TROIS-PISTOLES, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Aug. 17, 2011) - The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, today announced that the Centre international du loisir culturel de Trois-Pistoles received $34,500 in non-repayable funding to modernize the facilities of the Parc de l'aventure basque en Amérique and bring them up to standard as a venue for world-class competitions.

"This support from the Government of Canada to the Centre international du loisir culturel de Trois-Pistoles is part of the ongoing process to bring about the economic diversification of the Basques RCM," said Minister Lebel.

The Centre, which manages the Basque adventure park, was granted the funding from Canada Economic Development to renovate the pediment, outdoor court and surrounding areas and to upgrade the equipment needed to maintain the quality of the facilities used for the practice of pelota, a Basque sport similar to handball. The assistance also served to update the park's promotional tools and Web site. Thanks to these improvements, the organization was able to play host this past June to Challenge France 2011, an international Basque pelota competition held only once before on Canadian soil, thus bringing world-wide visibility to the area.

This project is part of the local development plan for the Basques Regional County Municipality, which centres on tourism development as the key means for achieving economic diversification. This financial assistance from the Government of Canada has been granted through the Community Diversification program.

For more on the Centre international du loisir culturel de Trois-Pistoles, visit www.aventurebasque.ca.

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