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Yukon
Memories and the Klondike Gold
Rush
News Release: Innovative Agreement ensures collaboration on consumer marketing, trade, research, public relations and business development partnerships. VANCOUVER, May 10 /CNW/ - From tracking polar bears in a tundra buggy, gazing at magical Northern Lights from the comfort of a heated teepee, or cruising into the heart of Inuit communities - Canada's North offers sophisticated travellers some of the most extraordinary experiences on earth. To help inspire visitors to make the North a "must see now" destination, the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) has invited Nunavut Tourism, Northwest Territories Tourism and the Yukon Department of Tourism and Culture toparticipate in CTC programming as a single partner to be known as "Canada's North." The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed today unites the promise of unique experiential opportunities together with the expertise of a working consortium representing the three Northern Territories and the marketing power of the CTC, already operating in 12 countries. The agreement provides a unique framework for collaboration on projects, programs and other opportunities such as communications and promotion, national special events, industry capacity building, national strategic planning priorities and potential market identification. Recognition of "Canada's North" as a collective will permit the partners to work together creatively, while at the same time recognizing respective budgets, strategies and priorities. "The synergy afforded by this agreement has great potential, particularly with the opportunity to leverage the 2010 Winter Games to drive tourism to the North," said Diane Ablonczy, Industry Canada's Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism). "Canada's northern territories truly differentiate our country as a tourism destination. This initiative supports the Government of Canada's efforts for the growth and future sustainability of Canada's tourism industry - especially small and medium-size businesses - as well as for enhancing the awareness and quality of visitor experience opportunities in Canada." Research indicates that the intention of travellers to visit the Northern Territories has increased dramatically, soaring from almost nothing to as high as 44% in Germany, 41% in Mexico and 36% in Australia. And 26% of travellers across the CTC's key markets are motivated to include aboriginal cultural experiences, celebrations and attractions in their travel plans, especially in Europe where interest is particularly high. For images and video of the Yukon, NWT, and Nunavut, please follow the link below and sign in using your CTC DAM ID. If you don't have an account, simply register for a new one and you'll be re-directed to the Northern Canada videos.
About the CTC The CTC is Canada's national tourism marketing organization. Our vision is inspiring the world to explore Canada. With our partners in the tourism industry and the governments of Canada, the provinces and the territories, we advertise and market Canada in 12 countries around the world, conduct industry research and studies, and promote product and industry development. For regular updates on CTC initiatives, please subscribe to CTC News (canada.travel/news) available through an RSS feed and by e-mail. For further information: Margaret Nevin, Senior Communications Advisor/Conseillère en communications, Canadian Tourism Commission/Commission canadienne du tourisme, Tel/Tél (604) 638-8406, Fax/Téléc (604) 638-8438, nevin.margaret@ctc-cct.ca, http://mediacentre.canada.travel
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One winter, while finishing high school in Dawson
City on my own, I earned
my 'meal
ticket' working at Curly Salois' Westminster Hotel,
one of the more sturdy remnants of Gold Rush Days.
For some reason Curly's place stood on its
foundation, despite the heaving permafrost that
left most older buildings lurching to the right or
left at some crazy angles. Yes Virginia, they
really did have meal tickets, and there really was
a hotel named The Pearl Harbour, after Pearl
Carswell, a family friend. Then there's the
original Whitehorse Inn, which my grandfather,
Ernie J. Somerton, almost won in a poker game with
owner T.C. Richards, a legend in his
time.
While
most travelers approach the fabled 'Inside Passage' from
various points due south, my first experience of this 1,200
mile Marine Highway, was from Canada's Klondike, having
plied the Yukon River for four eventful days aboard the SS
Casca, a classic paddle-wheeler ; chugging and puffing our
way upstream from Dawson City to Whitehorse. After an
overnight at the Regina Hotel, with its ornate lamps and
Victorian furnishings, we boarded the narrow-gauge White
Pass & Yukon Railway for a day trip, detraining on a
wooden platform at historic Skagway. This sleepy little
seaport on Alaska's Lynn Canal, came to fame 100 years ago,
as a lawless, rough and ready frontier town at the foot of
the White Pass.