In Today's Update
- A Message from NOTO's Executive Director
- Northern Ontario Tourism Training Week - Registration & Session Highlights
- 2021 Fall Economic Statement Highlights
- Ontario to Raise Minimum Wage
- Ontario Appoints New Chair and Vice-Chair of Ontario Northland Transportation Commission
- Webinar: Insight for employers on funding and supports in place to help rebuild capacity
- TSNN will be presenting at ORHMA!
- REMINDER: NOTO AGM and Elections
- Safe Travel Stamp
- Renew or Join NOTO! - Early Bird Rates Extended!
We will continue to strive to bring forward pertinent information to the tourism industry as it becomes available. We will also do our best to find answers to your questions. Do not hesitate to contact us. We are here for you.
NOTO Contact Emails:
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A Message from NOTO's Executive Director
Laurie Marcil
Hello Everyone:
Hoping that all of you are beginning to wind down and taking some time for yourselves to enjoy the fall colours and relax from the last two seasons of stress and worry. I know we are not through this yet but we have to take time to be reflect on the things that we have overcome.
As I prepare my Year in review report for our upcoming AGM I am proud of what we have accomplished and the support we have been able to provide to our resource-based tourism sector but I am very aware that we have much to do. I thank all of our existing and 60 new members that have given us their support. Your membership is what keeps us moving forward. For those members who have not yet renewed, we thank you for your pledge to support us and understand that your financial situation may be preventing you from making your payment at this time but encourage you not to forget how important your support is. If you are unsure if you have paid your 2021 membership, please email kate@noto.net to find out.
We are also very thankful to our governments and valued tourism partners who have helped us with funding for specific NOTO projects over the last two years that have helped us provide more assistance to our sector operators.
As you all reflect now on your bookings for 2022, I know that many of you are looking at postponed trips from your American guests and wondering if border restrictions will lift or lessen to provide more certainty with your bookings. Let me assure you that our Northern Border Working Group will be putting forth some recommendations that we hope will reduce barriers for your guests around testing. We will make every effort to get changes to border restrictions around pre-arrival testing and random testing as soon as possible so that you can plan with your guests.
Many of you have asked us about whether the border may open to non-vaccinated travellers. Based on everything that we have heard and seen, it is very unlikely that unvaccinated guests will be permitted to enter Canada for 2022. This reality may cause your bookings to look a little less crowded than they did just a moment ago. We know that you will need to make a plan for how to handle deposits for those guests that do not intend to get vaccinated. We encourage you to share with us and others how you are considering approaching the situation. Over the coming weeks we would like to share options that operators are taking with all of you to help you make some of those hard decisions.
My last message for all of you today is to register for the Fall Tourism Training Week that will be held November 16th to the 19th. Details are below. Destination Northern Ontario and NOTO have built a suite of virtual sessions that are meant to help our tourism sector build strength for the road ahead. We will also hear messages from our Ministers of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Cultures Industries, and Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry over our 4 day event. Please check out the schedule of sessions and sign up ahead of time.
Remember to take time for yourselves and check in on others.
Be well,
Laurie
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Join us virtually this year for our
Northern Ontario Tourism Training Week!
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How do I register for each
Training Session?
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STEP 1
REGISTER for Northern Ontario Tourism Training Week!
STEP 2
Once registered, open your registration confirmation email and
start building your schedule!
STEP 3
Click on ‘Agenda’ in the left-hand side menu.
Register for each session individually by clicking on the ‘Register Now’ button.
Note: Clicking ’Add to Schedule’ does not register you for the session,
only the ‘Register Now’ button does.
STEP 4
Once you have registered for an individual session, you will receive
an email from GoToWebinar with a link to that session.
If you have registered for multiple sessions, you will receive
multiple GoToWebinar emails.
STEP 5
Click the link in each GoToWebinar email to join that session,
at the specified time and date.
STEP 06
Enjoy your training session!
Joining From A Mobile Device?
STEP 1
Download the EventMobi app from the iPhone or Android app store.
STEP 2
Launch the app and enter the unique event code:
"nottw2021"
STEP 3
Use the app to access event information and build your schedule!
