AUGUST 2016  

IN THIS ISSUE
 
Call for participation: Taste of the Harvest 2016

Taste of the Harvest 2016 will take place from October 9th - November 8th, 2015
  
This is your invitation to take part in our annual celebration of the fall harvest in Headwaters! Participation is easy and there are several ways to get in on the action:
  • Create a special 3-course prix-fixe FEAST menu (must have some type of harvest theme, and not include standard menu items or pricing).
  • Establish a price and send us the menu and we'll include that as part of our harvest FEAST promotion.
  • Add a harvest item to your menu (using Headwaters products, of course) and we'll include that in our promotion.
  • Tell us about your harvest event or festival and we'll help promote it!
  • Host classes or workshops celebrating the harvest and we'll promote them!
Register now to be part of our Taste of the Harvest program and be included in all our promotional materials.
 
 
Register now for the Headwaters Horse Country Stable Tour

The 9th annual Headwaters Horse Country Stable Tour takes place October 1st and 2nd, 2016. 

The Headwaters Horse Country Stable Tour will see equine facilities from the Town of Caledon, Dufferin County, Town of Erin and King Township open their doors to the public.

From breeding farms, coaching and training facilities to riding schools, boarding stables and ranches, visitors will experience the gamut of equine activity with a rare "behind the scenes" perspective.

The tour is self-guided and admission is free.
 
Industry opportunities in Headwaters

Headwaters Tourism periodically contracts for business services or becomes aware of opportunities for  businesses in the Headwaters region.

Headwaters Tourism is requesting quotations for printing the 2017 edition of our annual, award-winning Headwaters Four-Season Visitors' Guide that will be distributed into the marketplace in May 2017.

Deadline for submissions:  August 23, 2016 



Federal government seeking input on Canada's New Tourism Vision 

The Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister for Small Business and Tourism is in the process of developing Canada's New Tourism Vision, a set of policies and initiatives focusing on increasing international visitation to Canada and growing Canada's tourism sector.

We encourage you to provide your input in helping shape the program's objectives. Please share your tourism business' priorities, barriers and targets by responding to a quick survey.  Survey closes mid-August 2016.

   
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National Trust for Canada seeking ideas for Main Street revitalization  
 
The National Trust for Canada is running a national crowdfunding competition inviting community groups to submit their ideas for revitalizing their community's main streets. The 2016 This Place Matters competition will have two categories based on population size, and the winner of each will receive $40,000 towards the implementation of their project.
 
To participate in the 2016 This Place Matters competition, groups must register their projects no later than Tuesday, August 30th, 2016.


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Planning a green festival

Festivals and Events Ontario has partnered with Dr. Rachel Dodds at the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Ryerson University in Toronto to facilitate the sharing of information and training to assist festivals in increasing their level of sustainability. Festival and event organizers and festival-goers can now find step by step suggestions and tips towards a greener festival experience.

Find out more about green festivals-->

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Ontario launches challenge to spend more time in nature

The Ontario government and Ontario Parks are challenging people across the province to spend more time in nature and develop new healthy habits. Inspired by the David Suzuki Foundation's 30×30 Challenge, the Ontario Parks 30×30 Nature Challenge encourages people to spend at least 30 minutes per day in nature for 30 days. This year's challenge begins in August.
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Ontario Chamber of Commerce launches tourism taskforce


Over the course of the spring and summer, the OCC will be taking a closer look at Ontario's tourism sector. In a globally competitive tourism market, we need to ensure that any tourism gains are sustained over the long term. This project will explore what steps Ontario can take to create and sustain a "tourism advantage". 
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Destination Canada launches new strategic direction for 2016-2020

Destination Canada has just released their corporate plan summary, outlining their strategic direction for 2016-2020. Seizing the Winning Conditions for Canada 20/20/2020, outlines Destination Canada's goals of attracting 20 million international visitors, spending $20 billion in Canada by the year 2020.


