Niagara Falls Travel

NF travel group would welcome Wallenda walk

If it happens.

Officials from the NTCC feel Wallenda’s stunt is bound to attract international attention and create a heavy influx of travelers and visitors because of the publicity surrounding the event.

Wallenda wants to cross from Goat Island on the U.S. side of Niagara Falls over the Horseshoe Falls, ending up at the Journey Behind the Falls on the Canadian side. The walk is approximately 2,200 feet long and Wallenda will be on a tightripe some 200 feet above the falls.

New York state lawmakers gave rare permission for the walk although Gov. Andrew Cuomo has to sign off on the deal. The Niagara Parks Commission in Ontario has yet to approve the walk and appears to be hesitant.

“The passage of this legislation is a nostalgic victory for the tourism industry here in Niagara Falls and across the Niagara USA region,” said John Percy , NTCC president. “It has been more than 150 years since the ‘Great Blondin’ first traversed the Niagara Gorge on a tightrope and just as his efforts cast a spotlight on Niagara Falls, so will the efforts of Nik Wallenda . The impact this feat will have in terms of publicity and real tourism dollars for Niagara Falls and the Niagara USA region will be exponential,” Percy said. “Even to this day, people still come to our visitor center with a curiosity toward the daredevils and high wire performers of past generations. This attempt will solidify Nik Wallenda ’s place in Niagara Falls folklore and add to the long-standing allure of conquering Niagara’s tremendous power.

Burke adds Dudley to Leafs braintrust | Niagara Falls Travel

In the front office anyway, the Maple Leafs may have one of the most impressive depth charts in the NHL.

Now if it can only be translated to the ice.

The Leafs increased the roster on Friday by adding former Atlanta Thrashers general manager Rick Dudley to the payroll in a yet to be determined position.

With president and GM Brian Burke at the top, the Leafs executive suite now includes Dave Nonis, Dave Poulin, Claude Loiselle and Dudley.

“Rick is an exceptional evaluator of talent,” said Nonis, Toronto’s vice-president of hockey operations. “If you look at where he’s been and what’s followed after he’s left, it has usually been success.”

While he had yet to achieve success in Atlanta, it became apparent as soon as the Thrashers were leaving town that his hours with the franchise were numbered.

“The day that Winnipeg notified me and the rest of the world that I wasn’t going to Winnipeg, Burkie got in touch with me and we started talking at that point and it evolved from there,” Dudley said.

“I had a feeling (I wouldn’t stay in Winnipeg). People have to have comfort levels with people and I didn’t know the people very well and they obviously wanted to start something new and that’s fine.”

While Dudley’s role hasn’t been defined, you can bet it will have a heavy scouting element to it.

“Whatever (Burke and Nonis) ask me to do,” Dudley said when asked what he expects to do. “I grew up in Toronto and I see the team as evolving into something good. I’d like to be a part of that.

“There’s some very likeable pieces in place. I just have to go out and find some pieces that might work and tell Brian about it.”

rob.longley@sunmedia.ca

Article source: http://www.torontosun.

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