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November 2023

Durham Tourism Industry Report

Shop Where You Live, Shop in Durham Week

Shop Where You Live, Shop In Durham is an annual initiative that encourages residents to discover (or rediscover) the amazing local shops and business owners in Durham Region.

Small businesses are the heart of a community. They line the streets where we host parades and festivals, are home to creative entrepreneurs, are the hidden gems that make Durham home and they’re where a large percentage of our workforce contributes to our economy.

This year, discover amazing local shops, meet shop owners, and support your community. From one-of-a-kind gifts to cool vintage finds, when you Shop in Durham you’ll be amazed by the charming shops and curated ideas found right here in Durham Region.

Together, with our partners across Durham Region, Durham Tourism is asking you to strengthen our creative community by shopping where you live.

The Region of Durham will proclaim November 26 to December 2 as “Shop in Durham Week.”

Durham College Tourism - Destination Marketing

Field Placement Student Opportunities

In January 2020, Durham College (DC) launched a Tourism – Destination Marketing two-year diploma program (TDMK). The program focuses on the development of tourism products and experiences through the study of customer service, marketing (introduction, advanced and digital), business research, and more than ten courses specific to tourism.

During the two-year program, DC offers TDMK students the choice of either co-operative education (co-op) or field placement, both of which provide students with opportunities to experience work integrated learning. The college is actively seeking employers to host a fourth semester student in field placement from January to April 2024, or a second semester student in co-op from May to August 2024.

Field placement is 120 hours and can be paid or unpaid, whereas co-op is paid and requires 420 hours completed before the student returns for their final year. There are federal grants available for co-op students, such as the Tourism HR Canada Propel Student Work Placement Program.

If your organization is interested, please contact the program coordinator, Christine Baily, at Christine.Baily@DurhamCollege.ca.

Durham Region Arts and Culture Survey

Interested in the future of arts and culture in Durham Region? The Durham Regional Arts Collective, with support from the Region of Durham, is conducting a cultural mapping exercise and they want your input!

Complete the Durham Region Arts and Culture Survey by November 25 to share your thoughts on the current and future state of arts and culture in our region.

Please reach out to DurhamArtsAndCulture@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments.

Final intake for Central Counties Tourism

2023-24 Partnership Opportunities Program

The Central Counties Tourism (CCT) Partnership Opportunities Program provides an opportunity for organizations to garner funding for tourism projects that will impact the visitor economy.

So far this year, 59 tourism organizations from across York, Durham and Headwaters have been supported by the program, with one remaining intake period. The final intake period for the 2023-24 Program closes on December 15 at 3 p.m.

Good luck to all the applicants in this final intake, and a reminder that it is a highly competitive program—where the number of submitted applications regularly exceeds the total funds available. As such, not all projects can be supported.

Learn more about the CCT 2023-24 Partnership Opportunities Program.

Updates to Temporary Foreign Worker Program and Labour Market Impact Assessment

On October 26, the federal government introduced changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Employers in sectors like food service, hospitality, and accommodations can still hire up to 30 per cent of their workforce through the TFWP for positions paying below the provincial/territorial median hourly wage. The maximum employment duration for positions below this wage threshold remains at two years. However, the government reduced the LMIA validity period from 18 months to 12 months.

The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario is encouraging the federal government to revisit the LMIA requirements under the TFWP to ensure the TFWP meets the needs of the tourism and hospitality industry.

Learn more about updates to the TFWP program.

Ontario Government Launches

Electric Vehicle ChargeON Program

The Government of Ontario has launched the Electric Vehicle (EV) ChargeON Program, offering funding to eligible applicants for the installation of public electric vehicle chargers in communities across Ontario—particularly those outside major cities.

The charging stations must be publicly accessible 24/7 and meet certain specifications for Level 2 and Level 3 ports. The maximum funding available per project is $1 million, with funding capped at 75 per cent of the total cost for municipalities and Indigenous businesses, organizations and communities, and 50 per cent for all other applicants.

The deadline to apply is January 31, 2024 at 5 p.m.

Learn more about the EV ChargeON Program.

Indigenous Tourism Ontario and

Sport Tourism Canada Partnership

Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO) has officially partnered through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sport Tourism Canada (STC), recognizing the organization as their national supporting partner with ITO's undertaking of a provincial Indigenous sport tourism strategy. The signing took place at the 2023 Ontario Tourism Summit, held on the Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit.

This is the second sport tourism MOU that ITO has collaborated on during its current fiscal operating year, with the first taking place in August 2023 with Golf Ontario and the Indigenous Ontario Golf Championship. This collaborative work signifies a significant step forward in building a bridge between Indigenous communities and the sport tourism sector. It will provide a framework for the development of meaningful partnerships, mutual support, and the exchange of knowledge and resources—ultimately contributing to the growth of Indigenous sport tourism strategy for Ontario.

Read the complete announcement.

For unique trip ideas or to plan your perfect day, visit DurhamTourism.ca, or call 1-800-413-0017. If this information is required in an accessible format, contact Durham Tourism.