Government of Canada Grants $66,094 in Funding for Promotion of Traversee de la Gaspesie Cross-Country Skiing Event

GASPÉ, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Jan. 26, 2011) - The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today announced the awarding of $66,094 in non-repayable funding through the Community Diversification program for the national and international promotion of the Traversée de la Gaspésie cross-country ski trek (TDLG) and the production of a report on the regional economic spinoffs generated by this winter tourism event. Necessitating an overall investment of more than $777,000, the TDLG will result in the creation of six seasonal jobs in the area.

"Gaspésie is a tourist destination that already enjoys an enviable reputation both here and around the world, and the efforts being made by local economic stakeholders can only reinforce this standing. The Government of Canada has decided to lend its financial support to the Traversée de la Gaspésie because of the important role this event plays in furthering the development of winter tourism in the region," the Minister of State explained.

The funding from the Government of Canada has enabled the organizers of the 2011 Traversée de la Gaspésie to take part in tourism fairs, undertake an advertising campaign on domestic markets (Atlantic provinces, Ontario and Western Canada) and foreign markets (eastern United States and Europe), update the TDLG Web site and carry out missions to France and Finland to promote the Gaspé peninsula's winter activities. Indeed, French and Finnish journalists have confirmed they will be present to cover this ninth edition of the TDLG and an alliance has been struck with the organizers of La Transjurassienne, the European cross-country skiing championship that draws some 4,000 competitors every year.

The Government of Canada, through Parks Canada, will also be closely involved in the execution of various activities on the TDLG programme. For example, Parks Canada will assign two public security experts and supply the equipment needed to assist participants and organizers along the entire length of the circuit. As well, Forillon National Park will host the skiers on the final day of the event.

"The Traversée de la Gaspésie will allow some 250 skiers to indulge their passion in this huge natural playground created by the Chic-Choc and Appalachian mountains. It's a pretty sure bet that they'll talk about their experience once they get home and become true ambassadors of the Gaspésie region," added Mr. Lebel.

The Government of Canada actively supports the Canadian tourism sector and the enterprises that compose it by, among other things, funding projects like the TDLG. By associating itself once more with this mobilizing project, which helps further Gaspésie's reputation as a year-round tourist destination, the Government of Canada is recognizing the fundamental role that local stakeholders play in promoting the region. 

Canada's Explore magazine ranks the TDLG 20th out of the country's 50 top outdoor activities.

For more on the TDLG, visit www.tdlg.qc.ca.

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