Durham Tourism
Industry
Report
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Connecting, engaging and informing Durham Tourism's valued stakeholders
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Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa
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Happy New Year from Durham Tourism
While it was a fantastic year of advancing partnerships and tourism programming within the region in 2019, here at Durham Tourism we are excited to continue building on this momentum in 2020.
Have an event this year? Post it, tag it, and share it with us! Submit your events to our free, online
events calendar. Not only will your event receive some prime real estate on our calendar, it may also be shared via social media and be featured on the website homepage!
You can also tag us in your photos with @DurhamTourism for a chance to be featured on our Instagram channel!
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Tourism Industry Highlights
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Ron Fellows appointed to Order of Canada
One of North America's most versatile and successful road racing drivers and a proud Durham Region business owner,
Ron Fellows was recently appointed to the Order of Canada. Fellows was appointed as a member of the Order of Canada for the excellence of his multidisciplinary career in motor racing.
The
Order of Canada was created in 1967 and is one of our country’s highest honours. Presented by the Governor General, the Order honours people whose service shapes our society, whose innovations ignite our imaginations, and whose compassion unites our communities. Though the contributions of appointees may vary, they have all enriched the lives of others and have taken to heart the motto of the Order: Desiderantes Meliorem Patriam (“They desire a better country”).
In addition to his long career in motorsport racing, Ron is a co-owner of the
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, the leading racing and automotive performance facility in Canada. CTMP also features on-track thrills through the
Ron Fellows Driving Experience, hosted by the Fellows family. The program, designed by Ron, includes classroom instruction, a product performance presentation and on-track coaching from Ron’s high-performance driving team in a controlled environment.
Congratulations Ron!
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Oshawa Music Week
This year, Durham Region, and the Durham Tourism and Invest Durham brands have embarked on an exciting marketing activation partnering with Oshawa Music Week as a platinum sponsor; as well as presenting sponsor of the Industry Leadership Award for the
Oshawa Music Awards on
April 4 (nominations for the Oshawa Music Awards close
January 15).
This is a great opportunity to support and celebrate the development of local music talent and culture within the Durham Region. Oshawa Music Week is six days of entertaining and educational events, celebrating the region’s rich music culture. The festival strives to develop, grow, support and unite the music community within the city of Oshawa and throughout Durham Region. Live music, showcasing the Region’s musical talent; a music summit; a songwriting competition; a lip-sync battle; and the Oshawa Music Awards, recognize contributors to the local music industry. Winners are chosen by the community, which makes this a week both for music lovers and aspiring musicians.
The Oshawa Music Awards aim to acknowledge key contributors aiding in the growth of Durham Region’s music business economy; providing a platform that highlights and nurtures its progression.
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41,000 feet of pure fun: Playdium
Playdium recently opened their newest location in Whitby in
November 2019. A place to dream big, be bold and play without limits, Playdium offers classic arcade and video games, virtual reality experiences, bowling, and a thrilling ropes course (with zipline!).
Between rounds, visitors can fuel up with snacks (nachos, fries, or a slice of ‘za) or enjoy a sit-down meal at the Playdium Eatery (think tacos, sliders, and bowls). Playdium Whitby can also be booked for the ultimate birthday party, team building or school outing event.
Playdium Whitby is located at 75 Consumers Drive, in the Whitby Entertainment Centrum.
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Save the date for the Central Counties Annual Symposium 2020
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Gathering for Growth!
Circle
March 30 in your calendar and watch for details on registration coming soon.
- Central Counties Tourism has an exciting line up of speakers and workshops for members
- Power Panel: Building Strategies for Community and Business Partnerships
- Municipal Accommodation Tax Best Practices
- Trails–Building your Community & Tourism
- Instagram Basics 1–Let’s Get Started!
- Instagram Basics 2–Developing Good Content
- Instagram Content Trends
- Group Travel
Durham Tourism is a Platinum Partner and the City of Pickering and Town of Whitby are Gold Partners of the event. Partnership opportunities are still available for the event.
