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Our Roots
For more than 300 years the junction of the Pasquia and Saskatchewan Rivers has been an important meeting place of the Cree and European cultures. The native populations have occupied the area as early as 3000 BC. This area was a traditional gathering place of the Cree who met here each summer to hunt, fish, socialize and practice the ceremonial life. Hudson Bay employee, Henry Kelsey’s arrival at this historic confluence in the summer of 1690 ushered in a wave of European explorers and traders who would come seeking fortune and adventure. The Pas’ situation on the junctions of the Saskatchewan and Pasquia River made it a strategic location for a trade centre between native populations and the Europeans.
The town itself became incorporated in 1912. Its name resulted from a corruption of the original “W Passkwayaw” for the site meaning “where the river narrows.” From the original Cree, the name gradually evolved into Opasquia, then Pasquia , then Le Pas and finally, The Pas.
On the north shore of the Saskatchewan River lies the Opaskwayak Cree Nation, home of more than 2000 people of Cree heritage. The Opaskwayak Cree Nation, is one of the most affluent and progressive native populations in our country.
Gateway to the North
Today, we are still Manitoba’s true gateway to the north. Located 630 km north of Winnipeg of PTH #10, the region is comprised of 3 distinct communities: The Town of The Pas, the Opaskwayak Cree Nation and the Rural Municipality of Kelsey including Cranberry Portage. Together, The Pas and its surrounding area comprise a population of more than 15,000 people. The communities are an important link in an extensive network of highways, railways, airports and telecommunications. The Pas and Area enjoys daily jet service via Bear Skin Airlines and Calm Air to Winnipeg, Flin Flon and Thompson. Chartered passenger air service is also available from Grace Lake Airfield, Cranberry Air. Rail service is provided by Via Rail connecting the south with Manitoba’s northern communities including the Port of Churchill.
Explore The Pas
There are many things to do and see in The Pas and its surrounding area. The rural atmosphere of The Pas and OCN is a pleasant experience when connected with the urban excitement which makes us an ideal base for exploration.
Whatever your sport or recreation preference, you’re almost certain to find an outlet for it in our communities. We are home to a wide range of facilities including two indoor arenas, curling rink, 9 hole golf course, indoor pool and several ball diamonds, playgrounds and tennis courts. In total there are more than 60 sport and recreation clubs in our communities. The Pas and OCN accommodate year-around tournaments, competitions and special events including The Northern Manitoba Trappers' Festival, Opasquia Agricultural Fair and Exhibition and the Opaskwayak Indian Days. Our facilities have accommodated Junior A and minor hockey championships, curling bonspiels, slow-pitch tournaments, snowmobile poker derby and the annual Bill Bannock Snowshoe Classic.
Visitors can enjoy the spectacular Clearwater Lake, one of only three “true blue” lakes in the world. Clearwater Recreation Center offers kilometers of groomed trails for x-country skiing and modern ski chalet equipped with a sauna and wood burning fireplace. The area abounds with a wide variety of game and fish, and boasts a large number of drive-in and fly-in fishing and hunting camps. Moose Park, located 5 km north of the OCN along the Saskatchewan River is a great spot for fishing and family gatherings.
The Pas and Opaskwayak Cree Nation are home to more than 200 retail outlets, which can provide products and services for every need. We also operate two shopping malls—the Uptown Mall located in The Pas’ main shopping district, and the Otineka Mall located on the Opaskwayak Cree Nation.
Northern Hospitality and Spirit
The Pas and OCN are rich in human and natural resources. Over time, we have continued to attract a wide variety of people for an even greater variety of purposes. This tradition of attracting people will continue because of the unique combination of culture, heritage, history and northern hospitality.
Due to both the vast number of tourist activities and the number of tourists who could and would enjoy our “Adventure Territory,” The Pas & District Tourism Group was formed. This group is a result of our local Chamber of Commerce identifying the importance of having an active Tourism group as well as identifying the lack of a Tourism Association within our communities. This not-for-profit organization is membership driven participation encouraged not only in the tourism based operations in the region, but all organizations, businesses & even individuals.
While it is a difficult thing to track, we do know that tourism in our” Adventure Territory” generates literally millions of dollars annually. Hundreds are employed directly in the industry with hundreds more in supporting businesses and industry.
A television commercial for a well known credit card company once said ”membership has its privileges.” Members will automatically be included in our services based on their level of commitment, which puts those traveling to our region in direct contact with the amenities we offer as well as the businesses that the tourist may be seeking. The Pas & District Tourism Group is designing a one –stop package for our tourists that will make their stay more enjoyable then they could have imagined. Your business or organization name will be included in that package. A modern, well maintained website will be up and running in the very near future and you can be linked to that as well.
