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2003

Justin Trudeau to launch cross-Canada boreal forest river journeys on the Nahanni River

July 21, 2003 - NAHANNI RIVER

More than 25 prominent Canadians are showing their support for the Boreal Rendezvous, a summer-long series of performances, events and river expeditions through the heart of Canada's boreal forest to highlight its ecological and cultural values.

The Boreal Rendezvous river trips will be launched by Justin Trudeau on the river made famous by his father Pierre Trudeau, when he directed his government in 1976 to protect the area as a national park. "The Nahanni was one of my father's favourite places in the world and I am delighted to join the Boreal Rendezvous to celebrate and support conservation of this magnificent Canadian ecological treasure," said Justin Trudeau.

Other well-known Canadians supporting conservation of this vast wilderness ecosystem include: David Suzuki, Tomson Highway, Tom Cochrane, Ken Dryden, Jimmy Rankin, Silken Laumann and Sarah Harmer. They, along with First Nations representatives, scientists and conservationists, will spend July and August paddling 10 of the country's most incredible, wild and rugged rivers in Canada's boreal region, which stretches from Newfoundland and Labrador to the Rocky Mountains and into the Yukon. Canada's boreal region is an unparalleled natural jewel, and is part of the largest intact forest left on earth. Canadians are now making important decisions about the future of this global treasure and conservation needs to be a first priority.

Each river trip will be marked with a pre-launch celebration and First Nations blessing. The journeys will be followed by local celebrations across Canada.

River	Dates/locations	Celebrity paddlers
Nahanni	July 21-29	Justin Trudeau
Gathering	July 28	Fort Simpson - Papal Grounds
Bonnet Plume	July 22-August 8	Courtney Milne, Richard Nelson
Gathering	August 7	Banks of Peel River
Snake	July 24-August 8	Marlene Creates, Ron Bolt
Gathering	August 7	Banks of Peel River
Wind	July 24-August 8	Joyce Majiski, Michael Belmore
Gathering	August 7	Banks of Peel River
Athabasca	July 25-30	David Suzuki, Ken Dryden
Gathering	July 31	Ft.Edmonton Park
Churchill	July 31-August 7	Tom King
Gathering	July 30	Pelican Narrows
Moisie	August 4-9	Sarah Harmer, Marc Dery, Florent Vollant
Gathering	August 15	Montreal - Botanical Garden of Montreal
Berens	August 7-16	Cathy Jones, James Raffan
Gathering	August 17	Winnipeg - The Forks
Dease	August 15-23	Jimmy Rankin, Silken Laumann
Gathering	August 24	Lower Post - Kaska community
Coal	August 19-23	Tom Cochrane
Gathering	August 24	Lower Post - Kaska community

The Boreal Rendezvous is an initiative of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) in partnership with the David Suzuki Foundation and the Canadian Boreal Initiative (CBI).

The Boreal Rendezvous ends in September in Ottawa with a final celebration and performance by Gord Downie and the Country of Miracles. There will be other Canadian celebrities in attendance to voice their support.

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For more information:
visit www.borealtrek.ca or contact:

Tamara Nowakowsky
National Media Relations
Boreal Rendezvous
Cell (604)250-5474
e-mail: tamara@davidsuzuki.org