MONTREAL - VIA Rail Canada is pleased to announce it has once again partnered with the International Flora Montréal 2007, an event that brings together the latest trends in the art of gardening and landscaping. Garden enthusiasts can visit any of the 16 public or private gardens, from Vancouver Island to Halifax using a number of VIA services. In its inaugural season, The VIA Rail Garden Route was particularly popular with those travelling in Eastern Canada and with more gardens to visit, special discounts and a contest for travellers at each garden, it's the perfect setting to become inspired.

VIA and Flora Montréal have partnered with some of the most outstanding gardens in Canada. A four-month event chosen for its "TOP 100" list by the prestigious Destinations Magazine, published by the American Bus Association. Passengers visiting any of the participating gardens will be able to take part in a contest with a chance to win a weekend for two at International Flora Montréal 2007.

"VIA passengers regularly experience breathtaking views of beautiful landscapes", said Steve Del Bosco, VIA's chief customer officer. "Whether travelling through the spectacular Canadian Rockies or along the shores of the Atlantic enroute to Montréal. It was therefore natural for us to cooperate with some of the most spectacular gardens along the route, to offer visitors a chance to win tickets to the International Flora event in Montréal and to enjoy the trip by train."

Visitors to each participating garden can complete a contest ballot which offers them the opportunity to win a weekend in Montréal with two round-trip VIA first class tickets, along with two nights' accommodation and tickets for the International Flora Montréal 2007 event. Additionally, the International Flora Montréal winner will choose between the remaining 15 gardens to visit. Ballots will be available at each of the participating gardens and is open to all garden visitors.

The VIA Rail Garden Route (viarail.ca/garden) features gardens in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia, and includes the following 16 gardens:

• The Butchart Gardens (Brentwood Bay, B.C.)
• UBC Botanical Garden (Vancouver, B.C.)
• Muttart Conservatory (Edmonton, Alb.)
• Leo Mol Sculpture Garden (Winnipeg, Man.)
• Windsor Riverfront Gardens (Windsor, Ont.)
• Royal Botanical Gardens (Burlington/Hamilton, Ont.)
• Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens (Niagara Falls, Ont.)
• Casa Loma Gardens (Toronto, Ont.)
• Toronto Botanical Garden (Toronto, Ont.)
• Mackenzie King Estate (Gatineau, Que.)
• Montreal Botanical Garden (Montréal, Que.)
• International Flora/The Montréal Garden Festival(Montréal, Que.)
• Roger Van den Hende Botanical Garden (Québec City, Que.)
• Reford Gardens / Jardins de Métis (Mont-Joli, Que.)
• Kingsbrae Garden (St. Andrews, N.B.)
• Halifax Public Gardens (Halifax, N.S.)

About International Flora Montreal 2007
International Flora Montreal 2007 will run from June 29 to September 3, 2007. The event has won accolades from prominent organizations. Apart from endorsement from the American Bus Association's magazine, the Globe and Mail recommends the event as one of this summer's six must-see destinations, and Tourisme Québec has selected the event as a "hot pick".

About VIA
As Canada's national passenger rail service, VIA Rail Canada's mandate is to provide efficient, environmentally responsible and cost effective passenger transportation services, both in Canada's business corridor and in remote and rural regions of the country. VIA serves more than 450 communities with a network of inter-city, transcontinental and regional trains. Demand continues to grow as more Canadians turn to train travel as a safe and convenient travel choice. For more information, or to reserve a ticket, go to viarail.ca or call toll-free 888-VIA-RAIL (842-7245) TTY-800-268-9503 (hearing impaired), or visit your travel agent.

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