Le Groupe Village Vacances Valcartier have announced the construction of the SUNNYLAND Amusement Resort which will include an immense water theme amusement park and campground. The inauguration is scheduled for next year in the Ottawa region. Located in the Municipality of The Nation in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, this major destination will involve an investment in excess of 50 million dollars and will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in economic benefits for the National Capital region and Eastern Ontario.
In Ottawa, to make the official announcement, Mr. Guy Drouin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Village Vacances Valcartier and the project’s promoter (pictured above), was very enthusiastic: "Iam very proud to announce the start of construction and the opening of the park scheduled for June 2009. Located in a unique venue between Ottawa and Montreal, there is no doubt that SUNNYLAND will become the greatest water theme amusement park in Canada!"
Known as a world-class leader in developing this type of amusement destination, Le Groupe Village Vacances Valcartier has been studying its feasibility for almost two years. SUNNYLAND will be spread out over an area of 460 acres. The County Warden of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, Mr. Ken Hill, is delighted about the good news: "This is a structuring project for all of Eastern Ontario. It is obvious that the economic benefits will be significant, along with the visibility that Le Groupe Village Vacances Valcartier will provide to the Prescott-Russell region. A new cornerstone will be created for a stronger tourism industry."
Mr. Richard Legault, a Councillor in The Nation Municipality, was also thrilled with the announcement: "We are very excited about the role that our municipality will play in this project and the partnership that was developed right from the very start with the promoter. The corporate commitment demonstrated by Mr. Drouin, as well as his team, will serve as a true economic development engine in our region."
Until opening day, the first phase of the development of SUNNYLAND will involve an investment of $30M. The entire project will involve more than $50M over a 10-year period, including $8M in infrastructure costs alone. A study ordered by the Council of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell in 2006 estimated regional economic benefits will exceed $750M over the first 10 years of operation and that 550 full-time seasonal jobs will be created.
Le Groupe Village Vacances Valcartier also wanted to underline the great cooperation and sustained support provided by the representatives of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, The Nation Municipality, the region’s Chambers of Commerce and Ontario MPP Jean-Marc Lalonde over the last two years. Mr. Drouin recognized that a project of this magnitude would never have seen the light of day without that cooperation and financial support of the Government of Ontario.
About the promoter
Established since 1963, Village Vacances Valcartier is one of the most appreciated tourism destinations in North America. Widely recognized as the largest water amusement park in Canada and the largest winter playground in America, it offers a myriad of activities enjoyed by its family clientele, which grows every year. Today, with over 35 year-round employees, 500 seasonal jobs, $50M investment and over 10 million visitors, Village Vacances
Valcartier tops the list of major economic players in Quebec’s tourism sector.
