OCTOBER 2016

IN THIS ISSUE
 
Headwaters Tourism earns provincial recognition as awards finalist

On October 5, 2016 the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC), along with the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) and the Culinary Tourism Alliance (CTA) announced the finalists for the 2016 Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence.

Headwaters Tourism, the small Ontario destination marketing organization representing Dufferin County and the Towns of Caledon, Erin, Mono and Shelburne has been named a finalist in four categories:
  • Tourism Marketing Campaign Under $25K for the Headwaters: Where Ontario Gets Real brand launch
  • Tourism Print Collateral Award for the Headwaters 2015 Four-Season Visitors' Guide
  • Tourism Innovator of the Year for the Headwaters Parade of Horses
  • Travel Media Photography Award -  John Church (cover photography for Headwaters 2015 Glow, Snow & Go Guide)
Headwaters Tourism is also proud to announce that one of the region's premier tourism businesses, Spirit Tree Estate Cidery has also been named a finalist in the Ontario Culinary Tourism Event of the Year category for their Family Day Wassailing Festival.

The Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence are presented annually to celebrate success and are an opportunity to recognize those who have made significant contributions to Ontario's tourism industry.  Winners will be announced on November 22, 2016.

  Read the full story--> 
 
2016 Headwaters Tourism Awards - Nominations NOW OPEN

Nominations are open for the 2016 Headwaters Tourism Awards. Every year Headwaters
Tourism celebrates excellence in the tourism and hospitality industry during our regional Headwaters Tourism Awards ceremony.

Headwaters Tourism is currently seeking nominations for our 2016 Headwaters Tourism Awards.
Please consider submitting nominations in any (or all) of the award categories, and help us recognize those businesses or individuals who help showcase the best of Headwaters: Where Ontario Gets Real.

All nominations must be for businesses or individuals from the Headwaters region and for work taking place between October 1st, 2015 through to September 30th, 2016.

Deadline for submissions:  November 10th, 2016

 
 
 
Headwaters Tourism garners recognition at the national level
  
On September 14, 2016 the Tourism Industry Association of Canada announced the finalists for the 2016 Canadian Tourism Awards. Headwaters Tourism, the small Ontario destination marketing organization representing Dufferin County and the Towns of Caledon, Erin, Mono and Shelburne has been named a finalist in two categories: The Visa Innovator of the Year Award for the Headwaters Parade of Horses, and the Fairmont Marketing Campaign of the Year Award for the "Where Ontario Gets Real" campaign.

The Canadian Tourism Awards are presented annually to celebrate success, leadership and innovation in Canada's travel and tourism industry and recognize those who go above and beyond to offer superior tourism experiences in Canada. This year they received over 130 incredible submissions, which were narrowed down three finalists in each category by their expert panel of judges.  Winners will be announced on November 30, 2016.

Read the full story. 
 
Reserve your space in the Headwaters 2017 Four-Season Visitors' Guide
  
The award-winning Headwaters Four-Season Visitors' Guide is the region's only out-of-market publication, inviting visitors from across southern Ontario to visit Headwaters, this publication will help your business capitalize on the over 876,000 visitors that come to Headwaters every year. 
We are very proud that the Headwaters region is being recognized and receiving awards & accolades for showcasing the best of Where Ontario Gets Real:

Be part of the story, and advertise your business to visitors from across southern Ontario.  This 2017 Headwaters Visitor Guide will be once again distributed across southern Ontario through the Globe & Mail, in Ontario Tourism Information Centres, and throughout the Headwaters region.




Celebrate Ontario 2017 funding program - now accepting applications  

Celebrate Ontario is an annual program that helps festivals and events enhance their programs, activities and services. This support helps grow tourism in the province by making it easier for event organizers to offer new and improved experiences that will attract more tourists and increase visitor spending.

Central Counties Tourism will be bringing representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Sport to Headwaters (Hockley Valley Resort) on October 18th to provide information about what's new for next year and to provide key information on applying for funding. Don't miss this opportunity to have your questions answered. 

