Released on June 3, 2011
Enterprise Minister Jeremy Harrison on behalf of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Bill Hutchinson today joined Saskatchewan Trails Association President Cathy Watts in a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the Boreal Trail in Meadow Lake Provincial Park.
"Trails play an important role in building a healthier, more prosperous Saskatchewan," Harrison said. "The Boreal Trail will provide more recreation opportunities within Meadow Lake Provincial Park and will be a prime hiking and backpacking destination."
"The Saskatchewan Trails Association recognizes that this trail represents much more than a path through the forest, it is a tourist destination, an addition to the local economy, a contributor to health and wellness and much more," Watts said. "All over Saskatchewan, trails such as this are making our province a better and more beautiful place to live."
Over the past ten years, Meadow Lake Provincial Park and the Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport have been collecting GPS data of existing roads and trails within the park. The past two years have seen the existing trails connected to create 150 kilometers of hiking and backpacking trail system that connects eight existing campgrounds. The trail system also offers back country camping opportunities along the trail at established campsites.
The Boreal Trail was completed with funding from the Federal National Trails Coalition and the Saskatchewan Government's matching provincial capital funding.
It is Saskatchewan's Provincial Parks 80th Anniversary. Visit a park and enjoy programs, trails, facilities and the province's natural, cultural and historic resources.
For further information on the Boreal Trail, please visit www.saskparks.net or call toll-free 1-800-205-7070.
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For more information, contact:
Janice Wilby
Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5781
Email: janice.wilby@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-527-8152