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With summer travel in full swing and continued economic uncertainty, Destination Ontario’s new summer campaign called We Stand invites Ontario residents to discover their own backyard.

The marketing push encourages domestic travel and keeping local tourism thriving by spotlighting the people, places and businesses that make Ontario unforgettable, from local destinations, great eats and cultural experiences. 

Destination Ontario is promoting the campaign on television, digital billboards and cinemas as well as on social media platforms, radio and digital audio channels.

In today's evolving global trade environment, Canadian businesses must be more resilient and globally minded than ever.

This session explores how companies can navigate challenges like tariffs and market volatility through strategic trade diversification and targeted support. Learn how BDC is helping businesses adapt with financing solutions like the Tariff Loan and advisory services through the Trade Resilience Plan. You'll also discover the international growth opportunities available to Ontario companies and the support systems designed to help them succeed abroad.

The webinar takes place on July 23 from 1 to 2 p.m. Visit our tariff response page for more information.

TIAO Awards Of Excellence

Don’t miss the chance to spotlight the work being done making Ontario a top tourism destination. Nominations close today (July 15) for the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) Awards of Excellence.

These awards recognize the individuals, businesses, and organizations that shape Ontario’s visitor economy through impactful tourism partnerships, marketing activities, and media relations. Please note there are new rules this year for applications and that administrative fees will be applied to award submissions.

Frustrated with digital ads that just aren’t working? Join the BACD (Business Advisory Centre Durham) for this hands-on workshop: Budgeting and Scaling Ads the Right Way.  

Social media expert and workshop facilitator Kat Spargalo will show you how to tweak your campaigns for better results. This practical session is designed for small businesses looking to target the right audiences, troubleshoot, and optimize their digital ads. The course takes place online at noon on August 20 at a cost of $10.

The next intake deadline for the Central Counties Tourism (CCT) Partnership Program is fast approaching. Businesses have until September 15 to submit their application.

The CCT matching-funds program is open to tourism businesses, organizations, and event organizers within the regions of York, Durham or Headwaters. It is designed to financially support tourism-focused projects occurring within these boundaries through March 31, 2026. New this year is a partnership program for small business support.

Planning a visual arts initiative? You may be eligible for funding through a grant by the Ontario Arts Council Visual Arts Projects.

The program supports not-for-profit arts organizations, ad hoc groups, collectives, and independent curators to research, present or document the work of professional Ontario visual artists and connect them with Ontario audiences. It also supports other initiatives that benefit the visual arts community such as exhibitions, festivals, catalogues/publications, curatorial research, and residency programs. 

Funding amounts vary by category, but projects could be eligible for up to $15,000. The deadline to apply is October 28.

Celebrate the culinary offerings in Ajax by showcasing your unique offerings to food lovers. The Town of Ajax is working on a brand-new food guide that celebrates the local dining scene.

Whether you’re a cozy cafe, a fine dining experience or anything in between, you’re invited to fill out a survey, request a spot in the food guide and share what makes your place special. Your participation will help create a comprehensive guide to the vibrant culinary scene in Ajax.

A business certification can help you grow your brand, earn trust with customers and connect with your community. In Durham Region, businesses can become Feast On® certified or Rainbow Registered.

Feast On® certification is North America's largest and longest-running food certification program that's open to businesses across the food service chain. Whether you grow, raise, prepare or sell Ontario-grown ingredients, becoming Feast On® certified recognizes those businesses committed to sourcing and celebrating Ontario-grown food and drink. In Durham Region, Feast On® certified restaurants include Portobello Road, Bistro ‘67, Fig Kitchen and Market and Nest at Trail Hub. Join these local favourites and become a Feast On® certified business.

The Rainbow Registered accreditation program is an opportunity to show your business' commitment to creating a welcoming space. The national program recognizes those organizations that provide a safe, inclusive space for 2SLGBTQI+ people to visit, work, and feast. In Durham Region, the Robert McLaughlin Gallery and Safari Zoo Camp at Jungle World are Rainbow Registered. Learn more about this accreditation.