Submission deadline:  November 8, 2016
Ontario Tourism Celebrate Ontario application workshop:  October 18, 2016 

   
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Municipal Agricultural Economic Development Forum   
 
Hosted by the Town of Caledon and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, this is an opportunity for those involved in municipal and local economic development that have agriculture and food (farming, food processing, agri-tourism, bio-fuel) in their portfolio to network share successes, and learn more about programs targeted to the agricultural sector. 

Conference dates:  November 2nd & 3rd, 2016 
 
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FEO 2017 Awards Program now accepting nominations 

Symposium '16 for performing arts in rural communities

In creating the program for the SPARC Symposium, it was recognized that knowledge about presenting, producing, creating, animating, and administering in the performing arts in rural areas is held by different people, organizations, and groups. As a result, SPARC will be bringing together more than 30 speakers from across Canada - and internationally -  providing 20 workshops and 3 thought-provoking and informative plenaries, and a broad range of regional performances and entertainment - all taking place within a rural context.

SPARC Symposium 2016 - October 27th to 30th
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Premier's Awards for Excellence in the Arts - nominations now open 
 
Are you passionate about the arts, consider yourself a fan or simply admire an artist or arts organization whose work has left an impression?   The Premier's Awards for Excellence in the Arts are your chance to applaud them. Nominate an Ontario artist or arts organization today.

Submission deadline:  December 1st, 2016
 
 
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FEO Municipality of the Year - nominations now open


Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) invites your municipality to apply for the 2017 FEO Festival & Event Municipality of the Year Award. FEO is pleased to recognize those municipalities that have created a supportive atmosphere for the achievement of successful festivals and events.

Submission deadline:  November 18, 2016 
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Orangeville & Area Career Fair

This event will host local employers/agencies who are interested in promoting both their businesses and job opportunities to commuters and other job-seekers considering work within the Dufferin region.  A variety of sectors will be represented including manufacturing, professional services, construction, retail, and hospitality.

Orangeville & Area Career Fair:  November 8th, 2016 

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Ontario Arts Council announces new funding framework
 
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Humber College 2017 internship opportunities

Humber College's School of Hospitality, Recreation & Tourism offers opportunities for employers to engage and support students registered in a variety of programs each year through their internship programs. This  is a wonderful opportunity for employers to meet and work with some of the future employees in our industry - a benefit to both your business and the students themselves. Consider participating in one of these programs in 2017 and help build the future of our industry.

 
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Humber College free annual Career Fair   
 
This is your opportunity to meet and pre-screen potential internship students for the 2017 season who will be graduating in June or October; promote your company to over 500 students; meeting potential students for the winter or summer seasons (part-time, full-time or seasonal).  This free Career Fair is offered by the Humber College School of Hospitality, Recreation & Tourism   
 
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Ontario BIA return on investment project

The Ontario BIA Association (OBIAA) and the Toronto Association of BIAs, have begun a project to measure the Return on Investment of BIAs throughout Ontario to help establish the level of impact that your BIA is having in communities.
   
 
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Central Counties Tourism    

Central Counties members have access to 150+ complimentary recorded tourism marketing webinars
.Take advantage of these free webinars to help grow your business.




REGI STER NOW - 2016 ONTARIO TOURISM SUMMIT     
 
Join hundreds of tourism professionals on November 21st & 22nd, 2016 at The Westin Ottawa for the 12th Annual Ontario Tourism Summit.

The Ontario Tourism Summit is the only provincial industry-wide business conference for members of the Ontario tourism industry to learn the latest trends, share new ideas and best practices, network with colleagues, and recognize industry leaders at the Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence.
 

REGISTER NOW - 2016 TIAC TOURISM CONGRESS      
 
Mark your calendars and start making plans to join your tourism sector colleagues at the 2016 edition of the Tourism Congress, TIAC's annual conference. This November, the Tourism Congress will be held at the Hotel Lac Leamy, close to Parliament Hill and the heart of government activity in Canada. Delegates from across the country will once again converge on the capital region and interact with the elected officials and decision-makers whose departments and agencies impact the travel and tourism industry. 


