Port-au-Persil Interpretation Site Made Possible Thanks to Funding from the Government of Canada

SAINT-SIMÉON, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - July 4, 2012) - The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, today joined the Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, on the occasion of the official inauguration of the Port-au-Persil interpretation site in underscoring the federal funding granted to the project.

"By investing in the development of the Charlevoix tourism industry, the Government of Canada is demonstrating its firm commitment to supporting the economy and employment," said Minister Lebel.

The official opening of the interpretation site marks the completion of a project long-awaited by the community. Carried out at a total cost of $471,000, the development of this site reflects the shared commitment by Parks Canada, Parcs Québec, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the municipality of Saint-Siméon, Canada Economic Development, and the Entente de partenariat régionale en tourisme de Charlevoix to create a unique tourism product in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park.

"The Port-au-Persil interpretation site showcases the rich history of this haven of peace and jewel of the Charlevoix region," said Minister Kent. "It evokes the serenity of the middle estuary of the St. Lawrence, one of the three ecosystems in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, and promises today's visitors and future generations the opportunity to experience breathtaking landscapes."

The Port-au-Persil discovery site at Saint-Siméon is part of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park Discovery Network, a series of sites jointly managed by the Parks Canada and Parcs Québec national networks that highlight to visitors the rich natural and cultural heritage of this protected marine area.

Part of the Parks Canada and Parcs Québec national networks, the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park is Quebec's only marine park, protecting and promoting a 1,245 km² marine environment made up of significant portions of the Saguenay Fjord and the St. Lawrence Estuary.

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For further information, visit www.parkscanada.gc.ca.