BANFF, ALBERTA -- (Marketwire) -- 07/24/10 -- His Royal Highness The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, today joined the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada to officially open the first section of the Banff Legacy Trail. The multi-use, non-motorized recreation trail was announced in 2009 as a legacy gift honouring the 125th Anniversary of the creation of Banff National Park - Canada's first national park.
"I'm pleased today to open the first, completed section of the Banff Legacy Trail, which was funded in part through Canada's Economic Action Plan," said Minister Prentice. "This recreation trail will help transform the Mountain Parks into one of North America's premier cycling destinations and give Canadians and visitors a safe and environmentally friendly way to link the mountain communities from Canmore to Banff and eventually to Lake Louise and beyond."
Designed to incorporate scenic views and run primarily along the Trans-Canada Highway right-of-way and wildlife fence, the hard-surfaced trail will be a non-motorized.
"This project, funded in part by Canada's Economic Action Plan, continues to provide local construction jobs and economic activity and will encourage additional tourism opportunities in the future," said Mr. Blake Richards, Member of Parliament for Wild Rose. "It showcases how by working together, innovative tourism products can be created that respect the environment."
"Soon the Legacy Trail will become one of Canada's most innovative sustainable-tourism products as it will provide users a new opportunity to safely experience the world-class beauty of Banff National Park - the birthplace of Canada's national park system," said Minister Prentice.
The Banff Legacy Trail initiative was the result of collaborative efforts, vision and support of a number of groups, including the Province of Alberta, members of the Bow Corridor Regional Mobility Partnership, the towns of Banff and Canmore and Municipality of Bighorn.
For additional information, please see the accompanying backgrounder at www.parkscanada.gc.ca under Media Room.
Contacts:
Frederic Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441
http://twitter.com/jimprentice
Michelle Macullo
Communications Officer
Parks Canada
403-762-1526