacts of the pandemic, position themselves to safely welcome visitors and prepare for future growth.
Today, the Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), announced a Government of Canada investment of over $480,000 through the, delivered by FedDev Ontario, for three Renfrew County tourism organizations to recover from the impacts of the pandemic and position for future growth.
Through this investment, Friends of Bonnechere Parks, a not-for-profit organization that supports tourism to Bonnechere and Bonnechere River Parks, is receiving a non-repayable contribution of nearly $340,000 to create and enhance tourism experiences, including 1 km of barrier-free trails, improved accessibility features at the cultural centre and an online portal to feature accessible and multilingual content.
Lakepoint Cottage Resort, a family-owned resort located on a peninsula of Golden Lake, is receiving a non-repayable investment of $100,000 to expand its facilities to support year-round tourism. With this investment, Lakepoint Cottage Resort is winterizing existing cottages, and constructing five winterized bunkhouses and a shared washroom facility.
Additionally, Snow Country Snowmobile Region, a not-for-profit organization that promotes safe and environmentally responsible snowmobile tourism, is receiving a non-repayable investment of almost $46,000 to create enhanced maps and signage for snowmobile trails located in Eastern Ontario.
The economic recovery of the tourism industry is a key priority for the Government of Canada. FedDev Ontario will continue to work with businesses and organizations in southern Ontario’s tourism sector to ensure they are able to thrive into the future.
“With support through the Tourism Relief Fund, we are able to partner with Bonnechere Provincial Park to deliver on meaningful and needed investments into inclusive, accessible environments. Our new FIT Trails will greatly enhance our ability to serve clients and the local community through enriched, immersive experiences that connect us to the land through the oral histories of traditional Algonquin teachings.”
~ Anne Burchat, President, Friends of Bonnechere Parks
- In 2019, tourism in southern Ontario accounted for $27.7 billion of the region’s gross domestic product (GDP) and supported more than 200,000 jobs.
- The Government of Canada’s $500-million Tourism Relief Fund is helping tourism-oriented businesses and organizations recover from the pandemic and prepare for future growth, with a minimum of $50 million of the Fund allocated to supporting Indigenous-led projects or Indigenous focussed projects. FedDev Ontario is delivering nearly $120 million of the Tourism Relief Fund across southern Ontario.
- Since November 2015, FedDev Ontario has invested more than $21 million across 45 projects in the Renfrew Census Division, creating and maintaining more than 700 jobs.
Photo (l to r): Park Superintendent Jason Mask, FBP Volunteer Betty Biesenthal, and Fanshawe College student Sami Hassanian who designed the new FIT Trails.
