4th International Lake Tourism Conference at Lakehead

Delegates tackle diverse topics including lake tourism and sustainable development

(June 21, 2009 -- Thunder Bay, ON) Lakehead University and the Centre for Tourism and Community Development Research have joined forces to bring researchers from all over the world to Northwestern Ontario to discuss lake tourism. From June 21 - 25, delegates from Canada, the U.S., Russia, New Zealand, South America, Africa, and Europe will congregate at the Lakehead campus to discuss wide-ranging topics including sustainable development, rural and community development tourism, tourism marketing, and building local capacity for indigenous tourism.

The conference theme "Making Lake Conservation Work for Communities - AND - for Lakes" provides a platform for wide-ranging topics discussed at sessions throughout the 5-day conference. The conference officially starts at 7:00 p.m., June 21, with a talk from the keynote speaker Professor Michael Hall, a world-renowned tourism researcher from New Zealand, and Dr. Rhonda Koster of Lakehead University's School of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism.

From June 21-23, the conference will be at Lakehead University, with all sessions held at ATAC 1007. The delegates are then bussed to Nipigon/Red Rock where delegates continue the conference from June 23 - 25.

The conference itinerary includes:

  • Two days of research presentations from Canadian and international tourism researchers at ATAC 1001
  • One-day field trip to the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area and Lake Helen First Nations community
  • One-day workshop at the Red Rock Inn involving researchers, Parks Canada, OMNR, civic leaders, politicians, and members of the community

The conference is supported by grants from SSHRC, Parks Canada, the Lakehead University Centre for Northern Studies, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and the communities of Nipigon, Lake Helen, and Red Rock.

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Media: Dr. Norman McIntyre (343-8963) and Dr. Rhonda Koster (343-8554) are available for interview by calling them directly. Keynote speaker Professor Michael Hall may be interviewed before the evening opening session on June 21 by calling Norm McIntyre.

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,900 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead University Canada's Research University of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca