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Live music plays a vital role in Durham Region. If your business contributes to the scene by hosting performances, partnering with local artists or supporting music in other ways, be a part of Beyond the Music: Venues and Tech Readiness.

The free session takes place on October 2 at the BOND|ST Event Centre in Oshawa from 3 to 8 p.m. Connect while enjoying light refreshments and join one of two concurrent workshops:

• Ask Us Anything – Live Music Venues Panel: Four industry experts and a host share insights on running a successful, sustainable live music venue. 

• Everything You Wanted to Know About IEM Racks For Your Indie Band: Thinking about switching your band to In Ear Monitors (IEMs)? Learn how to advance your technical requirements to venues and at events. 

The event wraps up with a Local Artist Jam session, an open stage supporting musicians of all ages.

This Beyond the Music opportunity was created in partnership with Invest Durham, the Canadian Musicians Cooperative, BOND|ST Event Centre and the Local Artist Jam team. Registration is required and spots are limited.

The Council of the Township of Scugog is holding a Statutory Public Meeting on September 15 for people to learn more about proposed changes to the Township’s Official Plan and Zoning By-law.

The Township is updating its Official Plan and Zoning By-law to address recommendations from the North Durham Agriculture-Related and On-Farm Diversified Uses Study. The main objectives of the study are to support economic viability within the rural and agricultural areas of north Durham by better enabling agriculture-related and on-farm diversified uses and in doing so, help farmers. 

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the upper level of the Township of Scugog Municipal Office. This is an opportunity to hear about the proposed changes, ask questions, and provide feedback. The meeting can be livestreamed at scugog.ca/council. A recording will also be available after the meeting.     

To review Scugog’s draft amendments and meeting details, visit the My Scugog page.

The Townships of Brock and Uxbridge are also implementing recommendations from the same study through their own land use planning processes. 

Central Counties Tourism (CCT) is offering two learning opportunities that will help tourism businesses sharpen their strategy and build deeper connections with visitors.

On September 17 from noon to 1 p.m., join CCT for its Data Crunch series, Introduction to Tourism Data. This virtual lunch and learn will explore tourism data sources, the types of questions data can answer, and real-life examples where data has led to positive change, funding opportunities, and marketable insights.

CCT also offers a free self-paced e-learning course called Tourism Route Development. Learn how to create compelling, multi-stop visitor experiences through the use of real-world examples from York, Durham, and Headwaters.

Join The 2025 DREAMS! Music Summit And Awards 

Be a part of the DREAMS! Music Summit on September 20 at BOND|ST Event Centre in Oshawa. Formerly known as the Oshawa Music Awards, DREAMS! honours excellence in Durham Region’s music scene. The summit offers an educational seminar, workshop, live performances and networking opportunities. 

Plus, don’t miss the DREAMS! Music Awards on September 21 honouring local artists, producers, promoters and industry leaders.

Whitby Tourism has launched a new grant program that offers up to $5,000 to support events that bring visitors to Whitby and boost the local economy.  

Whether you're growing an existing event or planning something brand new, the Host in Whitby grant program can help you create welcoming, inclusive, and tourism-driven experiences that strengthen Whitby’s reputation as a vibrant destination.

Owner/operators, private event organizers, and not-for-profit organizations hosting events in Whitby are eligible to apply. Applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis with the next intake deadline on October 1.

The Government of Canada has launched an initiative to help people better understand product labels and make informed choices that support our economy.

The “Made in Canada” campaign breaks down the difference between “Made in Canada” and “Product of Canada” labels, offers tips for spotting misleading claims and helps consumers shop smarter.  

For businesses and destination operators, featuring Canadian-made products is a great way to support local producers and promote local pride. However, if your business plans to market products as Canadian-made or use official Canadian symbols, be sure to follow the official guidelines.

The Ontario Tourism Summit is coming to Ottawa on October 28 and 29. Hosted by the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO), the conference brings together operators, destinations, municipalities, community leaders, sector associations, and decision-makers from across the province.

This year’s theme, Building Your Business, Living Abundantly, and Collaboration, is focused on helping tourism leaders build business resilience and sustainable growth and enjoy collaborative success. 

There will be expert-led sessions that offer hands-on learning, speaker sessions and the opportunity to connect with hundreds of industry professionals.

Build your team while investing in the future of the tourism workforce. Tourism HR Canada’s Propel Student Work Placement Program offers tourism and hospitality employers access to wage subsidies when they hire a post-secondary student for work-integrated learning: an internship, a co-op placement, a work experience placement, and more.

Students gain paid hands-on learning and mentoring in their field of study while employers acquire early talent to help with the growth of the industry, as well as assistance with wages. A webinar will be held on September 25 to learn more about the program and how to apply. This program is funded by the Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program.

A quarter of a century and still going strong! A toast to Applewood Farm and Winery as they celebrate 25 years of crafting award-winning fruit wines, ciders, and mead in Port Perry. Join the celebration by gathering at the farm this season and enjoying their limited edition 25th anniversary mead. 

Discover how local flavour meets trail adventure in this farm-to-fark partnership between the Trail Hub and Sargent Family Dairy. Sargent’s squeaky-fresh, small-batch cheese curds come straight from their Enniskillen farm to Trail Hub’s trail-side poutine. Their dairy is also used in other delicious dishes at Nest, Trail Hub’s on-site restaurant. Read their story. 

Bright new beginnings are on the horizon for Paisley’s The Wee British Shoppe and Romancing The Home. After losing their storefronts in the downtown Bowmanville fire in March, both businesses are preparing to move into a brand-new space. Their fresh start is set to begin later this month, right across the street from their old home on King Street.

Current News & Trends

Have you checked out Durham Tourism’s Open Skies adventure planner? Find out why this should be your go-to resource to inspire visitors with 129 unforgettable ways to play, stay, and spend local in Durham Region. Email Durham Tourism to ask about copies for your business. 

Durham Region’s agri-tourism sector is highlighted this fall with two standout events. Gather at the Farm features nearly two dozen farms, markets and fall-themed events that highlight the region’s rural experiences. While Durham’s Apple Adventure invites visitors to explore orchards, cideries, bakeries and markets for a taste of local apple culture.

Film Durham is offering a one-of-a-kind bus tour of filming locations from the TV series The Way Home. The October 4 tour includes stops at filming locations around Durham Region, behind-the-scenes stories and a boxed lunch. Learn more about the bus tour.

Forward Motion - A Strategic Playbook for Ontario’s Tourism Industry lays out a tourism plan for 2025 to 2030. Initiated by the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, the plan lays out steps to drive investment, attract talent, diversify and grow tourism across the province. Find out where tourism in Ontario is headed. 

When a tornado struck in 2022, The Second Wedge Brewing Co. didn't just rebuild, they reimagined everything. In this video by Meridian Credit Union, watch how resilience and community offered a new beginning for the Uxbridge craft brewery. 

Al’deewan Bakery was recently spotlighted for its expansion into Oshawa, bringing its signature Lebanese manakeesh and desserts. Check out the recent inSauga feature. 

The City of Pickering is offering residents another way to get around by launching a Shared E-Scooter Pilot Program. Learn more about how the project will work.