Construction and A/V exhibit design firms named

KINGSTON, Ontario – The St. Lawrence Parks Commission announced today the awarding of two tenders for the Fort Henry Discovery Centre project.  Peak Engineering and Construction Ltd. Of Colborne, Ontario was the successful bidder in the tender for the construction of the Discovery Centre.  The construction contract is valued at approximately $3.9 M, while the contract for the A/V and exhibits is estimated at $700,000.

Peak Engineering and Construction Ltd. has earned its reputation for excellence in construction and engineering.  Since its inception in 1991, Peak has provided general contracting, design/build and project management services throughout communities in northern, central and eastern Ontario.  The company – with over 60 employees – oversees $50 million in construction projects annually.

Peak has successfully completed over 60 institutional projects within schools, universities, hospitals, seniors’ facilities and libraries; building and renovating academic classrooms and theatres, administrative facilities, health care clinics and community centres.  Recently completed projects in Kingston include the Invista Centre, MacDonald Hall at Queen’s University, Lexus Dealership on Bath Rd. and the Kingston Utilities Operations Centre – currently under construction.
The second tender awarded was for the provision of A/V and exhibit services.  The successful bidder was Hillman & Carr Inc. of Washington, DC.  Hillman & Carr are leaders in creating powerful multi-media presentations for corporations, museums, visitor centres, non-profit institutions and government.  Past projects have included Historic Jamestowne, The White House, Lincoln Memorial, Gettysburg National Battlefield and the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. 

QUOTES
“We are really excited to be awarding these contracts and getting construction underway.  Both of these companies come with a real depth of experience in projects like the Fort Henry Discovery Centre and we look forward to working with their teams.  I would like to express our appreciation to the team at Parks Canada for their cooperation and guidance along the way.”
Darren Dalgleish, General Manager and CEO of St. Lawrence Parks Commission

“Our team is really keen to get started on this project.  We have a very aggressive timeline but we also have an excellent plan that we will be following.  We are very grateful to the support, input and feedback we have received from the community at large on this project.  It has been very helpful.’
Bryan Mercer, Director of Marketing for the St. Lawrence Parks Commission

QUICK FACTS
In the 2009 Ontario budget, a capital investment of $23 million in the St. Lawrence Parks Commission – an agency of the Ontario government - was announced to improve the quality of its attractions and to make the local tourism industry more competitive.
Fort Henry, along with the Rideau Canal is part of Ontario’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Located at the junction of Highways 2 and 15 (Exit 623 off Highway 401 then south on Highway 15), Fort Henry National Historic Site of Canada is managed by The St. Lawrence Parks Commission, an agency of the Government of Ontario.
The St. Lawrence Park’s Commission is a key economic driver in Eastern Ontario:
Direct employment 500+;
Indirect employment of 1,000+;
Total expenditures of $14M+;
Economic impact estimated at $89M;
Fort Henry’s economic impact is estimated at $20 M annually.

The St. Lawrence Parks Commission operates facilities in 16 municipalities stretching from Kingston to the Quebec border, including Upper Canada Village, Fort Henry National Historic Site of Canada – now designated as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Crysler Park Marina, Upper Canada Golf Course, Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary and 12 campgrounds and day-use areas including the Long Sault and 1000 Islands Parkways.

LEARN MORE
Learn more about our attractions at: 

www.FortHenry.com
www.UpperCanadaVillage.com 
www.St.LawrenceParks.com
www.UpperCanadaGolf.com
www.CryslerParkMarina.com

Learn more about the St. Lawrence Parks Commission at www.parks.on.ca.

CONTACT
Bryan Mercer
Director of Marketing
St. Lawrence Parks Commission
TEL.:  613-542-7388, ext. 202
CELL:  613-331-6574
EMAIL:  bryan.mercer@forthenry.com