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Boost your visitor appeal with Open Skies! Durham Tourism’s adventure planner is the ultimate go-to resource to share at your business.

This beautifully curated magazine features 129 ways to play, stay and support local, making it the perfect companion for guests to discover the best of Durham Region. Reach out to Durham Tourism for information on how to get copies for your business or share the digital version at DurhamTourism.ca/discover. 

P.S. Open Skies is making headlines! It was recently featured in the Toronto Star as well as This Week in Durham Region Stories.

If you’re part of the local food movement or curious to learn more, pull up a chair at the Feast On® Mixer with Ontario’s Culinary Tourism Alliance on November 10 at the Trail Hub’s Nest restaurant in Uxbridge.

The networking event is where members of the restaurant and hospitality community connect, collaborate, and share ideas. It’s also the perfect opportunity for non-certified businesses to discover the benefits of becoming Feast On® certified. 

Want to know who’s already a part of Feast On® in Durham Region? Discover these certified businesses.

Have an upcoming event, festival, or special happening that people should know about? Make sure it’s featured on the Durham Tourism Events Calendar.

Whether you're hosting a live performance, seasonal market, culinary demonstration, or guided tour, submitting your event is a great way to boost visibility to those locals and visitors looking for things to do in Durham Region. It’s free and easy to submit!

Visit DurhamTourism.ca/events and select ‘submit your event’. From here, you’ll be asked to login or create a profile to submit your event details.

Join BACD For Small Business Week

The Business Advisory Centre Durham (BACD) is gearing up for an exciting Small Business Week, and there’s still time to reserve your spot!  

From October 20 to 24, BACD is offering workshops, panels and strategic planning sessions designed to fuel your business growth and future planning. Best of all, nearly every event is free!  

Take your business to the next level with any (or all!) of these workshops and events:   

October 20: Understanding Financial Statements  

October 21: AI for Marketing  

October 22: Reignite Conference 

October 22: Fundamentals of Buying and Selling a Business   

October 23: Securing Your Online Presence 

October 23: Clarington Local: Side Gig Bootcamp   

October 24: We Mean Business Networking Lunch

The Region of Durham is inviting businesses to join a virtual session on bicycle parking as part of ongoing efforts to make cycling more convenient and accessible.   

The online session happens on October 22 from 11 a.m. to noon. This is a chance to give your business’ input on how the Region can improve bike parking for customers as well as staff. You’ll also learn more about the Region’s Bicycle Parking Guidelines Project and be able to ask questions. If you’re interested in attending, email Danielle Culp, project manager of this initiative, at Danielle.Culp@durham.ca.  

The development of bicycle parking guidelines was recommended as part of the 2021 Durham Regional Cycling Plan, which sets out a vision for a more connected and bike-friendly region.

As part of Whitby Local Business Week (October 20 to 24), join Invest Whitby for a discussion about the tourism sector.

Happening October 23 at the Port Whitby Marina from 5 to 7 p.m., the Tourism and Wellness panel will include four local tourism experts who will discuss trends, opportunities and the future of tourism and wellness in Whitby. This free event is a chance to gain insights, network with industry peers, and help spotlight the role tourism plays in Whitby’s economy.

Connect with the creative community and explore the artistry in film and TV at a free special effects (SPFX) makeup workshop.

Hosted by the Durham Region International Film Festival (DRIFF) and the CMU College of Makeup Art and Design, this hands-on event takes place October 25 at the Biltmore Theatre in Oshawa. It’s an exciting chance to see step-by-step how SPFX makeup brings characters to life with effects such as zombie, cuts and bruises, burns, and frostbite. Audience members will also have the opportunity to be transformed. 

The workshop is one of many exciting events happening October 23 to 25 at DRIFF. Check out the full DRIFF lineup, grab your tickets at driff.ca and help celebrate film, creativity and community across Durham Region.

A public meeting will be held on October 27 at 6 p.m. for residents of Brock Township to learn more about proposed policy changes for agriculture-related and on-farm diversified uses

.  

Alongside the Townships of Scugog and Uxbridge, Brock is proposing to update its Official Plan and Zoning By-law to implement recommendations from the North Durham Agriculture-Related and On-Farm Diversified Uses Study. The project looked at ways to build a thriving, resilient north Durham by supporting expanded business opportunities for farmers and agriculture-supporting businesses, while balancing farmland protection. 

People can attend the meeting in Council Chambers or watch live online. A recording will be posted afterwards. This is an opportunity to hear about the proposed changes, ask questions, and provide feedback. Those wishing to speak should email clerks@brock.ca or call 705-432-2355 and request the clerk’s department. The amendments are still under review, and no decisions will be made at this meeting. To read more about Brock’s proposed amendments, visit the Township’s website.

