Harper Government Highlights Many New Features and Developments at Forillon National Park in 2015

News Release

April 16, 2015 Gaspé (Quebec) Parks Canada

The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Member of Parliament for Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, today highlighted the new features and developments that park visitors can look forward to in Forillon National Park this year.

The 2015 tourist season is fast approaching, and the Parks Canada team at Forillon National Park is enthusiastically and busily making ready for the arrival of summer. Work underway includes new outdoor activities, diverse accommodations, reconstruction and upgrading work, renewed partnerships and more.

Beginning today, on April 14, Parks Canada’s camping reservation service opens for 2015: www.reservation.parcscanada.gc.ca. Parks Canada invites visitors to plan their summer vacation at Forillon National Park and take full advantage not only of this remarkable place, but also of its entire system of national parks and historic sites.

Quick facts

Known for its sandy beach and warm shallow waters – the warmest in the region, the Penouille peninsula is a popular destination beloved for its splendid sunsets and spectacular view of Gaspé Bay. Starting in summer 2015, thanks to a partnership with Écorécréo, visitors to Penouille will have the option of climbing on-board a new electric shuttle or renting a range of green vehicles for exploring the peninsula, including bicycles, electric bicycles, quadricycles and self-balancing personal transporters (Segways). Visitors can also get an introduction to stand-up paddle boarding, or rent chairs, parasols, kites, balls and other indispensable beach paraphernalia.
In response to the resounding success of oTENTik tents in 2014, five new tents will be made available at Forillon National Park in 2015 for a total of 15. Eight at the Des-Rosiers campground offer a basic service package and seven at the oTENTik campground in Petit-Gaspé feature the “ready-to-camp” package. In addition, the A-loop of the Petit-Gaspé campground has been improved with bigger campsites in order to accommodate RVs over 10 metres in length.
A new interpretation activity will be offered within the framework of “Des soirées animées”: a fireside story, at the Des-Rosiers campground (North Sector). Also, the new in-depth activity “Sur la trace de l’orignal”, designed and tested in 2014, will be back this year.
This year, Parks Canada will pursue a number of projects centering on sustainable management at Penouille, reconstruction of Route 132, and upgrading of the Petit-Gaspé campground. Thanks to these investment projects, Parks Canada holds to its commitment of improving the park on behalf of the community and visitors, and proving that it is a proud regional tourism partner.
Parks Canada will continue working in collaboration with various regional organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Gaspé, Association touristique régionale de la Gaspésie, Escale Gaspésie, Gaspé’s Festival Musique du Bout du Monde, the Association of Persons Expropriated from Forillon and their Descendants, Centre culturel Le Griffon, Traversée de la Gaspésie, Festival cycliste Bouette et Bitume, Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles, etc. These partnerships allow Forillon to strengthen ties with its surrounding community and offer the public a whole array of original, inspiring experiences. They also serve to multiply the drawing power of Gaspé-Forillon as a destination and position the Gaspé Peninsula as a must-visit outdoor recreational destination in Quebec.
Parks Canada invites visitors to discover the best it has to offer by taking advantage of its new red chairs – inviting, red Adirondack chairs set out in the country’s most unique and treasured places (including eight at Forillon National Park). Take a break, breathe deep and soak up the surrounding landscape! We’ve reserved your place!

Quotes

"Our Government is committed to protecting our rich natural heritage. We are proud to offer new features for the 2015 season at Forillon National Park for Canadian families to benefit and enjoy. We will continue taking concrete action to enhance visitor experience and connect Canadians to nature."
-The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Member of Parliament for Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean

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Media contacts

Jonathan Lefebvre
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441

Émilie Devoe
Communications and Public Relations Officer
Gaspésie Field Unit, Parks Canada
418-368-5538
emilie.devoe@pc.gc.ca
www.facebook.com/ForillonNP
www.twitter.com/ForillonNP

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2016-12-14

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Harper Government Highlights Many New Features and Developments at Forillon National Park in 2015

News Release

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