New Miniature Train Opens August 13th

The first element of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission’s $13 M Discovery Centre project will be officially launched at Upper Canada Village by Tourism & Culture Minister Michael Chan at 2:30 pm on Friday, August 13th, 2010. A brand new miniature train along with phase one of the newly laid track, will be officially named and opened for rides. Train rides, parking and admission to Upper Canada Village will be FREE to all guests, starting at 2:00 pm on Friday. Refreshments and free train rides will start following the official launch by Minister Chan. Everyone is welcome to attend. This visit represents Minister Chan’s first tour of Commission attractions.

The new train, a C. P. Huntington Locomotive is a scaled replica of an 1860s locomotive, and will include a fully accessible car, a new sound system and audio interpretive program. The new track is being completed in two phases with phase one, the replacement of the existing route to be opened on Friday. Phase 2, which extends the route to Crysler Park Marina, Aultsville Station and the Crysler's Farm War of 1812 Battlefield Centre and new Battle Encampment, is targeted for Fall completion. The new train which includes an engine and five coaches cost $482,475 and was purchased following a competitive purchasing process from Chance Morgan Inc. from Wichita, Kansas. The new train track is being built by R.W.Tomlinson and PNR RailWorks.

The Commission also recently announced the awarding of the contract for general contracting services, valued at $3 M for the Discovery Centre project to Cornwall firm Robert J. Bourgon & Associates Ltd. The construction site is being prepared with construction expected to begin any day. The Upper Canada Discovery Centre project is part of a capital investment of $23 million the Ontario government made in the St. Lawrence Parks Commission – an agency of the Ontario government - to improve the quality of its attractions, and to make the local tourism industry more competitive.

Peter Watson Chair of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission - "The Board and Management Team of the SLPC are pleased to host Tourism & Culture Minister Chan at Upper Canada Village. Our entire team is very grateful for the support and confidence that the Ontario government has shown in the St. Lawrence Parks Commission and the tourism industry in Eastern Ontario. We are confident that this investment is the first step in helping to refresh and revitalize our attractions and stimulate visitation and travel through the region.”

Pat Macdonald, General Manager and CEO of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission commented: “We are thrilled to finally be at this stage of our project. The train will offer countless numbers of visitors with a much anticipated new and improved experience. We really hated to disappoint visitors this year when we had to close the train down but we know that this new experience is worth the wait! Our team is also gratified with the support we have received from the local community especially the help from Jane Craig of the Lost Villages Historical Society and the staff at the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne.”

www.uppercanadavillage.com

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