Our Goal is straightforward and simple:
Our Mission Statement is as follows;
Enhance Globally The Pas and District as a World Class Tourism Destination
In Order to establish a “Tourism Association” in The Pas, OCN & the RM of Kelsey, the following must be considered to get started.
Finances
The Aseneskak Casino has donated $4473.26 from 2006 golf tournament to the new Tourism Group and is also donating the 2007 proceeds of roughly $5000.00. The Aseneskak Casino is willing to contribute $500.00 per month to this newly formed Tourism Group for a total of $6000.00 per year. The Casino being an attraction to our community will play an instrumental role in ensuring the success of the Tourism Group.
The Tourism Group will be raising their finances through an aggressive membership drive, contributions from the Town of The Pas, O.C.N. and the R.M. of Kelsey.
The Tourism Group will also be pursuing the Government grants made available through the creation of the group as well as employment contributions. Travel Manitoba and Manitoba Tourism will be our partners in many ventures throughout the year. Both Provincial Tourism Associations are overwhelmed to learn of the resurrection of an association for this region. It really compliments the efforts of the province as a whole.
The Value of Tourism
F Tourism is worth more than $3.9 million a day to Manitoba’s economy.
A Last year, on average, more than, 1,850 Americans visited Manitoba daily.
C On average, every Manitoban benefits by over $1,221 a year from tourist spending.
T The Roy H Johnson Arena would be filled for 735 nights in a row to accommodate all the US tourists who visited Manitoba in 2007.
S In 2007, there were 6,942,000 person visits to the province of Manitoba.
The Value of Tourism
F *223,000 North Dakotans visited Manitoba this past year. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and South Dakota represented the other states that frequented Manitoba
A *The most popular reason to visit Manitoba was a pleasure trip.(39.3%) The second most popular reason was to visit family/friends.(27.9%)
C *The largest amount of expenditures from Tourism in Manitoba were on transportation, followed by food & beverage, accommodation, retail, and entertainment.
T *500 jobs in The Pas & District are directly a result of Tourism.
S *More tourist$=More dollar$
More dollar$=More jobs$
More jobs$=More tax dollar$
The Pas & District Tourism Group
Membership Annual Fee Structure 2008-2009
($200.00) Retailers
· Direct Link to tourism hotline
· Bi-monthly event calendar sponsor
· Participation in annual “community walk about”
· Direct pieces in tourism information center
($50.00) Non-Profit & Associate
· Direct Link to tourism hotline
· Bi-monthly event calendar sponsor
· Participation in annual “community walk about”
· Direct pieces in tourism in tourism center
Direct listing in bid package
The Tourism group will be putting together a detailed bid package that will be sent out to every form of government, sports, culture, and recreation organization within our province. As an example we have enclosed the “The Pas & District” bid package.
The bid package contains all the vital information about the area and also all the direct contacts that one would need to host a conference, event, sporting event, or possibility even start a business. The bid package will be an attractive document available upon request, ad can also be downloaded from the Tourism website.
Trade Show representation including direct pieces.
The tourism group will be participating at several trade shows, exhibitions, etc. We will represent our District as a whole, and will also display brochures, etc. for our Bronze and Silver members. The cost of the additional brochures, etc. is the responsibility of the member.
Direct Link to member’s website
The tourism group’s website will provide direct links to those members that have a web site. The members will be listed in the categories of what type of business they offer.
For Example; Accommodations
Wescanna Inn
Kikiwak Inn
Super 8
To access the business you would simply click on their name
Direct link to tourism hotline
All members will be able to access the Tourism hotline. This hotline will be accessible in the summer months on a daily basis and in the winter months on a messaging service. The hotline will be able to answer all the tourism related questions for the district and be able to refer our customers to the proper channels.
Direct pieces in Tourist Information Centre
All members will have the privilege of displaying their print material in our Tourist information center. The costs of the pieces are up to each member.
Bi-Monthly event calendar sponsor
Every second month the tourism group will email and fax a list of the upcoming current events happening in our district. This will be an important tool for all members as it will make planning events easier when we know what is going on in our communities. Also it will ensure the members that we are not trying to run one or more major events on any given date. The members will also be able to submit their events, etc. to our office to be posted in the calendar year.
Participation in annual “community walk about”
Each spring, the tourism group will offer our members a guided tour of all the wonderful amenities and attractions the district has to offer. This will include a short seminar in how to deal with tourists on a front line basis. This is a very important tool as we need our front line staffs to be aware of the current events in the district and also a geography lesson as to where all these places are.
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