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EDCO Awards 2016 - nominations now open

The Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) has opened the call for submissions for the EDCO Awards of Excellence. The Awards of Excellence are a highly coveted commodity, an honour to receive, and also a great profile builder and opportunity to showcase your efforts to hundreds of economic development professionals. As an EDCO award recipient you set the bar as a leader and innovator in the profession.  
 
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Share your love of culture

Culture Days and Sun Life Financial invite you to play a starring role in Canada's love affair with culture with the Share Your Love of Culture contest. Create a 30 - 60 second video expressing your creativity and you could win a chance for it to be seen at Cineplex Cinemas across Canada and 24 free movie passes for a year! 

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Launch of Ontario's first culture strategy
 
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GoMedia Canada 2016

GoMedia Canada takes places from October 16th to 20th in Montreal, Quebec. The 2016 show is expected to attract 120+ international and domestic media and 140 travel and industry partner organizations.  

 
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Coordinated land use planning review   
 
A coordinated review of the four provincial land use plans began in February 2015. The Government of Ontario has reviewed and considered all feedback received from stakeholders, the public, Indigenous communities and the Advisory Panel's recommendations. The government is now proposing changes to the four plans. Deadline for additional feedback: September 30th, 2016.  
 
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OTEC announces fall training lineup

OTEC is pleased to announce this year's fall lineup of training workshops with more program choices than ever before. From front-line workers to supervisors or business owners, there are workshops to benefit all employees.  
   
 
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Cycle Tourism 2016 post-conference reports now available

In March 2016, Ontario By Bike and Transportation Options hosted their 3rd annual Cycle Tourism Conference.  A 2016 Cycle Tourism Conference Post Conference Report is now available to download and is a useful resource. The 33-page document provides an overview of the conference proceedings; summarizing all presentations. Also, view presentation slide decks from all guest speakers here.  
 
   
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Travel & Tourism Research Association annual conference
 
Are you involved in the tourism research field?  TTRA Canada's annual conference takes place from September 28th to 30th, and is entitled
Animating Places: Making Destinations Comes Alive Through Research. 

Find out more-->

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Labour Market Information Workshop 101

The Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin is offering an introductory labour market information workshop in Orangeville on September 22nd from 9:30am to 12noon.  
 
Register to attend-->
 
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Central Counties Tourism   
Central Counties members have access to 150+ complimentary recorded tourism marketing webinars.Take advantage of these free webinars to help grow your business.




REGI STER NOW - 2016 ONTARIO TOURISM SUMMIT     

Join hundreds of tourism professionals on November 21st & 22nd, 2016 at The Westin Ottawa for the 12th Annual Ontario Tourism Summit.

The Ontario Tourism Summit is the only provincial industry-wide business conference for members of the Ontario tourism industry to learn the latest trends, share new ideas and best practices, network with colleagues, and recognize industry leaders at the Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence.

Early bird registration deadline:  September 15, 2016


REGISTER NOW - 2016 TIAC TOURISM CONGRESS      
 
Mark your calendars and start making plans to join your tourism sector colleagues at the 2016 edition of the Tourism Congress, TIAC's annual conference. This November, the Tourism Congress will be held at the Hotel Lac Leamy, close to Parliament Hill and the heart of government activity in Canada. Delegates from across the country will once again converge on the capital region and interact with the elected officials and decision-makers whose departments and agencies impact the travel and tourism industry.

Register before  October 2nd, 2016 to take advantage of early bird savings .


Nominations open for Orangeville arts & culture awards

The seventh Annual Mayor's Breakfast for the Arts kicks off Culture Days in the Town of Orangeville as Canada celebrates Culture Days from September 30 to October 2, 2016.
 
 
The Town is currently seeking nominations for the arts and culture awards that will be presented at the breakfast. New this year is the Emerging Artist of the Year award created to capture that category between student artists and established artists. The arts and culture awards recognize businesses, organizations and individuals who have contributed to arts and culture in Orangeville.  Arts and culture include visual, music, dance, film, theatre, written word, culinary, parades, festivals and community events, design and much more.  
 
