Sharing a New Chapter of Peterborough’s Epic Canoe Tale

Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism and Destination Ontario brings a group of travel media to explore the region, Canadian Canoe Museum’s new lakefront location, and to experience the Trent-Severn Waterway with Le Boat

[PETERBOROUGH, ON]: The region is gearing up for an exciting year ahead and a tourism season to remember. To kick off this pinnacle moment in style, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism and Destination Ontario are welcoming a group of travel media professionals to the region this week to gather stories to share with the world.

In 2024, the region is set to make headlines with the grand opening of the Canadian Canoe Museum‘s brand new purpose-built, world-class, two-storey, 65,000 sq. ft. lakefront museum and campus. Adding to the excitement is the expansion of Le Boat, globally-acclaimed canal cruiser company, extending its Canadian operations to the historic Trent-Severn Waterway.

“We are thrilled to see the new Canadian Canoe Museum and Le Boat on the Trent-Severn Waterway,” said Vincenza Ronaldi, President & CEO, Destination Ontario. “Travellers from Ontario, Canada and around the world are drawn to the beauty and tranquility of our waterways, and this is exactly what these new signature experiences offer. We are pleased to share our excitement through the voice of the media that we are welcoming today.”

“Travel media relations work goes far beyond promotion; it is about inspiring wanderlust and cultivating connections to build a positive reputation for our region. The opening of the new Canadian Canoe Museum and expansion of Le Boat to the region, is a reminder of the profound ways that water connects us all,” said Kelly Jessup, Director of Marketing & Communications for Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development. “We are thrilled to see the results of our hard work come to fruition and to welcome this group of travel media to share the stories of our region, including our newest tourism offerings. With unprecedented media interest, this is just the beginning of an impressive wave of storytelling opportunities. It is a destination marketer’s dream to share this captivating story, in collaboration with fantastic tourism partners.”

Currently, the majority of visitors (97 per cent) to Peterborough & the Kawarthas come from within the province of Ontario. These new developments are set to put the destination on the map for new national and international visitors, as well as returning visitors from the domestic market.

Visiting media members will take part in a two-day familiarization tour with the region’s rich canoe culture, connections to the waterway, and the development of what is being touted as a new attraction corridor in the City of Peterborough’s east-end at its core. The itinerary includes stops in both the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County, with a sneak peek of the soon-to-open Canoe Museum and an opportunity to experience the County at a relaxed and scenery-revelling pace aboard a luxury Le Boat canal cruiser (houseboat). Parks Canada has also been engaged as a pivotal partner with opportunities to showcase the Trent-Severn Waterway and the Peterborough Lift Lock (both National Historic Sites of Canada). Additional highlights include the Peterborough Museum and Archives, the Art Gallery of Peterborough, Peterborough Musicfest, Elmhirst’s Resort on Rice Lake (a part of the Canadian Canoe Route), the Taste of the Trent-Severn and Trent-Severn Trail Towns program operated by Kawarthas Northumberland (Regional Tourism Organization 8), and many more local flavours, sights and sounds along the way.

Grand opening celebrations at The Canadian Canoe Museum and Le Boat will be taking place this weekend, ahead of the Canoe Museum opening its doors to the world on May 13, and Le Boat’s first cruises taking off in line with the opening of the navigation season on the Trent-Severn Waterway on the May long weekend.

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“The new Canadian Canoe Museum is primed to become a significant cultural and recreational tourism destination between Toronto and Ottawa. We are excited to play a vital role in shaping the region’s identity as a premier travel location known for its vibrant community space outdoor programs, events, and canoeing activities,” said Carolyn Hyslop, Executive Director, The Canadian Canoe Museum.

“Parks Canada is pleased to welcome our travel media partners to the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site of Canada,” stated David Britton, Director of Ontario Waterways. “Top of the list for “see and do” on the waterway this year is our signature event, “Lock & Paddle.” Taking place on Canada’s Parks Day – July 20 – this year, we are joined by the Rideau and Lachine Canals in a “triple crown” of paddling fun. We are also pleased to welcome Le Boat to the waterway for its first season, and with the Grand Opening of our new neighbours – the Canadian Canoe Museum – 2024 promises to be a milestone year.”

“With a fleet of 8 boats at our new base in Peterborough at Horseshoe Bay Marina & Resort, we look forward to introducing both our local and international visitors to everything that Peterborough and the historic Trent-Severn has to offer,” said Lisa McLean, North American Marketing Manager for Le Boat.