Ottawa, Ontario, September 4, 2013 -- Mr. Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds—Grenville, on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, is pleased to launch a collaborative and innovative project to foster recreation, tourism and economic development throughout the Rideau Canal corridor.

“This partnering project reflects our Government’s desire to engage key stakeholders in a conversation about the future sustainability of the Rideau Canal,” said Mr. Brown. “I’m excited to start working on this common vision for the benefit of all communities along this World Heritage Site.”

The Living and Visiting the Rideau UNESCO World Heritage Site project will help identify innovative new ways to ensure the Rideau Canal meets its potential as a vibrant and animated world-class site that contributes to local economies. This initiative will be managed through the collaborative efforts of Parks Canada, the Rideau Roundtable, the Rideau Heritage Route Tourism Association, the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, Lanark County, the Town of Smiths Falls, and the Valley Heartland Community Futures Development Corporation.

Together, these groups will engage in a proactive dialogue that will identify new experience concepts, innovations and enhancements to make these experiences as memorable as possible.

Parks Canada is proud of the unique experience opportunities offered on Canada's historic canals. Each year our team welcomes boaters and canal users as they discover one of the finest interconnected systems of navigation in the world.

For more information on the Rideau Canal please visit www.parkscanada.gc.ca.

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Information:
Annie Laurie, External Relations
Rideau Canal, Parks Canada
613-283-7199 ext. 278
www.twitter.com/parkscanada

Backgrounder associated with this News Release.

Realizing the Uncommon Potential of the Rideau Canal Heritage Corridor