Submit a nomination-->

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Grand Valley launches bike art campaign

The Grand Valley Business Improvement Area (BIA) has invited businesses within the community to participate in a public art campaign. In late April, the BIA approached local businesses to recycle old bikes by painting them bright colours and showcasing them around the community with baskets of flowers attached. Aimed at drawing more residents and visitors to the downtown, the bicycle initiative highlights the community's creativity in a unique way. The campaign began May 19th and will run until October 15th. 
 

 
CANADA 150 CELEBRATIONS IN HEADWATERS
 
Headwaters Tourism has developed a planning calendar for Canada 150 celebrations taking place in the region. The purpose of the shared calendar is to encourage event organizers to consider events throughout the entire year and avoid challenges with too many activities happening on the same dates.

We encourage event organizers to not only submit their events to us for inclusion in the planning calendar, but also to review the Canada 150 planning calendar before booking your event date.


Share your plans for Canada 150 with us-->
 

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ONTARIO GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES ONTARIO 150 PROJECT
 
The Ontario150 program is a series of events and initiatives that will stretch to every corner of our province, showcasing Ontario's innovative spirit, our culture and our community diversity.
In addition to a number of signature events planned across the province, municipalities, community organizations and Indigenous groups will be able to access funding programs designed to bring people together, while laying the groundwork for a strong economic, social and cultural legacy for Ontario's next 150 years.

There are three application-based Ontario150 grant programs. They include:
  • The Community Capital Program
  • The Partnership Program -
  • Community Celebration Program
Ontario 150 Capital Granting Programs teleconference:  August 12 Teleconference, 2 - 4 p.m
Registration is required to participate. Please RSVP: Email Sonja.Erstic@Ontario.ca or call 519-650-5482.

 Learn more about the Ontario150 Project-> 
 


 

 

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS VIA HEADWATERS TOURISM MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES 

 

FREE tourism business, event & news listings  

 

If you operate a tourism related business, we invite you to register your business for free and be part of the region's largest tourism-focused website. With thousands of unique visitors each month on the Headwaters website , your business will benefit from additional exposure at NO COST, and be linked to the Central Counties Tourism website that also gets thousands of unique visitors monthly. This is an opportunity to engage numerous unique visitors each month at NO COST to your business.  

 

What are you waiting for - sign up now!

 

Thank you to all our Leading with the Best partners who work in partnership with us to help promote Headwaters as Ontario's premier rural tourism destination Where Ontario Gets Real.
 
If you are actively engaged in the tourism industry in Headwaters and are looking to expand your marketing reach, we encourage you to consider our  Leading with the Best program. Businesses that take part in our program are promoted as leading tourism experiences to consumers and become part of our targeted and featured promotions in Headwaters through our digital and social media platforms. 
 
Call or email our Leading With the Best Program Manager to get more information on how Headwaters Tourism can market your business to tourists.

Stephany St.Louis | 905.587.0178 
 
 
LEADING WITH THE BEST - DEVELOPMENT SERIES
 
Headwaters Tourism will be offering a series of tourism development workshops for our Leading With the Best partners. These workshops are designed to assist our partners in further enhancing and growing their business through specific tourism opportunities, as well as providing an opportunity for these market-ready businesses to liaise, network and build partnerships with other like-minded businesses and colleagues.

Monday, August 15th - 10:30 am to 12noon
Leveraging Your Brand Through Storytelling

Monday, October 24th - 10:30 am to 12noon
Digital Marketing Tools for the Tourism Industry

Monday, January 30th, 2017 - 10:30 am to 12noon
Creating Content That Visitors Will Love

These workshops are available to all Leading With the Best partners at no cost.  Registration is required.


Register to attend-->


 
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KEEP US UP-TO-DATE ON EVENTS AND NEWSWORTHY HAPPENINGS  

 

Let us know about your events and newsworthy happenings so that we can help promote all that makes the Headwaters region special.

   

If you have press releases and photos about newsworthy events and happenings, please send them directly to our attention at media@headwaters.ca