Red Deer County's historic Scandinavian Trail is being rejuvenated and expanded.
The promotional and marketing campaign to boost tourism for the rural municipality's rich Scandinavian culture and history was first launched about a decade ago.
After a brochure was created in two separate past printings to help tourists find four vital points of interest in the region, the campaign ultimately fell by the wayside.
But now representatives from the four main traditional points of interest ñ Markerville Creamery, Stephansson House Provincial Historic Site, Dickson Store Museum and the Danish Canadian National Museum & Gardens ñ have once again come together and are creating a new plan to revive the promotional campaign ñ The Scandinavian Trail ñ The Icelandic and Danish Settlement Tour.
The big news is that three new partners are being added ñ the Double Tree Village Museum, Medicine River Wildlife Centre and the Gleniffer Lake Resort & Country Club.
Ted Mikkelsen, a member of the board of directors at the Danish Canadian museum, said representatives from all seven destination points met as a committee in October and January to create a new marketing and promotional campaign. They plan to meet again in February.
"They ran out of brochures and nobody was promoting it much,î said Mikkelsen in explaining the past Scandinavian Trail campaign's decline. "We are now rejuvenating it.î
He said the original idea to have four destination points was created to attract larger tourism traffic, particularly from the Edmonton and Calgary areas.
However, the new plan to add three more attractions is hoped to give the Scandinavian Trail concept an even bigger lift.
"We are sure hoping it will. In fact I am sure it will or else I wouldn't be involved in it,î said Mikkelsen, who originally comes from Markerville and whose father drove the creamery truck that is now on display at the historical site.
"This is an area that is rich in history and culture.î
As the original intent of the Scandinavian Trail was to promote the traditional history and culture of the area, Mikkelsen does admit the committee was "taking a little licenceî by adding the three new destination points but he is quick to add each are located on lands that were originally settled by either Scandinavian or Icelandic pioneers.
The Gleniffer Lake Resort & Country Club was an area originally settled by members of the pioneer Westergaard family from Denmark while the Double Tree Village Museum lands, which is a site with more than 25 history-themed buildings, also has Scandinavian roots.
"The Double Tree Village has more than 20 buildings used for artifacts and storage, including a school, church, hotel and printing press,î said Mikkelsen. "They also take people out for sleigh and wagon rides.î
Mikkelsen added there is an Icelandic connection with the Medicine River Wildlife Centre as it was originally located in Markerville.
He said the committee is looking at a $5,000 budget for its new Scandinavian Trail promotional campaign. He said each museum and attraction will share in the cost but hopes Travel Alberta will help financially.
"Thousands of brochures will hopefully be made,î he said, adding it's expected the new promotional campaign should be ready to roll for the upcoming tourist season. "We hope everything will be ready by May.î
