For Immediate Release
Information, photographs and press trip inquiries, contact:
Scott Adams, Paddling Ontario Alliance
Phone: (705) 745-9343, Email: admin@paddlingontario.com
Website: www.paddlingontario.com/media
Paddling Ontario Alliance offers
Award-Winning team-building retreats for 2005
Pack away the Blackberry and pick up a paddle. The office is moving outside for a few days this year - that's the suggestion of the Paddling Ontario Alliance, a collection of two dozen Ontario tourism operators who offer accommodation, outfitting and canoe and kayaking packages. In a province blessed with 20 per cent of the world's freshwater lakes and rivers (that s 96,000 km of canoe routes), the opportunities for corporate retreats, team-building and incentive trips are almost endless.
The three-day RailQuest Corporate Team Building Adventure offered by Northern Edge Algonquin was recognized in 2004 with an Innovation Award from the Ontario Tourism Federation. The program, which is marketed with Ontario Northland and Blue Sky Region, starts at Toronto s Union Station. The group travels by private rail car to South River and then is shuttled to the year-round Northern Edge, solar-powered Eco Lodge, located on the edge of Algonquin Park. "Weve had people give Power Point presentations during the four-hour rail journey", said Northern Edge owner Todd Lucier, "and meals delivered by the Royal York Hotel. You get two hours of work done by the time you arrive at the nature retreat and gather around the campfire."
Guests rough it in a civilized way at Voyageur Quest's authentic Log Cabin on Surprise Lake, also at the northwest corner of Algonquin Park. Open year-round and accommodating 12 to 16 guests, it offers an intimate and rustic lodge setting for teambuilding, corporate retreats and professional development. Speakers can be arranged and knowledgeable wilderness guides can set up dog sledding, rappelling, sunrise canoeing for wildlife watching, night hikes, bonfires or snowshoeing, then you can relax with a wood-fired sauna followed by a tasty meal in front of a 36-foot stone fireplace. Exclusive packages range from a 3-day rental to fully guided 5-day retreats with chef, facilitator and air/ train or motor coach transfer from Toronto.
Wanapitei Canoe, Canada's Oldest Canoe Trip Company, offers a distraction free environment at its two-story wilderness log inn on Lake Temagami. Accessed by a 1 1/2 km trail, or by water or floatplane, it can accommodate up to 24 and is open from early spring until late fall. Located in Temagami Forest, Wanapitei Chateau is known for its superb food and friendly, informal atmosphere and has ample space for meetings and workshops. The staff organizes activities such as hiking, canoe excursions, team-building exercises or whitewater instruction. Evenings can be spent relaxing in the wood-fired sauna, followed by a refreshing dip in the lake.
For a quick trip, there's Grand Experiences, in the quaint village of Paris on the banks of the Grand River, one hour west of Toronto. Blue Heron, osprey and white-tailed deer hang out in the Carolinian forests that line the Grand River's banks. Grand Experience operates Grand Quest team building / incentive programs - guided paddling quests in canoes, kayaks or 12-man voyageurs, which finish with a catered Voyageur Feast of barbequed steak and chicken. An added element can be 'True Colors TM' which starts with a simplified Myers-Briggs-style personality test to divide the group into four types of personality temperaments, to see how the different types interact during the quest program.
For details on the these and other corporate/team-building and incentive opportunities offered by members of the Paddling Ontario Alliance, log onto www.paddlingontario.com, phone: 705/745-9343 or E-mail admin@paddlingontario.com.
Where the world comes to paddle!'
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For more information contact the Paddling Ontario Alliance at:
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