The Minister of Canadian Economic Development has announced a $95,324 investment for an online cultural publication to showcase the country's Laurentian heritage. It is the second publication of its type – in December 2001, the Canadian Economic Development Department provided $180,000 to the Townshippers' Association to help it launch the Townships Heritage WebMagazine, where visitors could discover the rich history and heritage of the eastern townships of Quebec. This second contribution will enable the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network to produce and launch Laurentian Heritage, a bilingual webmagazine involving over a dozen organisations, designed to stimulate cultural tourism The financial support announced by the Minister, Mr Jacques Saada, will also provide for the development and marketing of a series of eight day trips into the region. These "Heritage Trail" itineraries will include the publication of leaflets, updating a portal as well as promotional and networking activities. ‘Cultural and heritage tourism is a relatively new trend. More and more people are planning pleasure trips around themes like this. The Laurentians tourist region has deep heritage roots and an abundance of architectural and historic treasures. Thanks to the webmagazine being launched here today, the image we will project on foreign markets will be that of a welcoming region, well structured for this type of tourism,’ said Mr. Saada. ‘This project will certainly increase the number of foreign tourists coming to the region and encourage them to extend their stays with us. This second QAHN webmagazine will not only target New England visitors but also tourists from England and France, who have natural cultural affinities with the region,’ added the Minister. Funding for the initiative comes in part from Canadian Heritage's Interdepartmental Partnership with Official-Language Communities (IPOLC) Program. For further information, CLICK HERE.