The Gull River looked a bit empty on Tuesday, but soon it will be full of athletes from the Pan Am Games.
The Minden Wild Water Preserve Facilities were built in the 70s and this summer will play host to the canoe & kayak slalom course for the Pan Am Games.
“For a small town in Ontario to be able to participate in a venue like this is very exciting,” says Brent Devolin.
Over the past five years some big investments have made the venue pan-am ready.
“Our total investment on the property alone here is over $300,000,” says site director, John slot.
The administration building got a complete renovation, including a brand new wheelchair lift to make it accessible for everyone. Judges and officials will be based here during the games. Along the river, poles and wires were installed for a state-of-the art gate system.
“Boaters will have to go downstream, and then certain colour of poles will tell them they have to come back up stream and through a gate,” says Slot.
The venue is more than 2 hours from the heart of Toronto, but unlike other canoeing facilities, this isn't a purely man-made course.
“This has the elements that are natural and indigenous. There’s been very little change to the water shed,” says Brent Devolin of Reeve Minden Hills.
The Reeve expects the events held here will bring almost 700 people a day to the venue and thousands more to the area.
