St. Clair Region Conservation Authority receives over $50,000 from Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization through FedDev Ontario to support trail and campsite upgrades at local campgrounds
The tourism sector is vital to the economy and jobs in Ontario’s Southwest. Conservation areas owned and operated by the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA) became a refuge for residents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, several popular trail systems and campsites at the Authority’s campgrounds were in need of repair and upgrades to ensure continued use remained enjoyable and accessibility was improved.
Today, the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority received a non-repayable contribution of $54,652 from Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization to upgrade 1,050 metres of the Petrolia-based Lorne C. Henderson Conservation Area trail system to stone dust and install gravel pads at all three of the Authority’s regional campgrounds. This is part of the Government of Canada’s Tourism Relief Fund, delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). Ontario’s Southwest received nearly $11 million from FedDev Ontario to to help local tourism organizations and businesses safely welcome back visitors, recover from the impacts of the pandemic and prepare for future growth.
This investment will help the SCRCA adapt and recover to attract new visitors and drive economic growth in the St. Clair Region watershed.
“Our government is happy to invest $78 million through the Tourism Relief Fund to help communities across southern Ontario rejuvenate local tourist attractions. With this funding, southern Ontario’s Regional Tourism Organizations and Indigenous Tourism Ontario are providing hundreds of local businesses and organizations with the support they need to create jobs, attract more visitors and grow local economies, now and into the future.”
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- The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency
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“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw a large increase in the number of visitors to our Conservation Areas. The funding provided by the Government of Canada, will allow us to upgrade and improve the accessibility of the trail systems at one of our most popular parks and improve the camping experience at all our campgrounds for years to come.”
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- Mike Stark, Chair, St. Clair Region Conservation Authority
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“Tourism innovators from across the region have demonstrated the abundance of creativity and opportunity for continued tourism growth within Ontario’s Southwest. Through the Tourism Relief Fund, we’re seeing infrastructure improvements, new experience development and destination management projects. These projects will extend more travel into the shoulder seasons, prioritize environmental sustainability and inclusivity, and are innovative and bold. We’re pleased to be working with FedDev Ontario to administer the Tourism Relief Fund in Ontario’s Southwest.”
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- Joanne Wolnik, Executive Director, Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization
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Quick facts
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- The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority owns and maintains 15 Conservation Areas that span a total of 620 hectares throughout the watershed. Visitors can enjoy numerous recreational activities including hiking along one of over 40 kilometres of trails, camping at one of the Authority’s three regional campgrounds, fishing, and bird watching, among other activities.
- Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization works with 10 Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) and tourism industry stakeholders across the region to develop and promote the region of Ontario’s Southwest as a vibrant and prosperous tourism region.
- 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. FedDev Ontario is delivering nearly $120 million of the Tourism Relief Fund across southern Ontario.
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Associated Links
About St. Clair Region Conservation Authority
The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority is located in southwestern Ontario and includes the Sydenham River watershed and smaller watersheds draining directly into southern Lake Huron, the St. Clair River and northeastern Lake St. Clair. The Conservation Authority implements programs to reduce the risk to life and property from flooding and erosion and promote water and land stewardship, forestry, wildlife habitat creation, conservation education, and outdoor recreation. For more information, visit our website at www.scrca.on.ca.
About Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization
Ontario’s Southwest (OSW) is a Regional Tourism Organization, funded primarily through the provincial Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Sport, and is governed by an independent Board of Directors. OSW works collaboratively with tourism stakeholders to create a vibrant and inclusive tourism sector, balancing the needs of visitors, tourism partners, communities, and the environment.
About FedDev Ontario
For 13 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
