Government of Canada Lends Financial Support to Association forestiere de l'Abitibi-Temiscamingue to Develop an Aerial Park

ROUYN-NORANDA, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Nov. 22, 2011) - The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, announces that the Association forestière de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue (AFAT) has been awarded financial assistance to develop an aerial park at its forestry centre, Centre éducatif forestier du lac Joannès.

"The Government of Canada is committed to supporting projects like AFAT's that contribute to ensuring the long-term development of a unique Quebec tourist attraction," said Minister Lebel.

As part of its mandate, AFAT manages the Centre éducatif forestier (CEF) du lac Joannès, a four-season recreational and ecotourism centre. Located in the heart of the biodiversity reserve of Vaudray and Joannès lakes, near the Rouyn-Noranda urban sector, the forestry centre has since 2006 covered a protected area of 193 square kilometres. AFAT's project involves creating a tree-to-tree aerial park, the first of its kind in the region.

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This non-repayable financial assistance of $125,000 has been awarded through Canada Economic Development's Community Diversification program.

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