To Renew Shoppers Bus for Remainder of Cruise Season.

Prince Rupert is often described as one of the Canada’s most walkable cities. But the distance to a store on 3rd avenue, 2nd avenue or beyond from The Northland Cruise Terminal can be a fairly daunting for the casual cruise passenger looking for shopping opportunities.

In previous years the City of Prince Rupert provided cruise passengers with a free shuttle that would take guests to various locations throughout Prince Rupert including; Cow Bay, Downtown and Rupert Square Mall. For the 2011 cruise season the City had to suspend the Cruise Shopping Shuttle program until further notice as part of an effort to reduce operating expenses to diminish the need for further increases in municipal taxes.

The City of Prince Rupert is committed to the continued success of our local businesses and is dedicated to the goals and objectives of the Cruise Task Force. As part of an initiative to renew the shopping shuttle program to further support local business, the City is working in cooperation with First Canada who has contributed by offering their services at a discounted rate. The City is looking for other partners from the business community to help fund and operate this program for the remainder of the 2011 Cruise Season.

The goal is to have the system running in time for the May 26th call from the Norwegian Star and continue operation for the duration of the Cruise season ending September 22nd; however the start date will depend on the number of partners involved. During that period of time Prince Rupert will welcome 19 ship calls and approximately 41,000 cruise visitors to
our community.

Thanks to the support of First Canada, the total discounted amount to operate the Shopping Shuttle will be approximately $8,000 for the remained of the season. The Prince Rupert and Port Edward Economic Development Corporation through a grant from the City of Prince Rupert will be contributing a sum of $4,000 for the continued operation of the Shopping Shuttle and will be seeking financial partnerships to raise the remaining funds needed to renew the shopping shuttle program.

The City hopes the service in partnership with our local businesses will continue to be a big draw for cruise tourists who otherwise would shop or dine on the ship.

It is the Cities vision that this shopping program would remain to be free for our Cruise Guests, operate from 4pm to 7pm for every remaining cruise ship of the season and depart from the Northland Cruise Terminal every 20 minutes with
the potential to offer preferred drop off locations for our partnering businesses.

If your business is interested in sponsoring and participating in this initiative we kindly urge you to contact

Derek Baker
Prince Rupert and Port Edward Economic Development Corporation
Phone: 250-627-5138
Email: derek.bakerprincerupert.ca
424 – 3rd Ave. West, Prince Rupert, B.C. V8J 1L7
www.predc.com