Government Home Search Sitemap Contact Us

July 28, 1997
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

The following is being distributed at the request of Newfoundland and Labrador Park/Recreation Association:

Canadian Parks and Recreation Association Symposium 97

There will be at least two major benefits to the local tourist industry from the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association Conference scheduled August 10 to 13 in St. John's.

"There will, of course be the financial return that is very, very important," explains Heather Hickman who is co-chair, representing the host City of St. John's, of the committee that is organizing the prestigious event.

"We expect about 500 visitors to St. John's and most of them will spend at least six days here. That adds up to 3,000 person days and at the estimated figure of $112 per day, per person, it all calculates out to more than $325,000."

"That's a major boost for the local tourism industry." Hickman is quick to expand on the other major benefit. "If we do our job well, and we certainly intend to, there will be an important positive publicity return from the conference."

Stressing that "the delegates to this conference will come from every area of Canada. By the very nature of their profession, the delegates interact with literally hundreds of people every day and the impression they generate when they return home can be extremely valuable to our continuing tourist promotion." Hickman cited the conference as "one of the most important ones being hosted during the Cabot 500th Celebrations."

Ray Osmond is committee co-chair with Hickman. The committee has been working on the conference for 14 months.

"We feel we are on target in our preparations for the conference," Osmond stressed. "Great cooperation from everybody plus lots of work and effort by committee members has been the trademark of this venture."

Anticipating a large contingent of elected municipal representatives, the symposium will examine many important community recreation initiatives and their overall benefit to our communities.

"Our preparations have been well planned and we are confident they will result in a conference that equals any the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association has held in the past."

The Newfoundland and Labrador Parks/Recreation Association will hold its annual conference in conjunction with the national event.

Symposium headquarters is the Delta Hotel in St. John's.

Additional information is available from Chris Pitcher at (709) 576-8411 or Dee Murphy at (709) 722-2137.