Two Haute-Gaspésie businesses will be able to improve and develop their tourism offering

The Government of Canada awards over $200,000 in financial assistance to Village Grande Nature in Cap-Chat and Eskamer Aventure in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts

CAP-CHAT, QC, March 14, 2019 /CNW/ - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)

Gaspésie companies Village Grande Nature and Eskamer Aventure offer accommodation services and outdoor activities that contribute to Haute-Gaspésie's standing as one of the most attractive tourist hubs. To improve and develop their service offering, they will receive $236,895 in repayable contributions from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.

With this financial assistance, Village Grande Nature Inc., located at the base of the Chic-Choc Mountains, will be able to improve its tourism offering by upgrading its leisure activities through the purchase of new outdoor equipment, the installation of thalassotherapy equipment and improvements to its accommodation units. Eskamer Aventure Inc. will be able to build its outdoor aquatic station, an eco-environmental construction representing an unprecedented development. The new station will give a panoramic view of the sea and mountains, and will provide clients with swimming, spa, sauna and relaxation activities on a rooftop terrace. A zipline and visitor's centre will also be built. The goal of this new project will be to provide an unprecedented canyoning experience.

The announcment was made today by the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Member of Parliament for Gaspésie–Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Minister of National Revenue. The funding granted by the Government of Canada through CED's Quebec Economic Development Program will allow the recipient businesses to achieve their established objectives. Their respective projects will generate a total investment of nearly $1.4 million and will result in the creation of six jobs in Haute-Gaspésie, in addition to consolidating the 24 jobs already provided by these Gaspésie businesses.

The Government of Canada is committed to establishing close partnerships with Quebec businesses to support their efforts to innovate and increase their productivity and competitiveness, and to contribute to the economic vitality of the regions, the creation of jobs and the improvement of citizens' quality of life.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada is glad to support the regional businesses being highlighted today, with their willingness to offer better services and activities that give people the opportunity to experience the best that Haute-Gaspésie has to offer. I am proud of how citizens, organizations and businesses from here come together to contribute to maintaining attractions and improve our region's tourism offering by getting involved in the development of projects such as this one."

The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Member of Parliament for Gaspésie–Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Minister of National Revenue

"The financial support from CED will enable Village Grande Nature and Eskamer Aventure to grow, further highlight the attractions of Haute-Gaspésie and attract even more visitors to the area. Through this support, the Government of Canada is reiterating its commitment to promote Quebec's touristic regions, which has a positive impact on the local economy."

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister responsible for CED

"The assistance granted by CED and others has enabled us to not only improve our offering, but also raise awareness of our enchanting site, which aims to be a must-visit in the area. Since relaunching, Village Grande Nature has seen growth of 300% in the first year and has followed this phenomenal growth with an annual increase of nearly 30%. This new contribution in the area enables us to maintain the 19 existing jobs. The opening of our conference centre will enable us to access the corporate market, which in turn will bring more money to our area and create new jobs, which is a significant issue for Gaspésie. We thank CED for its support. The success that Village Grande Nature has had shows that these assistance programs significantly foster regional development in a significant way."

Réjean Blouin, owner, Village Grande Nature

"Eskamer Aventure has been recognized from the start for offering canyoning, but its active participation in the field of canyoning has led it to become a leader in coaching and safety in this intense activity. Exploring reservoirs, natural slides and clear mountain waterfalls has become the can't-miss activity for tourists from here and around the world for their vacations in Haute-Gaspésie and Quebec. Eskamer Aventure's new project that is receiving a contribution from CED helps us maintain our mission of providing amazing discovery experiences that are accessible to everyone."  

Yann Barriault, president, Eskamer Aventure

Quick facts

• Today's announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister responsible for the Innovation, Science and Economic Development portfolio, which is made up of 17 federal departments and agencies, including CED and the five other regional development agencies.
• The funding was granted through CED's Quebec Economic Development Program. For more information on CED and its priorities, consult the 2018-2019 Departmental Plan or visit www.dec-ced.gc.ca.
• For 50 years now, the Government of Canada has been actively participating in regional economic development in Quebec: half a century of concrete action dedicated to the development of the regions and local businesses.

Related product

• For more information about the projects, please refer to the related backgrounder.

Backgrounder

Proponent	Contribution – Investment – Description of the project
Village Grande Nature Inc.	Repayable contribution of $195,895 out of a total investment of $1,000,470   Village Grande Nature is a hotel complex located at the base of the Chic-Choc Mountains. Its service offering combines accommodation (colonial style lodge, Canadian and Scandinavian chalets with a spa, a loft and a dormitory), a restaurant with a dining room that can double as a conference centre, a campground, a network of 32 km of maintained trails and a natural lake. The purpose of the project is to improve the quality of Village Grande Nature Chic-Chocs' tourism offering. The contribution from CED will be used to improve accommodation units and common areas and install thalassotherapy equipment, as well as to install an emergency electrical system and improve cellular and internet access.   The project will consolidate 19 existing jobs.
Eskamer Aventure Inc.	Repayable contribution of $41,000 out of a total investment of $365,000   Created in 2005, Eskamer Aventure specializes in offering canyoning activities in the heart of the Chic-Choc Mountains and on Gaspésie's coastal mountains, as well as in offering sea kayaking excursions. The business has an accommodation component with a rustic campground and a treetop platform chalet. Eskamer's offering improves the tourist circuit in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Haute-Gaspésie and Gaspésie, and falls under outdoor experiences, one of the Alliance Touristique's 14 experiences.   The purpose of the project is to expand and improve Eskamer's tourism offering. In essence, the project will help make the activity of exploring canyons, called "canyoning", better known. Every new component implemented in the project will help provide an integral canyoning experience. Swimming in the warm water of a glass pool high above the ground, jumping into the void with a magnetic brake pulley, a zipline spanning more than 300 metres over the Canyon Ruisseau Castor and a maze for children are some of the anticipated new additions.   The project will create six jobs, in addition to the five jobs currently provided by the business.
Summary	Number of projects: 2 Number of jobs created: 6 CED contributions: $236,895 Total spending generated by these projects: $1,365,470

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SOURCE Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

For further information: Media Relations, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, 514-283-7443, [e-mail]