News Release

For Immediate Release
April 4, 2005

Snowmobiling – Part of Cape Breton’s Winter Tourism Product

Margaree, Nova Scotia – Visitors to Cape Breton’s various snowmobile trails will soon have an enhanced experience due to funding announced today by Rodger Cuzner, MP for Cape Breton-Canso, on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister for Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) and Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

The Margaree Highlanders Snowmobile Club, working with representatives from seven snowmobile clubs from across Cape Breton Island, has received funding to carry out improvements to existing trails and to purchase grooming equipment.

“Snowmobiling has become a lucrative industry in Canada over the past number of years,” says MP Cuzner. “This project will assist in developing a first class system of trails on Cape Breton, making it a destination for snowmobile enthusiasts.”

“This project will aid in attracting more visitors to the Island during the winter. That’s good for business in many small communities across the Island,” says Laurie Cranton, Project Chair of the Margaree Highlanders Snowmobile Club.

The total cost of the project is $280,000. ECBC will provide a
non-repayable contribution of $150,000 through ACOA’s Business Development Program.

The clubs participating in this project include the Margaree Highlanders Snowmobile Club, Cabot Snowmobile Club, Crowdis Mountain Snowmobile Club, Highland Trail Groomers Association, Inverness Capers Snowmobile Club, Alpine Snowmobile Club and Cape Clear Snowmobile Club. Together these clubs have over 650 members from across Cape Breton Island.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA’s programs on Cape Breton Island and in the Mulgrave area.

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FOR BROADCAST USE ONLY:

WITH ASSISTANCE FROM ECBC, SEVEN CAPE BRETON SNOWMOBILE CLUBS HAVE TEAMED UP TO ENHANCE THE TRAIL SYSTEM ACROSS THE ISLAND

CAPE BRETON – CANSO MP RODGER CUZNER ANNOUNCED ECBC FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $150,000 FOR A PROJECT TO CARRY OUT IMPROVEMENTS TO EXISTING SNOWMOBILE TRAILS AND TO PURCHASE GROOMING EQUIPMENT.

MP CUZNER SAYS THE PROJECT WILL ASSIST IN DEVELOPING A FIRST CLASS SYSTEM OF TRAILS ON THE ISLAND, MAKING IT A DESTINATION FOR SNOWMOBILE ENTHUSIASTS.

For More Information Contact:

Valérie Poulin
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire
Minister of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Tel: (613) 941-7241

Office of Rodger Cuzner
MP Cape Breton-Canso
(902) 842-9763

Laurie Cranton
Project Chair, Margaree Highlanders Snowmobile Club
Tel: (902) 248-2726

D.A. Landry
ECBC Communications
Tel: (902) 564-3617