Future cloudy for Falls favorite Maid of the Mist
From the Washington Examiner:
Deliberations in Canada over the future of the Maid of the Mist sightseeing boats at Niagara Falls are being closely watched in the United States, where elected and tourism officials want to avoid disruptions to an iconic draw that brings millions of tourists to the Falls each year.
The double-decker boats ferry people from both sides of the Niagara River to the base of the Horseshoe Falls under separate agreements with New York state and Ontario, Canada. The tours have run continuously since 1846.
The Niagara Parks Commission, an arm of the Ontario government that controls the land and buildings around the Canadian falls, approved a 25-year contract with the Maid of the Mist Steamship Co. in 2008. But the lack of competition for the deal drew criticism, so the commission called for bids from competing boat tour operators for the first time.
The multimillion-dollar bids are under review; the commission is expected to make its recommendation to Ontario’s tourism minister in February, though at one point it had anticipated choosing a company by the end of last year.
Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/travel/2012/01/future-cloudy-falls-favorite-maid-mist/2147516?utm_source=feedburnerdcexaminer%2Fwheels&utm_medium=feedWheels&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dcexaminer%2Fwheels+%28Wheels%29%24%7Bdistribu&utm_content=%24%7BdistributionCha#ixzz1kx3vjMZd
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Canadian officials pressed on Maid of the Mist issue
From the Buffalo News:
New York’s senators urged Canadian officials Thursday to protect the jobs, docking areas and brand name of the Maid of the Mist Co., regardless of whether another tour company is awarded launching rights around Niagara Falls.
In a letter to Canada’s Niagara Parks Commission chairwoman, Janice Thomson, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said that the 150 jobs created by the American Maid of the Mist operation should be preserved and that the Maid of the Mist brand name be maintained.
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Maid of the Mist future in jeopardy
From the Buffalo News:
Though Maid of the Mist boats have been shuffling tourists to the base of Niagara Falls for 126 consecutive years, their future on the American and Canadian sides of the cataracts remains uncertain.
In six weeks, the tourism company will find out if it can continue those tours, or whether the Canadian government will award a 25-year lease to another company, possibly with different ideas for the real estate around the cataracts.
“We’re still in the review process,” interim Niagara Parks Commission Chairwoman Janice Thomson said today.
The government had hoped to make a decision by the end of 2011, but needs five or six more weeks, Thomson said.
Some of the comments after the article are worth looking at…
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Maid of the Mist decision delayed
From WIVB Channel 4 in Buffalo (including video):
The Niagara Parks Commission is buying more time before it decides who will award a lease to operate the premier attraction at Niagara Falls, the Maid of the Mist boats.
It has taken the commission more than 11 months to mull the matter, but it says it needs another five or six weeks before deciding who will be awarded the 25- year lease to run the boats at the base of the Horseshoe Falls.
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Next tour boat operator could be named by year’s end: NPC
From the Niagara Falls Review:
The winner of the much-publicized bid to provide boat tours in the Niagara gorge could be named by the end of the year, says Janice Thomson, interim chairwoman of the Niagara Parks Commission.
“We’re currently still in the review process. There has been a lot of detail throughout the whole procurement process. The decision will last a long time and we want to make sure it’s done thoroughly,” said Thomson.
“But if you’re asking me to forecast, I’d say there will be an announcement before the end of the year.”
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Maid of the Mist Closes October 24, 2011
The last day of operation for the 2011 season is October 24, 2011.Suburban Tourist Tours Niagara Falls
This past weekend Frank and I had the pleasure of trying out a King Tours bus tour from Toronto to Niagara Falls. And it certainly was a stress-free way to enjoy a day away from Toronto.NPC issues likely to be under the radar during provincial election
From the Niagara Falls Review:
One explosive issue — the Niagara Health System — continues to publicly manifest itself as candidates get ready to hit the provincial election campaign trail.
But decisions surrounding the Niagara Parks Commission’s board of directors and Maid of the Mist boat tour operation will likely continue to unfold out of the public eye.
Six provincially-appointed bureaucrats who sit on the parks commission board will not be replaced until at least November — a month after the provincial election.
Their term was originally set to end in May, but earlier this year, with outstanding business matters yet to be resolved, the board decided it wasn’t practical to change over the appointees.
Their term was extended until November.
And with the election campaign set to begin next week, a freeze on appointments to government boards and agencies is in affect, said Janice Thomson, interim chairwoman at the parks commission.
“The Public Appointments Secretariat has stopped making appointments to any government body until after the election,” said Thomson.
“So nothing will change on that front until after the election.”
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Maid of the Mist Captain retires after 36 years
From the Niagara Falls Review:
His first time out, Malcolm Bunting kept thinking that it goes against all common sense and seamanship to go toward a waterfall of that size.
He did it anyway.
That was 36 years ago.
The giant waterfall was the Horseshoe Falls and his job was with the Maid of the Mist Steamboat Company.
“I had never carried passengers before and I kept thinking, ‘Oh my God, what am I doing here.’ Over the years you get used to it and it becomes routine,” said Cpt. Bunting.
The 63-year-old retired Wednesday night after making his final trip.
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Niagara Falls State Park attraction admission scam leads to arrests
From the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal:
New York State Park Police have charged six people in connection with a scam that involved the theft and re-sale of tickets from both the Cave of the Winds and the Maid of the Mist attractions.
Their arrests were announced on Friday after an investigation that included assistance from the New York State Police.
Park Police investigators said they discovered an organized ring of individuals that were stealing Discovery Pass tickets.
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