Penticton, British Columbia – Today marks the official opening of the Penticton & Wine Country Visitors Centre, thanks to funding from Western Economic Diversification Canada.
The Centre will provide visitors and wine enthusiasts with a “one stop shop” for tours and information about the Okanagan's wineries. It will also showcase the many awards B.C. wines have won locally and internationally, and serve as home to a Wine Museum and Wine Shop.
Western Economic Diversification Canada, through the Softwood Industry Community Economic Adjustment Initiative, provided $780,000 for this initiative.
“This facility ushers in a new era of tourism growth for Penticton and the Okanagan” said the Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport). “It also serves as an example of how the softwood adjustment initiative has benefited British Columbians by engaging local residents, diversifying economies, and created stronger communities.”
"As a proud partner, the City of Penticton welcomes the official opening the new Wine Information Centre, a project that will showcase the burgeoning wine industry in the greater Penticton area,” said His Worship, David Perry, Mayor of Penticton. "We would not be celebrating this facility and this partnership without the softwood initiative, which spurs community economic development, and Community Futures Development Corporations, who oversaw the application process locally."
"This facility will allow The Penticton and Wine Country Chamber Of Commerce to enhance and grow new business in agriculture and tourism and further diversify our regional economy, “ said Judy Poole, Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce President.” The grant which we received from the softwood initiative was a major factor in this project, and I wish to thank all those who assisted in making this possible."
The Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce is a not for profit, membership'driven, business association. It serves to enrich the quality of economic and civic well being for its membership, business at large and the community as a whole. The Chamber of Commerce also manages three contracts for the City of Penticton: Economic Development, Tourism Development and the Visitor Info Centre.
Western Economic Diversification Canada is the federal department mandated to develop Western Canada's economy through initiatives that advance Sustainable Communities, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
In the Okanagan Valley, $4 million in softwood initiative funding was made available for 13 new initiatives. This investment contributed to creating or maintaining 283 new jobs and almost $10 million in new investments for the region.
In all, more than 140 B.C. communities affected by the Canada'U.S. softwood lumber dispute are benefiting from Western Economic Diversification Canada's softwood initiative. The Government of Canada committed a total of $50 million through the program to community adjustment projects in British Columbia, creating or maintaining some 2,500 jobs.
For additional information, contact:
Tom Wakefield
Acting Manager, Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Vancouver, BC
Tel: (604) 666-2445
E'mail: tom.wakefield@wd.gc.ca
Renée Gillen
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport)
Tel: (613) 954-1110
WD Toll-Free Number
1 888 338-WEST (9378)
World Wide Web Site:
English: http://www.wd.gc.ca
French: http://www.deo.gc.ca
Lorraine Renyard
Manager
Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce
Phone 250-492-4103
Web site: www.penticton.org
