SMITHS FALL, ON – Ontario Minister of Heritage Lisa Macleod made a stop onboard one of Le Boat’s luxury houseboats while on her multi-week-long tour of the province to offer support to the hard-hit tourism industry.

After touring the village of Merrickville on July 24, Minister Macleod was joined by Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, as well as Doug Struthers, Mayor of Merrickville for a tour of Le Boat’s Premier Horizon 5 Cruiser, which was moored at Lock Station 21 in Merrickville along the banks of the UNESCO World Heritage Rideau Canal.

On welcoming such esteemed guests aboard, Lisa Mclean, National Marketing Manager for Le Boat, said: “We’re please for the opportunity to introduce Minister Macleod to the joy of boating. “She’s been a champion for the tourism industry during this very difficult year. We are excited that she was able to spend a few minutes relaxing on the water, enjoying our top deck ‘fund deck’ and sample what a luxury houseboat experience is really like.”

Late last month, the Minister announced tourism recovery funding from the Ontario government that would be distributed to and managed by the province’s 13 Regional Tourism Organizations. RTO 9 will receive an investment of $350,000 from the Ministry to develop and coordinate a strategic marketing plan that will raise awareness for tourism products and services that are open to locals.

The RTO 9’s region includes Merrickville and stretches from the western border of Prince Edward County and the Bay of Quinte east, to the Quebec border, north to the Rideau Canal World heritage Site and south to the Canada-U.S. border.

Le Boat, now in its third season in Canada, resumed operations in June at the same time the Rideau Canal reopened on June 1. It boasts a fleet of 24 premier Horizon Cruisers that customers can captain themselves, with no boating licence or previous boating experience required. Guests can choose from a three- to five-night short break or seven- to 10-plus-night vacations this summer and fall. The season closes on Oct. 14, 2020.