The 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812 is coming soon!www.discover1812.com, www.1812niagaraonthelake.ca

Join us in commemorating the War that shaped Canada’s boundaries. On June 18, 1812 the United States declared war on Great Britain. For three years Niagara was a

war zone, the scene of American invasions and bloody battles. Some of the spectacular events planned include:

Opening ceremonies (June 15-18, 2012)• Grand Parade in Fort Erie with 50 military bands, units and Canadian, • US and UK reenactor groups (June 23, 2012) Opening of the NEW Niagara Falls History Museum with a permanent • 1812 exhibit (July 2012)Siege of Fort Erie reenactment(August 2012)• Battle of Queenston Heights (October 2012) • Battle of Fort George (May 2013)•

Also planned are special exhibits, Military Balls and expanded Canada Day events.Media inquiries: Betsy Foster, Tourism Manager, 905-984-03626 ext 3462 bfoster@tourismniagara.com –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|

Niagara Parks Launches New Nature Website www.niagaraparksnature.comThe Niagara Parks Commission proudly launched a new website niagaraparksnature.com in February as part of its ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and efforts to promote the preservation of sensitive lands around the Falls and along the Niagara River corridor.

Special features of the site include information on community clean up days, environmental initiatives and a blog that will be updated regularly with content by Niagara Parks’ naturalists. The new site also offers information for visitors on things to do such as hiking, cycling, bird watching and the increasing popular activity, Geocaching.

Nature areas within NPC’s property such as the Niagara Glen are of local, national and international significance. Designed to educate and increase awareness of Species at Risk, the site provides useful information on how visitors can do their part to help protect these areas for future generations.Media inquiries: Tony Baldinelli, Communications Manager, 905-371-0837 tbaldinelli@niagaraparks.com –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|

Grand Opening – Niagara Falls’ Scotiabank Convention Centre www.fallsconventions.com The countdown is on! After much excitement and anticipation, Niagara’s newest addition to its large and colourful mosaic of venues and attractions, the Scotiabank Convention Centre, in Niagara Falls, Canada (SCCN), opens its doors on Friday, April 8th. The SCCN, to mark this significant and momentous event, will host a weekend full of fun activities for everyone. Friday, April 8th at 4pm is the official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Guests to the Centre will enjoy free access to Greater Niagara Region Home & Garden Show.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver designed facility aims at minimizing its carbon footprint in the Niagara Region by making exemplary use of recycled and regional construction materials to both contribute to the local economy and to curtail pollution associated with transportation. In addition, the Centre’s exemplary strategically designed processes will significantly increase efficiency of its water and electricity consumption. An advanced green housekeeping and maintenance program will ensure the Centre operates in a healthy and environmentally friendly way. To greatly enhance visitors’, staff and exhibitors’ connectivity with the outdoors and the surrounding environment, this fully ‘accessible’ facility has been designed with extensive floor-to-ceiling glazing, providing year-round friendly, naturally lighted working spaces, and creating significant energy savings!

Committed to fully implementing green and sustainable practices, the Centre, with the assistance and talents of food professionals from Centerplate (the Centre’s exclusive Food & Beverage vendor), and in partnership with the Centre’s endorsing celebrity Chef Anna Olson, will provide seasonally inspired field-to-table menus greatly reflective of the exciting and mouth-watering flavours common to the Niagara Region.Media inquiries: 905-357-6222 or Toll Free: 1-888-997-6222 GrandOpening@fallsconventions.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|

Niagara Parks News www.niagaraparks.com Old Fort Erie will feature a new Visitor Centre with interactive and entertaining displays and a theatre. Located on the grounds of the bloodiest battlefield in Canada, history will come alive at this new interpretive centre.

In historic Queenston, Laura Secord Homestead will be home to a new interpretive centre and a “village” atmosphere that includes Queenston Chapel, a popular wedding venue that was moved from a short distance north on the Niagara Parkway. Laura’s heroic walk to warn of impending battle is just one of the many “Women of War” stories featured.

Closer to the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Tea Room at McFarland House will be expanded. Niagara Parks’ oldest property, this Georgian home reveals gracious living 1800s style, complete with an authentic kitchen garden and home-baked goods.

New Niagara Heritage Trail Pass – for just $18.12 visitors can explore all four Niagara Heritage attractions: Old Fort Erie, Laura Secord Homestead, McFarland House and the Mackenzie Printery & Newspaper Museum. Included with the Pass are valuable coupons for discounts at other attractions such as the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory and Sir Adam Beck Power Tours. The Pass will be on sale from June to September 2011.Media inquiries: Tony Baldinelli, Communications Manager, 905-371-0837 tbaldinelli@niagaraparks.com –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|

more than you imagine ––––––| www.tourismniagara.com Niagara,

Contact Betsy Foster at 905-984-3626 or email bfoster@tourismniagara.com for media information

What’s New in Niagara?2011 MEDIA COMMuNIqué

MORE NIAgARA STORy IDEASQuality Inn Parkway Renovations www.heartofniagarahotels.com

Heart of Niagara Hospitality has done an $8 million dollar renovation and expansion of the Quality Inn - soon to be Holiday Inn & Suites Parkway Convention Centre scheduled to be completed