Spirit Tree Estate Cidery named finalist for Ontario Best Culinary Event of the Year


Spirit Tree Estate Cidery was recently named a finalist as the best culinary event in the province for their annual Family Day Wassailing event. The festival draws on the history of cider and the historical art of wassailing, which is the practice of singing to trees in apple orchards in cider producing regions of England to promote a good harvest for the coming year. The annual Wassailing Festival is an exciting opportunity to share the cider making process with the community.

Read the announcement-->

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Distilling returns to Grand Valley

Proudly proclaiming their Headwaters pride, Grand Valley's Grand Spirits distillery is making news across the province.  Most recently, Jamie & Sheila Stam spoke to the Canadian Restaurant News about their vision for building the first legal distillery in the Headwaters region in over a hundred years.
 

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Caledon Walk of Fame honours Ken Weber 
 
The Caledon Walk of Fame honours current or past Caledon residents who have made significant contributions locally, nationally and internationally. On October 1st, Ken Weber, father of four, educator, author and historian was on hand when the Town of Caledon unveiled his place on the Walk of Fame alongside past honourees that include sports entrepreneur Conn Smythe, art collectors Robert and Signe McMichael, writer Farley Mowat and film director Norman Jewison. Congratulations to Mr. Weber on this significant recognition. 
 


 
CANADA 150 CELEBRATIONS IN HEADWATERS
 
Headwaters Tourism has developed a planning calendar for Canada 150 celebrations taking place in the region. The purpose of the shared calendar is to encourage event organizers to consider events throughout the entire year and avoid challenges with too many activities happening on the same dates.

We encourage event organizers to not only submit their events to us for inclusion in the planning calendar, but also to review the Canada 150 planning calendar before booking your event date.


Share your plans for Canada 150 with us-->
 

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TOWN OF SHELBURNE NAMED A CANADA 150 GARDEN LOCATION 
 
Shelburne will be one of 150 red and white tulip gardens planted across the country to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday in 2017. More than 400 applications were submitted for the celebration garden program. The tulips are being distributed by the Canada Garden Council and each garden will receive and equal number of red and white tulips.

 
 

 

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS VIA HEADWATERS TOURISM MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES 

 

FREE tourism business, event & news listings  

 

If you operate a tourism related business, we invite you to register your business for free and be part of the region's largest tourism-focused website. With thousands of unique visitors each month on the Headwaters website , your business will benefit from additional exposure at NO COST, and be linked to the Central Counties Tourism website that also gets thousands of unique visitors monthly. This is an opportunity to engage numerous unique visitors each month at NO COST to your business.  

 

What are you waiting for - sign up now!

 

Thank you to all our Leading with the Best partners who work in partnership with us to help promote Headwaters as Ontario's premier rural tourism destination Where Ontario Gets Real.
 
If you are actively engaged in the tourism industry in Headwaters and are looking to expand your marketing reach, we encourage you to consider our  Leading with the Best program. Businesses that take part in our program are promoted as leading tourism experiences to consumers and become part of our targeted and featured promotions in Headwaters through our digital and social media platforms. 
 
Call or email our Leading With the Best Program Manager to get more information on how Headwaters Tourism can market your business to tourists.

Stephany St.Louis | 905.587.0178 
 
 
LEADING WITH THE BEST - DEVELOPMENT SERIES
 
Headwaters Tourism will be offering a series of tourism development workshops for our Leading With the Best partners. These workshops are designed to assist our partners in further enhancing and growing their business through specific tourism opportunities, as well as providing an opportunity for these market-ready businesses to liaise, network and build partnerships with other like-minded businesses and colleagues.


Monday, October 24th - 10:30 am to 12noon
Digital Marketing Tools for the Tourism Industry

Monday, January 30th, 2017 - 10:30 am to 12noon
Creating Content That Visitors Will Love

These workshops are available to all Leading With the Best partners at no cost. Registration is required.


Register to attend-->


 
LOOK WHAT YOU MISSED IF YOU'RE NOT FOLLOWING HEADWATERS  

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KEEP US UP-TO-DATE ON EVENTS AND NEWSWORTHY HAPPENINGS  

 

Let us know about your events and newsworthy happenings so that we can help promote all that makes the Headwaters region special.

   

If you have press releases and photos about newsworthy events and happenings, please send them directly to our attention at media@headwaters.ca