Gourmet tastes and farms trending in tourism "$56"- * 54 r /&84
GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
The TPRT is also continuing to promote the region as a cycling tour mecca, and Lacelle noted that Prescott-Russell is well- known amongMontréal cyclists as an excel- lent area for off-road and scenic highway adventure experiences. “Our roads are a huge asset for the region,” he said, adding that most roads and recre- ational cycling paths in Prescott-Russell are well-maintained and offer easy travel, which appeals tomany cycling tour groups. “These are the things they are looking for.” Other assets the TPRT is highlighting as part of its regional promotion are family recreation facilities like the Calypso Park waterslides near Limoges and the presence of popular independent microbreweries like Beau’s in Vankleek Hill and Casselbrew in Casselman. Lacelle noted that Beau’s has built an excellent reputation among beer connoisseurs and is now a staple part of an Ottawa-basedmonthly “brewdonkey” tour schedule of microbreweries around Eastern Ontario and Western Québec. The compa- ny’s award-winning craft beers have gained it an international reputation and helped make the Vankleek Hill area a growing des- tination stop for tourists, which has spinoff
benefits for the many arts and cultural fairs and shows in the area during the year. One piece of advice Lacelle has for all tourism operators and also municipalities trying to grow the tourism sector of their economy is to maintain a strong social me- dia presence and also develop an “open for business” viewpoint. He noted that many tourists from outside the area are making use of information apps, social media ad- vice groups, and business websites, to plan out their holiday travels in advance so they
already know where they want to go and what they want to see before they even leave home. “That’s where people are going now,” he said, “online to do research.” Any place which is not open for visitors on weekends or after regular business hours may get crossed off the list for tourists. “They (tourismbusinesses) have to have this whole presence,” Lacelle said, “that they’re always open. They’re always ready to welcome visitors.”
Two words are important these days for tourism in the Prescott-Russell region.They are “food” and “farming”. “The trend right now is right around agri- culture,” said Martin Lacelle, general man- ager for Tourisme Prescott-Russell Tourism (TPRT). Lacelle noted that many visitors to the region are coming in from the larger urban centres andmay have seen an actual cow or chicken or other type of farm livestock other than on television or videos. The chance to tour a hobby farm or other type of ag- ricultural setup is a big attraction if it also combines some sort of dining experience which highlights local food and beverages. “That’s the type of experience they want,” he said. The TPRT is working with other agencies and groups to help expand the agri-food tourismaspect of Prescott-Russell, promot- ing local food fairs and expos and encourage farm operators in the area who do cater to the tourist trade to include a “homegrown dining” feature to their setup.
Le sol tremble dans la région
VÉRONIQUE CHARRON veronique.charron@eap.on.ca
La force du tremblement de terre a cepen- dant été minime, ne causant que quelques sursauts chez ceux au sommeil plus léger. Selon Séismes Canada, c’est le huitième à survenir cette année dans un rayon de 50 km, et le plus fort, alors que les autres n’ont pas dépassé une magnitude de 2,4. Il faut dire que les tremblements de terre sont assez fréquents dans la région, puisque l’Est de l’Ontario est situé dans la zone sis- mique de l’Ouest du Québec. Comme l’in- dique Séismes Canada, les tremblements de terre de cette zone ont principalement lieu le long de la rivière des Outaouais et le long d’un axeMontréal-Maniwaki. Chaque année, près de 450 séismes se produisent dans l’est du Canada.
Plusieurs ont été réveillés par un trem- blement de terre, dans la nuit du 21 au 22 mars dernier, dans la région de Clarence- Rockland et d’Alfred-Plantagenet. Aucun n’a rêvé, le sol a bien tremblé. Vers 23 h, un tremblement de terre a pris naissance à environ trois kilomètres au sud de Papineauville, du côté du Québec. D’une magnitude de 2,8, les vibrations ont été res- senties à Papineauville et àThurso ainsi qu’à Plantagenet, Alfred, Wendover et Rockland. Selon Séismes Canada, les gens dans un rayon de 10 km à partir de l’épicentre ont pu ressentir le mouvement du sol.
Appui de taille pour le concours LOL
C’est lors du 17 e Gala Richelieu de la francophonie, qui s’est déroulé le 5 mars dernier, que l’Association Richelieu Fondateur a remis un chèque de 5000 $ à l’Association canadienne-française de l’Ontario (ACFO) du secteur S, D et G. L’organisation à but non lucratif organise le concours LOL, un projet d’humour qui a comme mission d’offrir un tremplin aux jeunes de 14-18 ans afin qu’ils puissent intégrer l’industrie de l’humour. En photo, on reconnaît, Gabriel Lessard, président de l’association Richelieu Fondateur, Georgette Sauvé, ancienne présidente de l’ACFO S, D et G, gestionnaire du projet, Danielle Duplantie, présidente sortante de l’ACFO S, D et G, ainsi que Gilles Gratton de l’l’Association Richelieu Fondateur . — photo fournie
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