More than $4 million through PrairiesCan is enabling small businesses, not-for-profit organizations and communities to share their unique attractions and draw visitors from across Canada and around the globe

September 27, 2024 – Edmonton, Alberta – PrairiesCan

Alberta’s tourism sector provides jobs and drives economic growth in small towns, major centres, rural and remote areas, and Indigenous communities across the province. To further strengthen this key cornerstone of the Alberta economy, the Government of Canada is making investments to help local tourism operators seize new opportunities to showcase attractions and draw more visitors.

Today, on World Tourism Day, the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, on behalf of the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan, announced more than $4 million in federal funding for 19 projects that advance the work of small- and medium-sized tourism operators across Alberta.

Investments will support new or enhanced programs, activities and services that increase accessibility and expand the seasonality of unique tourism experiences. Examples of projects announced today include:

• Explore Edmonton is receiving $500,000 to showcase rodeo culture, rural prairie life, and authentic Indigenous experiences in conjunction with Farmfair International and the Canadian Finals Rodeo.
• The Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum in Wembley is receiving $250,000 to launch interactive experiences, install new displays, develop a new annual event celebrating the study of dinosaurs, and provide Indigenous-led excursions that connect participants with paleontologists.
• Métis Crossing near Smoky Lake is receiving $500,000 to upgrade outdoor amenities and adapt activities so that individuals of all abilities can participate in authentic Indigenous tourism experiences available to visitors.
• The Hangar Flight Museum in Calgary is receiving $100,000 to upgrade facilities and exhibits to improve access for visitors of all abilities.
• The Badlands Amphitheatre in Drumheller is receiving $500,000 to upgrade equipment and facilities at the Badlands Arts Centre to support year-round programming.

Canada’s tourism sector is diverse, creating inclusive employment opportunities for women, racialized individuals, members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, Indigenous people, youth and newcomers. Projects announced today advance economic reconciliation and small business growth in Alberta’s tourism sector.

Today’s investments are expected to support more than 165 jobs and leverage approximately $2.8 million in additional funding through other orders of government and industry. This announcement reflects the principles of the Government of Canada’s Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy, a long-term commitment to work collaboratively with partners across the Prairies on their priorities to seize new possibilities for good-paying jobs in a globally competitive economy.