Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Alexandra Falls was recently named one of the top three waterfalls in western Canada by Ehcanada.com Travel and Adventure. This on-line travel magazine and blog selects its annual Travelers’ Choice Award winners based on the number of travelers who visit the waterfalls and contribute to the blog.
Ehcanada.com gets over two billion contributors per year and they gave Alexander Falls and Twin Falls Gorge Territorial Park rave reviews. Tripdavisor.com also gave the park a five star rating.
Mr. Speaker, Twin Falls Gorge is what we call a destination park, and with good reason. It is the first park, travelers reach when they drive into the NWT on Highway No. 1, also known as the Waterfall Highway. Visitors posted on-line descriptions of the spectacular scenery, excellent camping facilities and well-maintained and accessible trail system.
The park has three main areas located along the Hay River just off the Mackenzie Highway linked by a beautiful and dramatic trail, the Alexandra Falls day-use area, the Louse Falls full service campground and day use area and the Escarpment Creek group campsite.
Each one is well marked with road signs going north from the 60th parallel at the Alberta-NWT border or south of Enterprise. The features of all areas are easy to access and enjoy. Visitors of all walks of life express enthusiasm for the Alexandra Falls day use area’s large RV-friendly parking lot, picnic spots, fire pits, grass lawns, ready firewood, trails, viewing benches, kitchen shelter and interpretive signs highlighting the culture and traditions of the Dene people and features of the surrounding ecosystem.
Dene storyteller Doug Lamalice, a member of the K’atlodeeche First Nation and the Aboriginal Tourism Champions Advisory Council, offers walking tours in the park, taking visitors on a special journey through the history and culture of the area.
Twin Falls Gorge Territorial Park is an ideal destination for anyone looking for road-accessible outdoor adventure and incredible scenery, whether it’s for a day trip or a longer stay. I encourage the GNWT to use this national recognition of Alexandra Falls as one of Canada’s top waterfalls to enhance the promotion of the Twin Falls Gorge and tourism throughout the Deh Cho region. Let’s make this coming park season the best one yet. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