April 2011. They have added 38 Two-Room Suites and 18 Suites with full kitchens, perfect for those guests looking to stay for 4 or more days for a total of 181 guestrooms when completed. Also, the existing 125 guestrooms have been completely renovated to a modern contemporary design that includes California shutters, trendy back-lighted mirrors in the washrooms and all new furniture, just to name a few updates. All door locks are being replaced with new locks that boast a new technology that will soon allow guests to check-in their rooms using their Blackberry’s or iPhones! Media inquiries: Adrian Nitsopoulos, Sales Director, Heart of Niagara Hotels, 905-704-5665 adrian@heartofniagarahotels.com –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|

New Executive Chef at Restaurant Oban Inn www.obaninn.ca The Oban Inn announces the new culinary leadership of Executive Chef Ross Midgley at Restaurant Oban Inn. Chef Midgley’s sophisticated style boasts a menu inspired by the seasonal bounty of regional farmers and purveyors. For the last two years Midgley was chef/owner of The Kitchen House Restaurant at Peninsula Ridge Estates and in 2005 opened Zees Grill at The Shaw Club Hotel. The Oban Inn, Spa and Restaurant has been awarded the CAA/AAA Four Diamond Award for excellence in accommodations and dining for five consecutive years. Media inquiries: Celia Liu, General Manager, 905-468-2165 ext 5234 c.liu@obaninn.ca––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|

Colaneri Estate Winery www.colaneriwines.com It is the largest, most dramatic winery built to date in Niagara – a grand, gently curved C (for Colanieri) shaped structure resembling a modern-day Roman Colosseum. The winery has four floors, including an elevator, and spectacular panoramic views of the estate vineyard from huge floor-to-ceiling windows. A special events room holds 250 guests. A huge barrel cellar that curves gently under the main structure will host grand tastings and special event dinners. Winemaker Andrzej Lipinski is creating a portfolio of full-bodied red and white wines that represent the family’s Italian heritage. Media Inquiries: Betty Colaneri, 905-682-2100 betty@colaneriwines.com –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|

PONDVIEW ESTATE WINERY www.pondviewwinery.comSituated in beautiful Niagara Wine Country, Pondview Estate Winery, a family owned winery operated by Luciano and Adriana Puglisi is the newest addition to the Four Mile Creek appellation. With grape growing a tradition handed down through generations originating in Italy, an inherently European charm is a big part of the Pondview experience. Visitors will enjoy traditional antipasto and cheese platters at the tasting bar or the open-air terrace with incredible wine made from estate-grown grapes. Though the winery itself is new, the

family has been growing grapes here since the 1970s. Media Inquiries: 905-468-0777 info@pondviewwinery.com –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|

The International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration – July 22-24, 2011 www.coolchardonnay.org This July, a new event will launch in Niagara. This 3 day event will host 46 top international cool climate wine producers from Canada, Burgundy, Oregon, New Zealand and beyond, 15 celebrated Canadian chefs and over 700 guests in a weekend of exclusive wine tastings, exceptional local cuisine and interactive wine seminars in a discovery of the coolest grape on earth. Media inquiries: Erin Mitchell, 905 468 1379 media@coolchardonnay.org –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|

Great Waterfront Trail Adventure July 2-9, 2011 www.waterfronttrail.org

This fully supported cycling adventure from Niagara-on-the-Lake to the Quebec border covers 720 kms., 41 communities in 8 days and is for true cycling enthusiasts. More good news for cyclists - A new Lake Erie Cycling Route is in the works. The Waterfront Regeneration Trust is finalizing discussions with the Ministry of Tourism

regarding its application for funding to bring a lake-wide cycling tourism route to Lake Erie in partnership with Carolinian Canada Coalition. Media inquiries: Marlaine Koehler, Executive Director, 416-943-8080 mk@wrtrust.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|

Niagara Spring Flings! Promotion www.niagaraspringflings.com As part of the Niagara Spring Flings! promotion, Niagara area tourism operators and accommodations are offering a number of benefits to visitors that can all be found on the promotional website, www.niagaraspringflings.com, from the beginning of April through May 31st. The website features include the following:A Perks Card. The card can be downloaded and presented at 88 different participating tourism partners through May 31st. Perks include exclusive discounts and value added offers for accommodations, attractions, shopping, dining, and wineries and wine tours and are redeemable at locations throughout the Niagara Region.Suggested Itineraries. In order to assist visitors with their travel planning, detailed suggested itineraries are provided. Separated into themes by type of activity and by travel occasion, these itineraries highlight the best the region has to offer and some of the area’s best kept secrets.Travel Packages. Find over 200 limited time packages available to be booked until May 31st. The packages combine many different Niagara experiences, and the site allows you to browse package options based on your travel occasion, choice of destination or by the activity you are interested in. Day and overnight packages are available.Media inquiries: Erin Mitchell, for the Loud Group, 905-468-1379 erin@mitchellwestlake.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––|

Contact Betsy Foster phone: 905-984-3626 or email: bfoster@tourismniagara.commore than you imagine ––––––––––| www.tourismniagara.com Niagara,