SAINT-ALPHONSE-RODRIGUEZ, QC, Aug. 12 /CNW Telbec/ - The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of Canada Economic Development, today announced $96,250 in repayable funding to the Centre récréatif BigFoot for the acquisition of equipment to add a new product to its recreational site targeting a corporate clientele: the Centre d'opérations policières pour la survie (COPS), a police survival training centre.
The Centre récréatif BigFoot currently offers its customers an upscale version of "paintball". Internationally renowned for the quality of its equipment, animation and two million square foot site in Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, the new specialized training facility will attract a new Canadian and American corporate clientele of police forces, emergency response teams, armed forces and bodyguards. COPS will offer theory courses and simulations of real interventions. The classes will be given by former members of the Canadian Special Forces and Sureté du Québec emergency response teams.
"The funding from Canada Economic Development will help create the activities to be provided by COPS. This project will improve the quality of the region's tourism offering, while boosting the economic vitality of the Matawinie RCM and doubling the existing 60 or so jobs at the Centre récréatif BigFoot. In keeping with the objectives of our Advantage Canada plan, we are committed to supporting firms that help Quebec communities stimulate the economy. Through its innovative activities, its new COPS centre and its partnerships with other tourist facilities in the region, the Centre récréatif BigFoot is increasing economic spin-offs in Lanaudière," explained Minister Blackburn.
This project was funded under the Community Economic Diversification Initiative - Vitality (CEDI-Vitality), a program established to support communities in seven regions and 21 Regional County Municipalities (RCMs) of Quebec experiencing slow economic growth.
For further information: Nathalie Lévesque, Communications, Canada Economic Development, (514) 283-0306, Cell.: (514) 996-0661, nathalie.levesque@dec-ced.gc.ca; Nadia Marceau, Office of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Canada Economic Development, (514) 496-1282, nadia.marceau@hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca; Canada Economic Development is online at www.dec-ced.gc.ca. Subscribe to the Agency's news releases at http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/asp/SalleNouvelles/acces_personnalise.asp?LANG=EN to keep up with the latest news.
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