Parks Canada Investing in and Leveraging our Assets. November 20, 2015

Transcription

1 Parks Canada Investing in and Leveraging our Assets November 20,

2 Presentation Overview Parks Canada Organization Facts The Future Investing in Results 2

3 3 Our Places

4 Parks Canada Organization Two business units Main functional areas Natural and Cultural Protection Visitor Services Water management canals only Maintenance and Inspection Large capital projects Realty Business development We retain revenue locally! Canadians have a strong sense of connection, through meaningful experiences, to their national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas and these protected places are enjoyed in ways that leave them unimpaired for present and future generations. 4

5 Parks Canada in Ontario Visitor spending at Parks Canada s Ontario destinations combined with investments made by Parks Canada contribute over $250 million per year to Ontario s Gross Domestic Product. Parks Canada s Ontario destinations receive over 3.3 million visitors per year. Parks Canada employs over 1,000 people in Ontario including scientists, guides, visitor attendants, skilled trades, educators, archaeologists, and law enforcement officers. Parks Canada is one of the largest land and water managers in Ontario, protecting and administrating over 3,058 km2 of land and 12,360 km2 of water. Parks Canada s destinations in Ontario have over 250,000 followers on social media broadcasting on over 50 channels. The Rideau Canal is Ontario s only UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of five UNESCO designated canals in the world. 5

6 Facts - Rideau Canal Clients Water 58,583 boats locked in % - Busiest southern locks 11,435 moorings in % 75% use in July and August Decreasing trend since 1988 Land ~1 million land based visitors Busiest Ottawa locks Note: Boats may get counted multiple times 6

7 Facts Thousand Islands 60,000 visitors per year - Core visitors are boaters More than half are in the 45+ age range. There is a very high rate of repeat visitation (81%) and long stays (5.6 nights on average). 11 million people reside within 4 hours of the park in the urban markets of Ottawa, Montreal and the Greater Toronto Area. 7

8 What does the future look like? Premier Destinations Strong partnerships exist between Parks Canada, tourism and business organizations, and local communities Our sites are must visit destinations for all to camp, paddle, boat, bike, overnight and experience Canada s heritage Greater financial sustainability through increased revenue streams (increased traffic, new markets, new products) Locals travel by water through the locks to spend time and money in local communities 8

9 What is Parks Canada Doing? New Tourism Product Development Diversified Accommodations Retrofitted lockmaster houses otentiks Equipped campsites More visitor experiences Voyageur Canoe Paddle docks Attracting canal cruise industry Historical programs e.g.: Fire the cannon Facility Upgrades Showers Firepits Ice/Wood Visitor Centres 9

10 What is Parks Canada Doing? Promotion National Initiatives Red Chairs Reservation System Merchandise Program Canada Day Free Entry Establishing specific target markets Local Initiatives Social media presence 2 for 1 lockage Boat Shows and Learn to Lock seminars Partnership whiskey tasting event 10

11 What is Parks Canada Doing? Investments in our Infrastructure Rideau Canal $46M announced in 2015 canal walls, lock and gate work, dams, bridges Thousand Islands Sites - $8M announced in 2015 Day use and overnight facilities, and Battle of Windmill NHS Federal investments ensure a long term stable asset that everyone can benefit from How do we facilitate others to benefit from these investments? 11

12 Call to Action Parks Canada values its heritage places, is making investments in them, and are looking to work with partners who see the benefits of working together to realize the full potential of our heritage places Engage With Us 12

13 Thank You Darlene Upton Executive Director, Waterways / Directrice exécutive, Voies navigables darlene.upton@pc.gc.ca Telephone / Téléphone poste/ext Smiths Falls Telephone / Téléphone Gatineau Jewel Cunningham Director, Ontario Waterways / Directrice, Voies navigables Ontatio jewel.cunningham@pc.gc.ca Telephone / Téléphone poste/ext 234- Smiths Falls Telephone / Téléphone Peterborough Katherine Patterson Field Unit Superintendent, / Directrice, Unité de gestion Georgian Bay and Ontario East / Baie Georgienne et de l'est de l'ontario katherine.patterson@pc.gc.ca Telephone / Téléphone