The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority has received over $50,000 from Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization through FedDev Ontario to support trail and campsite upgrades at local campgrounds
Federal officials say conservation areas owned and operated by the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA) became a refuge for residents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, several popular trail systems and campsites at the Authority’s campgrounds were in need of repair and upgrades to ensure continued use remained enjoyable and accessibility was improved.
Earlier this month, the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority received a non-repayable contribution of $54,652 from Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization to upgrade 1,050 metres of the Petrolia-based Lorne C. Henderson Conservation Area trail system to stone dust and install gravel pads at all three of the Authority’s
regional campgrounds.
This is part of the Government of Canada’s Tourism Relief Fund, delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
“Our government is happy to invest $78 million through the Tourism Relief Fund to help communities across southern Ontario rejuvenate local tourist attractions,” stated Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency, in a media release.
“With this funding, southern Ontario’s Regional Tourism Organizations and Indigenous Tourism Ontario are providing hundreds of local businesses and organizations with the support they need to create jobs, attract more visitors and grow local economies, now and into the future.”
Mike Stark, Chair of the SCRCA, said during the COVID-19 pandemic, the SCRA saw a large increase in the number of visitors to their Conservation Areas.
“The funding provided by the Government of Canada, will allow us to upgrade and improve the accessibility of the trail systems at one of our most popular parks and improve the camping experience at all our campgrounds for years to come,” Stark stated, in a media release.
The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority owns and maintains 15 Conservation Areas that span a total of 620 hectares throughout the watershed.