Remember: Clicking ’Add to Schedule’ does not register
you for the session, only the ‘Register Now’ button does.
Don't have a phone? The app can also be found on the web using this URL:
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Weekly Workshop Highlights
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Keynote Speaker: Dr. Karyn Gordon
Leadership and Relationship Expert | Maximizing Performance
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Dr. Karyn Gordon’s purpose is to develop great leaders who drive success both at home and work. A bestselling author and media personality, Gordon has delivered over 1000 keynotes to more than 500 million people across 17 countries — including Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, and government agencies. She draws on her extensive research into leadership, relationships, and emotional intelligence to help audiences foster the skills needed to lead in the 21st century.
Gordon is currently the founder and CEO of DK Leadership, a global leadership coaching company specializing in emotional intelligence skills for organizations and families. Known for her expertise, Gordon is often featured in national media outlets and is currently the leadership and relationship expert on Canada’s #1 daytime show Cityline. She has previously worked with Good Morning America, Forbes, and The New York Times. Her upcoming book, titled The Three Chairs: How Great Leaders Drive Their Teams’ Communication, Productivity, and Engagement, will be released in 2021.
Gordon has a bachelor’s in psychology, a master’s in counseling, and a doctorate in marriage and family. She has also completed several specialty leadership certifications with extensive research into generational differences, leadership, and emotional intelligence.
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NOTO’s 94th Annual General Meeting
Date: Thursday Nov. 18, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Join the Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario's (NOTO) Board of Directors and Staff to review the year and conduct the business of the corporation.
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Becoming the World’s Best Snowmobile Destination - Snowmobile Friendliness Series
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021
Time: 11:00 a.m. EST
Do you speak snowmobile? Do you offer 2-stroke coffee for guests in the morning? Do you have lots of hooks in rooms to hang wet gear? Learn about these and other simple tips and tricks to become super snowmobile friendly this season. Brought to you by the World’s Best Snowmobile Destination project.
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Algoma Kinniwabi Travel Association – Annual General Meeting
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
To our tourism partners: We would like to cordially invite you to the Algoma Kinniwabi Travel Association’s Annual General Meeting. Please join us as we share the Association’s initiatives from this past year.
Special Guest Speakers:
Mark Graves, Chair, Algoma Kinniwabi Travel Association Board of Directors
Heather Bot, Executive Director, Algoma Kinniwabi Travel Association
Melanie Robert, Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, Destination Ontario
David MacLachlan, Executive Director, Destination Northern Ontario
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Algoma Special Edition “Spark” Program – Finalists’ Pitch Session
Date: Friday, Nov. 19, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Six “Spark” Program finalists from across Northern Ontario will pitch ideas on how they would re-imagine or expand their tourism business to a panel of judges at a “Dragon’s Den”-style session. Three winners will be selected to receive a $3000 grant, mentorship plus additional partner support valued at up to $9,500
Pitch Session Judge Panel:
Sara Dekker, Destination Northern Ontario
Heather Bot, Algoma Country
Travis Anderson, Tourism SSM
Tourism Innovator/Entrepreneur - TBA
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Digital Marketing for DMO’s and Sector Organizations
Date: Thursday Nov. 17, 2021
Time: 11:00 a.m. EDT
With a focus on technology and trends Mike will review what it takes to make a difference as a Destination in 2021. This presentation is suitable for all destinations, cities, economic development offices and sector organizations with tourism marketing as a component of their business.
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Inspiring New Francophone Canadians Through Innovative Tourism Experiences
Date: Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021
Time: 11:00 a.m. EDT
As soon as they arrive in Ontario and start to settle, new francophone Canadians are eager to explore and discover their new country and meet with the various communities across Ontario. From being a simple visitor to your region to becoming a resident and an employee, how do you get ready to attract and welcome these new Canadians to your Northern destination?
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Experience Fishing
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021
Time: 3:00 p.m. EDT
Experience Fishing has proven to be an exciting, safe, family inclusive and instructive way to introduce the fun of fishing to beginners. The program is an ideal way for lodges and resorts to reach domestic markets and encourage new anglers including women, families with children and new Canadians to book a package. Take advantage of this free program complete with online training resources designed for your business. Allow Experience Fishing to help you access new markets.
