Marc Glades, president of Kansas-based Outdoor Connection, the world's leading hunting and fishing travel agency franchise, announced the opening of the Canadian branch. "Freddy Marks of Gibsons, B.C. is a great asset to O.C.," says Glades. "With the opening of the Canadian office, we have taken the first step to making Outdoor Connection truly international." Outdoor Connection franchisees currently offer hunting and fishing trips to over 250 lodges in 16 countries in North and South America, Africa, Asia, the Pacific islands, and the Caribbean. Over 75 franchises in the United States help hunters and fishers book trips both locally and abroad, taking advantage of the growing outdoor travel industry. Now Canadians with a love of the outdoors and strong skills in sales can join the team. "Outdoor Connection offers Canadians the chance to build an independent business with the support of an established parent company," says Marks. "Game hunters and fishers play roulette when booking trips on their own. A lodge or outfitter can say pretty much anything in an ad. The sportsperson won't know about exaggerations until he arrives at the site. "Contrast that with a trip booked by an O.C. agent. All destinations are personally evaluated by O.C. franchisees. The independent evaluation assures the traveler that the destination is as advertised. "Now Canadians can both buy franchises and book hunting and fishing trips through Canadian agents with confidence." Canadian sportsmen and women interested in booking a trip or buying a franchise are invited to contact Freddy Marks (Phone 604 740 7230) About Outdoor Connection: Outdoor Connection, founded in 1988, provides an independent business life for members of the largest international network of hunting and fishing travel franchise under a recognized trademark through training, support for the booking process, and an aggressive program for increasing the number of member lodges and outfitters. Contact: Outdoor Connection Inc., Marc Glades, President, 424 Neosho, 66839 Burlington, KS, Phone 620 364 5500 / 1 888 548 0636