WATERLOO REGION — When Gary Johnston paddles down the Grand River in his canoe, he feels transported to another, wilder world, just minutes from his Waterloo home.

"You get out there, it's fresh air, there's forest all around. The worries and troubles of the outside world disappear and it becomes a very calming experience to be in a natural environment," he said. If the water is fast and flowing, the paddle can also offer an adrenalin rush.

That pleasure is one he'd be happy to see more people enjoy, so he welcomes a new multimillion-dollar project by the provincial Ministry of Tourism to increase the Grand's profile and make it more accessible for canoeists.

The ministry, through its regional tourism organizations, plans to upgrade 32 different canoe access points along the river, from Belwood right down to where the river spills into Lake Erie at Port Maitland. The access points, of which 11 are in Waterloo Region, will all include parking, washrooms, canoe racks, picnic tables and benches, an information kiosk and map, garbage bins, and improved signage, including signs on the river that would tell canoeists how far they are from the next access point.

"The goal is to increase the profile of the river, for visitors and for local residents," said Ashley Gallant, project manager with Regional Tourism Organization 4, which supports tourism in Waterloo Region, as well as Huron, Perth and Wellington counties.

Upgrades to the first site, just downstream from Elora at a place called Wilson's Flats, should be complete by early summer. The next two sites to be upgraded are in Kitchener, at 2500 Shirley Dr., near where the Grand slips below Victoria Street North, and 650 Otterbein Rd. They should be ready by summer's end, Gallant said.

The river is an easy drive from the Toronto area and has great potential as a draw for both tourists and locals for day trips or a weekend getaway, Gallant said. "Canoeing is a great Canadian experience, and the river is a place to get back to nature, even in the city." She saw deer and otters on a recent visit to the access sites, even though they are within city limits, she said.

Better access, and clearer signs that make it easier to plan a canoe trip should attract more first-time paddlers and new Canadians to the river, she said.

"The Grand is a Canadian heritage river," she said. "We see it as a strong asset that we can help build up." An increased profile could also spur more interest for local canoe clubs and outfitters, she said.

Johnston, who is president of the Waterloo Wellington Canoe and Kayak Club, agrees, and says more people canoeing the Grand will mean more people who care about the river and appreciate it. "As a club we promote paddling experiences and appreciate the initiative to make the Grand River more accessible."

The improvements will take several years, Gallant said. The three provincial tourism organizations through which the Grand flows hired a consultant to identify the 32 access points and determine what improvements were needed. Upgrades will amount to about $80,000 per site, with the province paying about half the cost and partners such as service groups, non-profits, local contractors and others covering other costs, possibly through donated labour, she said.

Kitchener council approved the upgrades to the two Kitchener sites this week. The upgrades will bring improvements, not only for canoeists, but for people using riverside trails such as the Walter Bean Trail, said Mark Parris, a landscape architect with the city.

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