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2021 Fall Economic Statement Highlights
Encouraging Residents to Discover Ontario:
The government is proposing a new temporary Ontario Staycation Tax Credit for 2022. This new Personal Income Tax credit would provide eligible Ontario residents with support of 20 per cent on eligible 2022 accommodation expenses in Ontario of up to $1,000 for an individual or $2,000 for a family. The credit would provide up to a maximum of $200 for an individual and $400 for a family. In total, the credit is expected to provide support of an estimated $270 million in 2022 to about 1.85 million Ontario families.
Improving Connections to Northern Ontario:
The Province continues to work on the development of Ontario Northland train routes to improve transportation in Northeastern Ontario. The Province, the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (ONTC) and Metrolinx are moving forward with feasibility work for a route that would provide service from Toronto. The government committed $5 million through the 2021 Budget to support this feasibility work. Over the last year, the ONTC has conducted tests on the tracks to assess their readiness for service and the amount of work required to restore them to operating condition.
Building High-Speed Internet:
In the 2021 Budget, the Province committed $2.8 billion to make high-speed internet accessible in all regions of the province by the end of 2025, increasing Ontario’s overall investment in broadband to nearly $4 billion over six years beginning in 2019–20. The Province has also successfully partnered with the federal government to invest up to $1.2 billion to connect up to 300,000 households in hundreds of communities through the Improving Connectivity for Ontario (ICON) program and the federal Universal Broadband Fund program. Ontario is also diversifying the province’s broadband infrastructure by investing more than $109 million in Telesat’s next-generation Low Earth Orbit satellite network, to help secure future access to dedicated high-speed bandwidth for local communities. In addition, Ontario is investing in initiatives to improve connectivity in Northern Ontario, including $10.9 million to bring faster internet connections to several First Nations and Northern communities.
Helping Small Businesses Go Digital:
Through the new Small Business Digitization Action Plan, the government is extending and enhancing the Digital Main Street program. Over the next two years, $40 million will be invested in the program to better position Ontario’s businesses to compete and improve the productivity of their workers by:
- Providing small businesses with grants, offering technical training for workers, and digital resources to help businesses reach more customers in person and online;
- Supporting the opening of online stores through the ShopHERE program; and
- Offering access to Digital Service Squads, which provide one-on-one help and access to Digital Transformation Grants that will fund the implementation of digital strategies for small businesses.
The expansion of Digital Main Street is expected to help 36,000 businesses over the course of the next two years. As part of the Action Plan, Ontario is also investing $10 million over the next two years to create a new Small Business Digitization Competence Centre. The competence centre will provide small businesses with training and support for emerging equipment and processes, and help companies understand the benefits of digital adoption.
Working for Workers
The government has a plan:
- To raise the minimum wage for Ontario’s workers to ensure take-home pay can keep up with rising costs while supporting those who helped keep our economy moving throughout the pandemic.
- To propose an extension of the Ontario Jobs Training Tax Credit and to expand the Second Career program, which supports workers who have limited prior work experience and need training to get a job.
To view the full Fall Economic Statement and the remainder of the Government's plans, please click on the button below.
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Ontario to Raise Minimum Wage to $15 an Hour
The Provincial Government has announced that it will introduce legislation that if, passed, will raise minimum wage to $15 an hour effective January 1st, 2022. As part of the proposed change, the Government would also eliminate the special minimum wage rate for liquor servers - they would be entitled to the general minimum wage.
Students under 18, homeworkers, and hunting, fishing and wilderness guides would also see an increase in their special minimum wage rates:
- Students under the age of 18 who work 28 hours a week or less when school is in session, or work during a school break or summer holidays would see an increase from $13.50 to $14.10 an hour.
- Homeworkers (those who do paid work out of their own homes for employers) would see an increase from $15.80 an hour to $16.50 an hour.
- Hunting and fishing guides currently have a minimum rate of $71.75 for working less than five consecutive hours in a day, and $143.55 for working five or more hours in a day. Their new proposed rate would be $75.00 for working less than five consecutive hours in a day, and $150.05 for working five or more hours in a day.
