Minister Vandal announces major support for Manitoba’s tourism comeback

by ahnationtalk on June 10, 2022207 Views

From: Prairies Economic Development Canada

More than $10.8 million to support Manitoba’s travel, tourism, and recreation initiatives, creating jobs and growing the economy

June 10, 2022 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – PrairiesCan

From northern lights and polar bears in Churchill to The Forks historic site in downtown Winnipeg—tourism is an integral part of the province’s economy. The Government of Canada recognizes the impact that the pandemic has had on Manitoba’s tourism industry, and is helping travel, tourism and recreation providers recover, build back better, and safely welcome visitors to enjoy new and unique experiences and destinations.

Today, Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change on behalf of the Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan and Member of Parliament for Saint Boniface – Saint Vital, and the Honourable Jim Carr, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre, announced an investment of $10,853,481 to support 39 projects in Manitoba’s hard-hit tourism sector. This funding is provided through the Tourism Relief Fund, Canada Community Revitalization Fund, and Regional Relief and Recovery Fund programs.

Projects supported by today’s announcement include the development of a number of Manitoba’s top tourist attractions. Among them:

The Forks Renewal Corporation received over $1 million to complete several projects, including the construction of a one of a kind Treaty Knowledge Centre done in partnership with the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba.
The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada received $500,000 to create and install exhibits at their newly opened museum space at the James A. Richardson International Airport.
Fort Whyte Alive received $747,465 to enhance the gathering areas and wetland trails throughout the nature park.

Today’s announcement will also have an impact on a wide range of tourism, community and recreation initiatives, helping businesses and organizations recover, grow and thrive, while visitors and residents explore friendly Manitoba.

Quotes

“Summer is right around the corner the time is now to welcome visitors back to our province and safely enjoy all Manitoba has to offer. Manitoba is known as a gathering place, where people come together to experience the rich culture, beautiful landscapes, and history of our province. Tourism is a critical industry for Manitoba and through these investments, our government is helping the travel, tourism, and recreation providers create new—or enhance existing—experiences, revitalizing communities, and attract visitors. Together, we are ready to welcome people from across Canada and the world back to Manitoba.”

– The Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan

“Manitoba is home to a wide range of unique and diverse tourist attractions – places that draw visitors from near and far seeking to experience all that this province has to offer. Over the last two years, our tourism operators have demonstrated a spirit of unbreakable perseverance and resilience. It is a pleasure to be able to support them in their efforts to showcase us among Canada’s top destinations.”

– Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

“For thousands of years, The Forks has been a space to gather and share stories – welcoming the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba Knowledge Centre to this site is an important step toward furthering knowledge of Indigenous history and our responsibilities as Treaty people. The Knowledge Centre, along with new storytelling panels that will be added to the Waterfront Loop, are integral to building understanding and creating connections within our diverse communities. We are grateful for the support from PrairiesCan that makes it possible for us to enhance our efforts in providing a warm and generous welcome to all.”

– Sara Stasiuk, President & Chief Executive Officer, The Forks Renewal Corporation

“The new Royal Aviation Museum has a vision to be one of Manitoba’s signature tourist attractions and to be a beacon welcoming visitors to Winnipeg. Creating interactive and immersive exhibits was key to delivering a unique and engaging experience for visitors of all ages and interest levels. The generous support of PrairiesCan allowed us to not just tell aviation stories but bring them to life through a variety of video, audio, and tactile features in our exhibits.”

– Terry Slobodian, President & CEO, Curator, Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada

“Eco-tourism offers incredible opportunities for visitors to spend invaluable time outside, learning about our environment and discovering a life-long connection with nature. Support like this from PrairiesCan will help FortWhyte Alive reimagine and build sustainable and accessible spaces to help visitors grow a deeper relationship with our planet and create meaningful memories with friends and family. Many families choose FortWhyte Alive as a natural place of exploration to introduce guests to local attractions. Improving their experience and general waterfront access will greatly increase the likelihood of an enjoyable outing and of return visits, leading to a deeper appreciation of Manitoba’s wide array of tourism offerings”

– Liz Wilson, President & CEO, Fort Whyte Alive

Quick facts

The Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) helps tourism businesses and organizations adapt their operations to meet public health requirements while investing in products and services facilitating their future growth.
The Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF) helps communities across Canada build and improve community infrastructure projects to rebound from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) is assisting businesses and organizations across Canada to mitigate financial pressures caused by the pandemic.

Minister Vandal announces major support for Manitoba’s tourism comeback

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