Edmundston City Council approves development of four-season recreation area

EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick — A group of committed volunteers received the approval of Edmundston City Council to pursue their project to develop a four-season outdoor recreational tourism destination.

The group has been working on this project for some time now, and came to present it at the July 21 public meeting of City Council.

In order to assist the volunteers with the preparatory phase, the municipal council has allocated $100,000, renewable over three years.

Over the next few years, the group will complete the project’s business plan and actively work on seeking financial support from other levels of government and various partners.

“In order to develop this magnificent project, we have opted for a cooperative model. We believe that this model creates a sense of belonging and pride for the members, who also have more opportunities to express themselves, without neglecting the administrative and fiscal benefits that follow,” said Paul Cyr, president of the new Coopérative de récréotourisme du Madawaska.

“Starting this year, the management of the Centre plein air Mont Farlagne, one of the components of the destination project, will be assumed by the transition board of directors of the Coopérative de récréotourisme du Madawaska ltée and the integration of the mountain biking operations will begin in the summer of 2021,” Cyr said.

“This preparatory phase is the period during which the development and implementation of the 4-season recreation and tourism destination project will be carried out progressively by adding various 4-season components,” said Danielle Gagné, vice-president of the Coopérative de récréotourisme du Madawaska ltée.

“The municipal council is convinced of the merits of this project which, in addition to being part of our strategic plan, will have a definite impact on our community, on well-being, as well as on family and community components. We consider this to be an inclusive project that will promote the economic and tourism development of our city,” said Edmundston Mayor Cyrille Simard.

The group is made up of experienced and committed volunteers. In addition to Cyr and Gagné, they include Luc Michaud, André Léger, André Leclerc, Paul Bérubé, Don Bélanger, Alexandre Levasseur, Janik Côté Bérubé, Madeleine Dubé, Paul Albert and Mélanie Dubé.