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Reminder: Celebrate Ontario Grants deadline
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The application deadline for Celebrate Ontario Grants is
Tuesday, January 21 at 5 p.m.
This program supports festivals and events, offering visitors and residents the best of the world in one province, all year long!
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Gens game national broadcast
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live
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The Canadian Hockey League is getting some prime screen time on Sportsnet’s broadcast spotlight with exclusive national coverage of the 2019-20 CHL season.
Durham’s own
Oshawa Generals face off against the Kingston Frontenacs on
January 25 at the
Tribute Communities Centre. Support the Gens by promoting the event, to ensure there is a sold out crowd for the live broadcast on
Sportsnet. The puck drops at 2:05 p.m. Go #GensNation!
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Certify your business with Ontario By Bike™ this year
Durham Tourism has renewed a three-year partnership with
Ontario by Bike
(OBB) and will also be distributing the Durham Cycle Tours Map through OBB at the various trade shows they attend each year. Additionally, Durham Tourism will have a half-page ad in the 2020 Cycling in Ontario magazine. This annual resource is highly anticipated by cyclists who avidly read it each year, and make use of the guide to plan their cycling adventures in Ontario.
Durham Region c
urrently has
110 Ontario by Bike Certified businesses
, which is the third highest number in the province, behind Niagara Region and southeastern Ontario. Why should you register? According to statistics from Ontario, Quebec and around the world, cycle tourists spend more and stay longer; earn above average incomes; are a growing market segment; and can have a significant impact on your business and regional tourism product!
The Ontario By Bike Network is run in each region with a financial commitment from regional tourism partners or municipal governments. It is free to add your business to the OBB network and we encourage businesses to take advantage of this service. Benefits of registering include:
- Access to Ontario By Bike Network workshop(s).
- An exclusive online business profile listing for your location, including listing approval, registration assistance as required, mailing of welcome package with print copies of the "Regional Cycling Resource" and "Network Participant Tool Kit", and an Ontario By Bike window decal and promotional materials.
The
Ontario By Bike Network offers cyclists a variety of information on cycling in Ontario, inspiring visitors and residents to explore more by bike. The network is open to accommodations, food services, attractions, cycling related businesses and organizations interested in cycle tourism.
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Have your say on the future of
broadband access in Durham
Durham Region recognizes the importance of adequate broadband infrastructure for the well-being and economic competitiveness of the region’s residents, businesses and institutions. It’s a vital piece of modern infrastructure that prepares us for the digital future.
Broadband access is a necessity for every household and business.
That’s why we have launched separate broadband surveys—targeted to Durham residents (with additional questions for farms) and businesses—to gather feedback and improve broadband access across the region.
To complete the survey, visit durham.ca/broadband. An accessible print version of the survey will be available from your local municipal office. To receive a copy by mail, please send a request to
[email protected]
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The survey will be available to complete until
April 30, 2020
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January/February 2020
Keep these upcoming sport events on your radar!
Take advantage of Sport Durham’s monthly sport events radar to ensure that your business is prepared to welcome incoming athletes and visitors to Durham Region during key sport events!
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South Courtice Arena, Darlington Sports Centre (Hampton) and Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex (Bowmanville). 40 teams, 720 players.
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86 teams, 1,700 participants.
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Lake Scugog, 215 Water Street, Port Perry
42 teams, 520 players.
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Ajax Community Centre and Village Arena; Art Thompson IcePlex, Don Beer Arena, Pickering Recreation Complex; Canlan Ice Sports (Oshawa) and Darlington Sports Centre (Hampton). 1,700 participants.
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Delpark Homes Centre and the Campus Ice Centre (Oshawa); and Iroquois Park Sports Centre (Whitby).
79 teams, 1,400 participants.
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Connect and engage with Durham Tourism and Sport Durham on our social media pages:
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