Guided canoe tours on the St. Mary’s River
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SAULT STE. MARIE, ONTARIO - May 26, 2019 (LSN) There’s a new way to see, feel, hear, and learn about Sault Ste. Marie. The Lake Superior Watershed Conservatory is now offering guided canoe tours on the St. Mary’s River. Through its project, Canoes for Conservation, the organization is providing a unique experience for visitors and residents.
Up to 14 people can fit in the canoes, which range from 26 feet to 36 feet long. The typical trip starts at Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site and ends at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre. Along the journey, the canoes pass by various points of interest, including Whitefish Island, the Machine Shop and Art Gallery of Algoma. During the voyage, trained tour guides provide paddlers with information that relates to the heritage, culture and ecology of the locations.
“We can cater each tour to what the group wants to focus on and learn more about,” said Joanie McGuffin, Executive Director of the Lake Superior Watershed Conservatory. “Sault Ste. Marie has such a rich history – from the Anishinaabe people who have lived here for hundreds of years, to our early lock system that helped shape North America. It’s important to understand more of our heritage. There are many opportunities to link our history with our natural environment. Canoes for Conservation is all about celebrating this heritage.”
The Lake Superior Watershed Conservatory also offers guides canoe tours at Gros Cap and Batchawana. The canoes are accessible and family-friendly. To book a trip, or for more information, please visit www.superiorconservancy.org/canoes-for-conservation.
The Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation is supporting this project. Through its Tourism Sault Ste. Marie division, the organization works to attract visitors to the community. Staff is now promoting Canoes for Conservation through various marketing channels.
“It’s great to have another unique product to offer visitors,” said Dan Hollingsworth, Executive Director of the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation. “Canoes for Conservation is a perfect platform to highlight the history of the area. We’re excited to offer this new experience to travellers. It provides a wonderful add-on to our visitor offerings.”
The Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy is a charitable non-profit organization that operates in Canada and the United States. Its mission is to protect the Lake Superior freshwater ecosystem for future generations. To learn more, visit www.superiorconservancy.org. Also online: www.sault-canada.com.
PHOTO: At the Canoes for Conservation announcement are (L to R) Alana Kenopic from the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation, Peter Greve from the Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy, Algoma University Chancellor Shirley Horn, and Gary McGuffin from the Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy.
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