The Prescott-Russell Development Corporation (PRDC) and Destination Prescott-Russell are eagerly awaiting approval from the Government of Ontario to take over the former Ontario Travel Information Centre on westbound Highway 417 near the Québec boundary.
In 2025, the province decided to discontinue operation of the information centre and rest area for travelers on the Trans-Canada Highway at the close of that year’s tourist season. Since then, Destination Prescott-Russell has begun to pursue obtaining the facility for use as an information centre for the region.
On Wednesday, January 28, Regional Director of Economic Development and Tourism Nicolas Malboeuf and PRDC Executive Director John Candie updated United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) Council about the agency’s regional initiatives and priorities. Malboeuf affirmed that acquisition of the information centre site is one of those initiatives and priorities.
“We have made an application to have Destination Prescott-Russell in that building,” he said.
East Hawkesbury Mayor Robert Kirby asked how soon Destination Prescott-Russell would like to acquire the facility.
Malboeuf said sooner rather than later would be preferable.
On January 16, Candie wrote a letter to Radek Pindur, Director of Real Estate Transactions for Infrastructure Ontario, expressing formal interest in acquiring the information centre.
Candie’s letter indicates that the expression of interest is supported by Glengarry-Prescott-Russell Member of Provincial Parliament Stéphane Sarrazin, UCPR Warden Mario Zanth, and Kirby.
The letter further expresses an intent to use the facility as a place for providing information about Prescott and Russell counties, but also Ontario. It also indicates that Destination Prescott-Russell would like to make improvements to modernize the site.
