Guests at the 2023 Alberta Tourism Advocacy Summit on Monday. (Supplied)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

10-Year Tourism Destination Management Plan

Sylvan Lake receives nearly $300,000 in federal tourism grant

Feb 28, 2023 | 1:16 PM

The Town of Sylvan Lake received $297,000 in federal grant funding on Monday for its new 10-Year Tourism Destination Management Plan project.

The announcement was made in Edmonton on February 27 at the 2023 Alberta Tourism Advocacy Summit hosted by the Tourism Industry Association of Alberta (TIAA).

Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, on behalf of Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan, announced more than $17.8 million in federal funding for 50 tourism-focused projects across Alberta. The Government of Canada says the investment will attract more people to explore Alberta destinations, enhance and create new tourism experiences, events, and bring economic benefits to communities across the province.

“Alberta is home to remarkable natural landscapes, vibrant communities and passionate storytellers that attract visitors from across Canada and around the world. The tourism industry is a significant economic driver all across Alberta, supporting businesses and high quality jobs. Tourism operators and communities continue to welcome more visitors, and the Government of Canada is making significant investments to enhance and create new experiences to attract regional, national, and international visitors,” said federal officials in a release.

(Government of Canada)

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Sylvan Lake Mayor Megan Hanson and Councillor Tim Mearns attended the event alongside Travel Alberta and members of the provincial and federal governments.

“This co-investment will help us grow the quantity and quality of unique tourism destinations across the province, ensuring all Albertans can realize the economic, social, and cultural benefits of a robust visitor economy,” said David Goldstein, CEO of Travel Alberta.

The Town will also be contributing an additional $53,000 to support the project, increasing the total cost to $350,000.

Town officials say two tourism “Visioning Sessions” will take place on March 6 at the NexSource Centre (4823 49 Ave) where town staff will discuss what they learned during their public engagement process, give an overview of the 10-Year Tourism Destination Management Plan and offer residents the opportunity to share their feedback. Residents can register online or just present themselves at the sessions from 3-5 p.m. or 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

“As we move past the acute phase of the pandemic, Canada’s tourism sector is showing strong signs of growth. The Government of Canada’s investments in tourism over the last two years focused on the survival of our visitor economy. As we move to revival and the growth of the sector, we continue to provide targeted support to tourism businesses so they can keep delivering unforgettable experiences. A fully recovered and robust tourism sector is key to our government’s ongoing work in building an economy that works for all Canadians,” said Boissonnault.

Two other central Alberta organizations were also chosen:

• Red Deer County: Powwow Times ($122,796) – Deliver two Indigenous tourism experiences in Red Deer County: the 2021 Red Deer International Powwow and the 2022 Sylvan Lake National Indigenous Day.
• Sundre: Mahikan Trails ($99,895) – Renovate a medicine workshop space and install new cabins to facilitate multi-day workshops and immersive Indigenous experiences year-round.

“Today’s announcement is more good news for Alberta’s tourism sector. This new funding augments robust investment that the Alberta Government has already made to support the recovery, growth and long-term prosperity of our visitor economy. Tourism generates jobs for Albertans and economic opportunity throughout province. Support from all levels of government is instrumental in ensuring future success in this area,” said Todd Loewen, Ministry of Forestry, Parks and Tourism for the Government of Alberta.

Funding for these projects is provided through Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), the department responsible for diversifying the economy across the Canadian Prairies, under the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF). The $500 million TRF program over two years includes $50 million specifically dedicated to Indigenous tourism initiatives and $15 million for national initiatives. Government officials say the funds are expected to help support more than 2,800 jobs across the province and helps organizations in the tourism sector adapt operations to meet public health requirements, and offer innovative products and services to visitors.

“A strong tourism industry creates economic opportunity and jobs in communities throughout Alberta. Our government is investing in growing Alberta’s tourism operators and attractions so they can continue sharing the natural beauty, rich culture and unique experiences that Alberta has to offer to visitors from all parts of the world,” said Vandal.

Funding will support a wide-range of initiatives for communities, attractions, hospitality businesses, museums and events. For the full list of recipients, visit the Government of Canada website.