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In late 2024, Invest Durham engaged local musicians, industry stakeholders and eager audiences to help guide and grow the music industry in Durham Region. Their input, combined with the research support of consulting firm Nordicity, has been instrumental in shaping the insights found in the recently released Durham Region Music Industry Analysis.

In 2023, Durham Region’s music industry generated $162 million in gross domestic product (GDP), contributed $110 million in labour income and supported 4,895 full-time-equivalent jobs. Durham’s music industry not only creates employment, but it also attracts tourism and boosts local businesses, increasing its impact.

Durham Region’s local music scene is poised for growth and Invest Durham and its partners will work to leverage the opportunities identified in the analysis.

As part of efforts to grow and strengthen Durham Region’s music industry, Invest Durham, in partnership with the Canadian Musicians Co-operative and the Town of Whitby, will be hosting a series of free networking and workshop events called Beyond the Music. 

Registration is now open for the first session. Beyond the Music: Business Skills and Branding which will take place June 5 at the Centennial Building in Whitby. Participants will enjoy light refreshments and networking opportunities before taking part in one of two concurrent workshops: 

Workshop 1: Prioritizing Brand Values When Releasing Music Commercially. 

Workshop 2: Making Sense of the Numbers – Know Your Worth, Grow Your Work. 

Beyond the Music is open to both established musicians and professionals in Durham's music scene and newcomers eager to join. Registration closes June 2.

Clarington’s Seasonal Patio Program Returns

Clarington restaurants and cafes are invited to maximize their summer revenue with the Seasonal Patio Program. Applications are now open for eateries in downtown Bowmanville, Newcastle and Orono, and businesses on private commercial property throughout Clarington.

Running from May to October, the Seasonal Patio Program is designed to help businesses expand their outdoor dining areas to attract more customers during the warmer months. There are two permit options for businesses: sidewalk patios on municipal right-of-way and private property patios, such as parking lots. Plus, the program ensures businesses meet municipal and accessibility standards, while offering guidance on operational hours, aesthetics, and safety.

Support stronger tourism planning and economic development in Scugog with the visitor data collection program.

Launched by the Township of Scugog—in partnership with Durham Tourism and Central Counties Tourism—the program makes it easy for businesses to take part. All that’s needed is to display a poster with a QR code. Visitors who scan the code can take part in a short survey that helps track where they come from, their media habits, travel distance, and more. The information will be used to gather valuable insight into who’s visiting our community.

Posters and billfolds can be picked up at the North Durham Chamber Office in Port Perry.

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 and they’re looking for businesses to take part. 

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 of the vibrant culinary scene in Ajax.

Durham Region will be conducting its annual Business Count to gather information from local businesses about their operations. Business Count surveyors will visit businesses over the summer and will be recognizable by their navy blue Region of Durham shirts and photo ID cards.

All businesses, including home-based businesses, non-profit organizations and farms, are encouraged to participate to help us plan our support for business services.

A huge shout out and congratulations to Nicole Morais, the founder and co-owner of Crave Doughnuts! Nicole has been nominated for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards. Along with her partner, Jeremy Black, the couple started Crave Doughnuts in 2017 as a small home operation that has grown into a successful business with two locations, in Whitby and Oshawa. Finalists for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur of the Year will be announced in September with the awards presented in November. 

The City of Oshawa invites community members to celebrate and learn about the vital services provided by its public works department. Explore behind-the-scenes site tours, check out the service trucks, enjoy the family zone, live entertainment, food trucks and more on May 22, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at the Consolidated Operations Depot. Learn more about this free event.

The Whitby Chamber of Commerce has got game this summer. First up, it’s the Fairway Friday golf tournament on June 6. Treat yourself to a day on the green and lunch while also collecting donations for the Humane Society of Durham Region. Then on June 20, it’s the Chamber Smash and Beach Bash volleyball tournament. This action-packed day is brought to you by the Whitby Chamber of Commerce and the Your Entrepreneurs and Professionals (YEP) Committee. 

Current News & Trends

Pingle’s Tulip Days have bloomed with Narcity describing it as a slice of Holland. Durham Tourism has all the details you need to plan your adventure to the largest tulip festival in the GTA.

The Springwood restaurant in Whitby, alongside Kendal Hills Farm and Graze & Gather were recognized for their support of local food in this CTV News profile.

Construction of the new visitor, learning and community centre at Rouge Urban National Park has begun. blogTO shared details of how Toronto’s largest park is getting a major upgrade in 2027.

Port Perry was singled out as a “cozy spring paradise” that's ideal for a Toronto day trip by Narcity. The town was praised for its historic streets, picturesque lake views and the great choice of eateries and shops.

Instagram has launched a new app! Designed for content creators, the new Edits app by Instagram is a free video editor that makes it easy to create videos right on your phone. Learn more about the app and how to use it for your business.

Content pillars can help define your brand’s messaging. Planoly shows you how to identify your content pillars and how they can help grow your business online. Learn more about using content pillars to help showcase your brand.