Text Voting Launched in Bay of Fundy New7Wonders Bid

NOTE: A social media version of this release, with hi-res, downloadable photos and audio clips is available at http://gov.ns.ca/news/smr/2011-02-17-New7Wonders-Bid/ .

Voting for the Bay of Fundy in the New7Wonders of Nature campaign just got easier.

A initiative to allow people to vote by text was launched today, Feb. 17, at the 2011 Halifax Canada Games.

Percy Paris, Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism, and New Brunswick Tourism and Parks Minister Trevor Holder, made the announcement at a news conference in Celebration Square with Terri McCulloch, executive director of Bay of Fundy Tourism.

People can support the Bay of Fundy bid with a text message from a mobile phone. Simply text the word FUNDY to 77077. Each text vote costs $0.25, and people can vote as many times as they like.

"There is a feeling of great national pride here at the Halifax Canada Games," said Mr. Paris. "It is the perfect opportunity to showcase Nova Scotia and New Brunswick's Bay of Fundy, Canada's only finalist in the global New7Wonders of Nature contest. We encourage all Canadians to show their support and vote, either online or by text."

"I am so pleased to be here today with Minister Paris to announce text voting in the New7Wonders of Nature campaign," said Mr. Holder. "We are proud to share this spectacular natural attraction. We are encouraging all Canadians to vote for the Bay of Fundy, and visit our region so they can see why it truly is a wonder of nature."

Only five of the 28 New7Wonders of Nature finalists have text voting.

"Text voting infuses new energy and potentially millions more votes into Bay of Fundy's campaign during these months leading up to the declaration of the final seven," said Ms. McCulloch. "People are asking what else they can do, in addition to online voting, to support Canada's finalist. Text voting offers Canadians a new way to propel the Bay of Fundy to the podium in November."

Text voting is available across Canada. People can also vote online at votemyfundy.com.

The official New7Wonders of Nature will be announced Nov. 11.