Lewisporte -
LEWISPORTE - If it has to do with recreational boating, Lewisporte is the place to be June 18-21 for the North Atlantic Marina & Recreational Boating Conference (see article on this page for details of the Lewisporte Boat Show and other related events).
Around 125 delegates are expected for the two-day conference portion of the event. Lewisporte Town manager and conference steering committee member Perry Pond said that is going to translate into an excellent number of people to have a nice working conference. Delegates from across the province and beyond our shores are expected.
"If you are serious about developing recreational boating infrastructure and being part of this growth industry, then you should be attending this conference," said Mr. Pond. "This conference is a strategic event and all the various groups out there who have been trying to develop and enhance their marine infrastructure will miss the wave if they don't attend."
The communities/regions the delegates will represent have a vested interest in marina development. Some already have marinas while others want to become involved in marina development. Also represented will be yacht clubs, tourism operators, industry consultants and relevant government departments and agencies.
Lewisporte Mayor Bill Hooper said, "The surface of this opportunity has only been scratched and we risk missing this growing potential if we wait for others to move the agenda forward.
"It is for this reason that council has agreed to initiate this important conference."
Last fall a study was commissioned by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (who are a significant partner in this conference) entitled Marina Strategy, Newfoundland and Labrador. The study is the last in a very long list of studies that cover almost two decades of reports, analysis and recommendations. Over the duration of the conference this study will be reviewed and serve as a discussion document during the event.
Mr. Pond noted that the list of resource people who will be taking part in the conference is "astounding" when you consider the expertise they bring to the table.
Conference chairperson Chris Vincent is also pleased with the list of resource people who will be taking part.
"I am delighted with the response to our requests for participation in this conference," said Mr. Vincent. "The Provincial Government has been a keen supporter of this conference, not only by its financial support to the conference but by the fact that many senior officials are fully participating in the program, including the Minister of Tourism, Recreation and Culture."
As organizers prep for the conference to begin tomorrow, it will mark the culmination of a lot of time and effort invested by a number of individuals to offer a first of this type of conference for the province.
"The actual event will be the finale in terms of the progress made in advancing recreational boating in our area and in the province," said Mr. Pond. "We've done so much networking and been connected to so many individuals and organizations that the conference itself is going to be the icing on the cake."
A professional facilitator will be involved in the event. Mr. Pond said the hope in the post-conference period is to develop an action plan from the discussions and ideas to further advance the opportunities that recreational boating provides in the province.
"That's our objective, to get the momentum going and to continue on with the development of recreational boating," he said.
Visit the Town of Lewisporte website at www.lewisportecanada.com or www.lewisporteconferences.com for further event details.
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