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Ontario Appoints New Chair and Vice-Chair of Ontario Northland Transportation Commission
The Ontario government has appointed Alan Spacek as Chair of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (ONTC) and Robert J. (“RJ”) Falconi as Vice-Chair. The appointments took effect October 28, 2021.
Alan Spacek was Mayor of Kapuskasing from 2006 to 2018 and former President of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities. He has served as Chair of the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation since September 2019. His life’s work has centered on the Northern economy – helping businesses to pursue economic development opportunities and remain competitive.
RJ Falconi was born and raised in North Bay and is the Managing Director of RayleeValleyGroup. A Commissioner of the ONTC since January 2020 and Chair of its Governance Committee, he is also Chair of the Technical Standards and Safety Authority’s Board and a member of the Tarion Warranty Corporation’s Board, the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters’ Ontario Advisory Board and the York Durham Heritage Railway Board.
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Webinar: Insight for employers on funding and supports in place to help rebuild capacity
The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, Employment North, Labour Market Group and ACED, AHCC are coordinating to provide insight to employers on the funding and supports in place to help them hire/build their teams or with training/building their teams’ capacity.
The event is being held virtually on Wednesday November 10th, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am (EST).
The session will include 16 panelists from both the provincial and federal governments, the local employment agencies and the regional tourism organizations. They will be speaking to the current programs that they have in play that might be able to help employers.
If you can't make it to the webinar, you can still register to the event to receive the recording and materials after the event.
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TSNN will be presenting at ORHMA!
Join us at the ORHMA Online Community Roundtable, a gathering of tourism and hospitality thought leaders!
November 09, 2021 at 10 am (EST).
Explore innovative employment solutions in the tourism and hospitality industry! The roundtable will address training and employment gaps through solutions such as Tourism SkillsNet North (TSNN) and SkillsAdvance Ontario (SAO).
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REMINDER: NOTO AGM and Elections
NOTO AGM
The NOTO AGM will be taking place virtually again this year on Thursday, November 18th, from 1pm to 2pm (EST), as part of the Northern Ontario Tourism Training Week.
NOTO Board of Directors Election
Similarly to last year, NOTO members will be able to submit their votes electronically, by mail, or by fax for the NOTO Board of Directors election in advance of the NOTO AGM. As always, NOTO members will be permitted to run from the floor at the NOTO AGM. To run from the floor, you must have paid your 2021 NOTO membership, and be endorsed by two other operators. It is recommended that where possible you have the nomination form completed and sent directly to laurie@noto.net or by fax 705-472-0621 prior to or during the AGM to simplify this process. The nomination form can be found HERE.
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TSNN REMINDER:
If you have hired staff after June 1st, 2021, you can register them to the Tourism SkillsNet North program to have them trained and receive a wage subsidy! As long as your employees complete the mandatory training courses, you will receive a 30% wage subsidy (up to $3000) per employee!
Register your business and your employees today by clicking on the button below.
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Safe Travels Stamp
The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) created the Safe Travels Stamp which is an international symbol designed to allow travellers to recognize governments and companies around the world, which have adopted health and hygiene, standardized protocols – so consumers can experience ‘Safe Travels’.
In Ontario, the Safe Travels Stamp are administered by TIAO. NOTO's health and safety protocols, which have been vetted by the Government of Ontario have been recognized as standardized protocols for this purpose.
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Renew Your Membership or Join NOTO!
NOTO has extended the early bird membership pricing for the remainder of 2021!
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Entry Level: $452.00
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Bronze:
$621.50 NOW: $593.25
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Silver:
$734.50 NOW: $706.25
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Basic:
$621.50 NOW: $593.25
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Bronze:
$779.70 NOW: $734.50
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Silver:
$1,367.30 NOW: $1,299.50
Prices listed above include HST. To renew your membership or to join NOTO, please click on the appropriate category link above to access the membership form. Completed forms can be printed and mailed to the NOTO office, or scanned and emailed to kate@noto.net or laurie@noto.net.
Thank you for your support!
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NOTO is a membership based organization that works hard to support the outdoor tourism industry through advocacy and information services. We rely on annual memberships from tourism businesses, organizations, product and service suppliers, and partners to continue our work. For more information about membership with NOTO visit noto.ca
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