Durham Region has been working to create safe and connected cycling infrastructure but as people explore the region by bike, one thing can make or break their experience: where to park when they arrive.

That’s why Durham Region has launched the Bicycle Parking Guidelines Project. The initiative will look at how and where bike parking is provided, especially in popular public destinations and high-traffic areas. Share your business’ perspective by taking the online survey by July 28. Your feedback will play an important role in making bike parking more convenient, secure and better designed.

Durham Region’s annual Business Count continues. Surveyors are visiting businesses throughout the region to collect basic information that includes the type of company, the number of employees, plans for growth, floor space, and location.

Data collected will be used for municipal planning and analysis, programming to grow our local industries, and to help plan business services to build a stronger local economy. 

In addition to in-person visits, businesses—including home-based businesses, non-profit organizations, and farms—can complete the 2025 Business Count online.

There’s a new co-working space in town! Congratulations to The Wellington Lofts, previously known as The Park Coworking, on their recent opening in Bowmanville. This beautifully reimagined 10,000 square feet of space offers event venues, creative studios, private offices, and a cozy café to enjoy your next meeting. Learn more about this space. 

Congratulations to Pickering Museum Village and Jungle Cat World—both finalists for the Ontario’s Choice Awards by Attractions Ontario. Pickering Museum Village is up for the Top Small Museum, Art Galleries, Historic Site award, while Jungle Cat World has been nominated for Top Outdoor Attraction. Voting is open until September 7, with the winners being announced in October. Learn more. 

You may have seen Sweet Bites Cafe and Bake Shop at a local market, but now you can enjoy their treats most days of the week at their new storefront in downtown Oshawa Sweet Bites is currently open Wednesday to Saturday. Stop in for a sweet or savoury treat and extend your congratulations on their new space! Learn more about this sweet spot.

Porsche Experience Centre (PEC) Toronto is officially revving engines in Pickering! Not only does PEC Toronto offer a hands-on automotive driving experience, but you can also use their beautiful space to book a boardroom for your next meeting or cozy up with a latte and your laptop at their Carrera café. As Canada’s only PEC, and the tenth worldwide, this high-performance attraction is not just a destination for car enthusiasts but also a lesson in experiential branding. Learn more about Porsche Experience Centre Toronto. 

Looking to get into the craft beverage industry? Durham College’s Centre for Craft Beverage Innovation (CCBI) works with craft beverage makers to develop new products, perfect their recipes, or diagnose and remedy costly production problems that threaten a beverage producer’s bottom line. Major innovation is happening in this space. Learn how you can work with CCBI. 

It’s Christmas in July! Artisans, crafters and food entrepreneurs are invited to apply now for a complimentary outdoor booth at Oshawa’s Bright and Merry Market on November 13. Running from 5 to 9 p.m., the event is the perfect kick‑off to the holiday season. Vendor applications for art and merchandise close August 24, and food vendor applications close September 14. Get your application in. 

Current News & Trends

Join the Downtown Whitby Business Improvement Area, in partnership with Voice Model, on July 26 at the Home Sweet Home Festival as they unveil their brand-new AI voice assistant, Bia. This is the first AI assistant of its kind in Ontario built specifically for a downtown district, offering 24/7 real-time support to help residents and visitors discover everything Downtown Whitby has to offer.

Planning a content move? Unpack the trends shaping travel and hospitality with Sprout Social’s 2025 Travel and Hospitality Content Benchmarks Report. Find out what audiences want now and what matters next.

Building a brand doesn’t mean you have to put yourself in the spotlight. Planoly shares how more creators are turning to faceless content to grow their presence and connect with their audience without ever stepping in front of the camera.

As the Apple Capital of Canada, Durham Region is also a force in Ontario’s craft cider scene. Check out the talented local makers featured in this list of must-try craft sips curated by the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance. While Ontario Cider Trail offers a route for sampling Durham’s best in its GTA East Durham Itinerary and its GTA North Uxbridge & Port Perry Itinerary. 

Durham’s growing network of farm-to-table restaurants is defining what it means to eat locally. Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance is calling on visitors to plan a delicious escape this summer and highlights some of Durham’s standout producers and makers.