The application deadline for the Ontario Arts Council Visual Arts Projects is coming up on October 28.

The program is designed to connect the work of professional Ontario visual artists with audiences as well as promote initiatives that benefit the visual arts community. Projects may include exhibitions, festivals, catalogues/publications, curatorial research, and residency programs but must have a component that takes place in Ontario. 

Applications are open to independent curators, Ontario-based groups, collectives and not-for-profit visual arts organizations (artist-run centres and public galleries), and other not-for-profit arts organizations presenting visual arts projects.

Don’t miss your chance to grow your business’ reach and impact through the Central Counties Tourism (CCT) Partnership Program. Applications are open for the next intake for this matching-funds program, due December 15 at 3 p.m. 

The CCT Partnership Program is open to tourism businesses, organizations, and event organizers within the regions of York, Durham or Headwaters and covers projects through March 31, 2026. 

New this year is a partnership program for small business support to help local operators access the resources they need to grow and thrive.

Gather at the Farm is driving fall tourism across Durham Region. This year's campaign features nearly two dozen farms, markets, and fall events.

Throughout October, Gather at the Farm invites people to explore the best of Durham’s rural charm—from apple picking and corn mazes to fresh-baked goods and family-friendly experiences. It’s a celebration of the people and places that make Durham a unique destination and a reminder of how tourism and agriculture can work together.

Did you happen to spot Durham during your latest TV binge? When you’re streaming the new Netflix hit, Wayward, keep an eye out for Hy-Hope Farm and Golf Course in Ashburn! Their market was used as the interior of the Tall Pines general store. Learn more about filming in Durham Region. 

Looking for an inspiring spot to create, connect, and caffeinate? The Wellington Lofts is a coworking space that is ideal for entrepreneurs at any stage of their journey. This beautifully restored heritage building offers creative studios, available by the day or hour, private offices, event space and that all important in-house café. Read our blog to find out how The Wellington Lofts can work for you. 

After more than a decade of floral design and three years as a flower bar at Pink Lemon Decor, Aspen Florist is planting roots with its very first storefront in downtown Bowmanville.  Stop by for a bouquet, giftware or place an order for your next special occasion.

Durham Escape Rooms in Whitby celebrates a decade of puzzles, teamwork, and fun this October! For ten years, they’ve been challenging and entertaining Durham Region. Join them in celebrating at an upcoming event this month. Here’s to many more clues being uncovered and locks cracked! 

Step into some of Whitby’s hidden gems and landmark spaces with Doors Open Whitby on October 18. It’s a rare chance to explore these heritage buildings and modern marvels. Check the Doors Open Whitby website for a list of participating sites and times. 

Vendors and performers are invited to be part of Pickering’s Winter Wonderland. Applications are being accepted until October 31 for the holiday event which runs December 6 and 13 at Millennium Square. Get the details and apply online. 

Current News & Trends

Sundays is setting the bar for sustainable dining. The Uxbridge eatery earned a Michelin green star for its seasonal menu using ingredients sourced directly from their farm and others nearby, and for its work training future farm workers. Read the full story on their sustainability efforts.

Narcity recently showcased why Durham Region proudly holds the title of Apple Capital of Canada. From orchard experiences to apple treats and drinks, their feature captures some of the best fall experiences in Durham! Read the full story. 

As part of its 70th anniversary celebrations, the Town of Ajax has officially opened the Ajax Fairgrounds. Find out in this INsauga article, why the fairgrounds and the surrounding green space are the first of its kind in Durham Region.  

Congratulations to Beyond Tartan for their grand opening on Queen Street in Port Perry. Beyond Tartan is committed to continuing the 27-year legacy of The Wee Tartan Shop. Check out what’s in store. 

Durham Region International Film Festival (DRIFF)’s feature film on October 23, Nika and Madison, is part of a recent burst of Indigenous-made cinema. Learn more about how Indigenous cinema is making waves and becoming more recognized than ever before. 

Things You Kill—Canada’s Oscar submission for best international feature—screens at DRIFF on October 24. In this CBC article, Toronto Director, Alireza Khatami shares how his psychological thriller draws from personal family trauma. Get tickets to DRIFF. 

DREAMS! Music Awards, formerly known as the Oshawa Music Awards, got a shoutout on Billboard Canada. Read the article. 

Business owners can take a cue from travel pros when it comes to showcasing your work with photography. This Globe and Mail feature offers tips on how to create lasting impressions. 

Some of Durham Region’s art studios are featured in this profile piece in the Globe and Mail, showcasing the creativity and storytelling that turns fall into inspiration.