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Help your guests make the most of their time in Durham Region with Open Skies. Durham Tourism’s adventure planner is the perfect resource to share at your business.  

Open Skies encourages visitors to keep their luggage light and their dollars local by highlighting 129 exciting ways to explore Durham Region’s local gems, activities and accommodations with photo inspiration and easy-to-use checklists. 

Point visitors to the digital version at DurhamTourism.ca/discover and get in touch with Durham Tourism to get copies for your location.

Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO) is offering the opportunity to become a verified Indigenous tourism business. 

As Ontario’s only Indigenous tourism organization, ITO works alongside communities and entrepreneurs to support and grow Indigenous tourism in Ontario. Verified businesses get:

• The ITO Proud Indigenous Member badge to display. 
• ITO business support. 
• ITO marketing opportunities. 

To apply, businesses must be verified through ITO’s Debwewin page and complete an ITO cultural business/experience questionnaire.

Help shape Ontario’s tourism workforce by taking the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO)’s 2026 hiring needs survey. Provide your input by December 18 and help TIAO: 

• Identify critical skills development opportunities.  
• Connect job-ready talent with businesses who are hiring.  
• Support effective workforce strategies for the year ahead. 

By sharing your hiring needs, you’ll help TIAO better understand the recruitment and training priorities of tourism businesses across Ontario.

Whitby’s Hospitality Opportunity 

The Invest Whitby team recently connected with potential investors to pitch a proposed hotel and convention centre. Planned near the Whitby waterfront, the development would include a hotel with approximately 150 rooms and a conference centre offering 11,000 square feet of event space for up to 550 attendees. 

The project is seen as a key step in elevating Whitby as a destination for business, tourism, and events. 

Hosting something special? From concerts to seasonal markets and community events, Durham Tourism can help you get noticed.

Adding your listing to the Durham Tourism events calendar is free, simple and ensures your gathering reaches the right audience. Create a profile, add the details and once approved, your post connects with locals and visitors eager to find things to do across the region.

Cultural Expressions has transformed art into a movement. Founded in 2006 by Esther Forde as an art gallery in Pickering, Cultural Expressions quickly became a hub for cultural events and dialogue, including hosting its popular flagship event for Black History Month. 

Today, the nonprofit works with organizations like Oshawa’s Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Ajax Public Library, and local schools to keep creativity and inclusivity thriving. 

As Esther shares, “there is value in seeing your culture reflected on gallery walls, an artist finally finding a space that welcomes their work, and a community that comes together through shared appreciation of beauty and creativity.” 

The Region of Durham is reminding small businesses in Designated Business Areas that as of December 31, Blue Box collection will no longer be provided. 

Starting January 1, 2026, small businesses must arrange for private recycling collection services to continue managing Blue Box materials. Collection services for garbage, green bin and leaf and yard waste will remain unaffected. 

This transition aligns with provincial changes which shifts recycling responsibility from municipalities to the producers of the materials recycled in the Blue Box. This caused Durham Region to transition its Blue Box collection responsibility to Circular Materials, an organization representing the producers and importers of packaging materials on July 1, 2024. 

While Durham Region worked with Circular Materials in 2024 to continue servicing existing small business customers until December 31, 2025, this option no longer exists beyond this date. Owners and occupants must not place garbage containing Blue Box materials out for collection in accordance with by-laws. Additionally, Blue Box materials can still be recycled at any Regional Waste Management Facility. 

The Region understands this transition may require adjustments, and we encourage businesses to plan arrangements ahead of the service change. If you have questions about these changes, please contact 311 (within Regional limits) or 1-800-372-1102, or by emailing 311@durham.ca.

The Durham Cocktail Trail is a culinary experience that brings together 18 restaurants and Durham Distillery to craft distinctive cocktails, support local businesses and give back to the community. Each venue offers a signature creation, with diners collecting digital stamps for prizes. One dollar from each cocktail benefits Feed the Need in Durham. Running until January 12, the trail showcases local businesses and offers guests a fun way to explore Durham’s dining scene. Get more details on the Durham Cocktail Trail. 

Markets Ontario in Bowmanville is accepting new in-store vendors for December and January. From food, clothing, home goods and more, Markets Ontario brings together handmade products in one location with vendors keeping 100 per cent of product sales. Start your application. 

Celebrate Black History Month by showcasing your brand at Clarington’s Black Vendor Village on February 21, 2026 at Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex in Bowmanville. Clarington and Durham-based Black-owned businesses are invited to participate at no-cost at this one-day market, which has welcomed over 1,200 attendees in past years. Apply online by January 4. Vendors will be notified on January 12 to inform them if they've been selected to participate. Complete the application form.

Current News & Trends

An agreement signed by all Canadian provinces, territories, and the federal government to drop interprovincial trade barriers on many goods is in effect. Read more about the Canadian Mutual Recognition Agreement and what it covers. 

Pickering is transforming into a creative powerhouse. Explore how it’s expanding as a film and TV hub in Canada in this Toronto Star article.

The Ontario Film Commission is spotlighting two local success stories. Wayward captured the top spot on Netflix in its first week, drawing 8.2 million views, with scenes filmed in Port Perry and Pickering. Meanwhile, TriBro studios was recognized for its accessibility initiatives. Find both stories here.

More Canadians are travelling, but their destinations are changing. Find out where they’re heading and the impact it’s having in this Money.ca article.