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Gravenhurst,
ON – Muskoka’s newest full service resort, the Cranberry
Marsh Cove Resort, located just outside of Bala, and Casino
Rama, have Come on Board and become the latest Muskoka businesses to
partner with the Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society
by donating $12,500 and $10,000, respectively towards the
building of the Wenonah II.
The Wenonah II will be the first passenger ship to be built
in Muskoka since 1906, and will take her place later this
October sailing alongside her sister ships the RMS Segwun
and the Wanda III.
Roy
Philbert, owner of the Cranberry Marsh Cove Resort stated;
“We are very proud to be a part of such an exciting
Muskoka project. A
couple of years ago we chartered the Segwun and it was one
of the finest sailing experiences I ever had.
There’s nothing like it anywhere else in North
America. The
fact that this Society, a non-profit organization, has taken
on such a huge task says a lot about
their dedication to preserving the past; catering to
the present and planning into the future.
As a business owner, this is something I really
admire and can appreciate”.
“The
Wenonah II will provide us with an excellent vehicle to
promote to our customers.
In fact, this ship will help all Muskoka businesses
for generations to come, so I fully encourage, no make that
challenge, every other Muskoka business to chip in what they
can... they’ll get a great return on their investment”.
Enrico
Angeliucci, the resort’s catering manager also recognizes
the contribution the Wenonah II will have on the regional
business economy; “The
Segwun already hosts over 40,000 passenger per year.
With the addition of the Wenonah, we can expect to
see those numbers reach upwards towards 100,000 passengers
each year. Statistics show that the average overnight visitor to Muskoka
spends almost $300 per day, and as a Wenonah II partner, we
know Cranberry Cove Resort will gets it’s fair share of
this new increase in traffic.
Combine this with what the Muskoka Wharf project is
expected to generate and I’d say the future for this
region looks great”.
Randy
Clark, Fund Raising Manager for the Wenonah II project was
very pleased to see Cranberry Marsh Cove Resort and Casona
Rama add their names to the growing list of Muskoka
businesses supporting the project.
This now brings the total “raised or saved” to
just over $3.3 Million dollars of the $4.5 Million need to
sail the ship debt free.
To date, over 160 businesses, cottagers and friends
of the Segwun have Come On Board .
Clark
stated; “We
are extremely pleased that Casino Rama has made such a
generous contribution to this exciting Muskoka project.
As two of Central Ontario’s most recognized
attractions, Casino Rama & Wenonah II have built a close
working relationship to better serve the tourism industry.
This generous contribution has brought us even closer
together”.
Art
Frank, President and CEO of Casino Rama added;
“We have a strong commitment to the Muskoka region.
Many of our staff live there and a lot of our
customers stay at the many resorts, inns, and bed and
breakfasts that make Muskoka so popular as a year round
vacation destination. The
Segwun is a Muskoka icon that everyone recognizes and
appreciates. We
are very proud to be able to partner with such a dynamic
group”.
Businesses
interested in partnering with the Wenonah II project are
encouraged to call Randy Clark at the Society’s offices at
705-684-2002. Their
goal is to raise the final $1.2 Million by October of this
year.
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