Team Headwaters at your service
As we enter a new calendar year, it seems quite appropriate that we introduce (and perhaps re-introduce) our team members to you. We like to consider ourselves small but mighty and we are so proud to support over 1,100 tourism businesses across the Headwaters region, and work with our municipal partners to deliver tourism services in the Town of Caledon, the Town of Erin and the eight municipalities in Dufferin County.
Our newest team member,
Danica Cooley, joined our team as Marketing Coordinator on January 4th. Danica is responsible for working directly with our Leading With the Best partners, coordinating our marketing programs, and supporting our digital and marketing efforts.
Diane Murenbeeld, our world-class Marketing Manager, has been with Headwaters Tourism for 5 years this coming April. Diane is our brand maven and is responsible for the implementation of our consumer brand roll-out across our web, digital and print channels.
Vicki Sword works with Headwaters Tourism on a project basis. Vicki was responsible for managing our award-winningHeadwaters Horse Country project, and is now working with us to coordinate our Headwaters Inspired: Arts & Culture Project.
Stephany St.Louis is our Financial Officer, responsible for all financial matters including accounts payable and receivable. Stephany served as our Leading With the Best Manager for the past 3 years, but has now returned to school on a full-time basis to pursue her CPA designation. We are fortunate that she will continue to work with us one day each week.
Michele Harris has been with Headwaters Tourism since October 2009, and serves as the CEO. Along with overseeing all strategic undertakings of the organization, Michele is responsible for working directly with our municipal and provincial partners to ensure that Headwaters achieves its vision of becoming Ontario's premier rural tourism destination.
We look forward to working with all our tourism partners in the Headwaters region. Please feel free to reach out to us directly at anytime to see how we can support the growth of your business through tourism.
Left to right:
Danica Cooley, Diane Murenbeeld, Michele Harris, Stephany St.Louis Missing from photo: Vicki Sword
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Register now: Taste of Maple | March 8th to April 7th, 2018
This event happens during sap season and provides an opportunity for us to showcase our true Canadian spirit with a festival celebrating all things maple. Help us create some excitement and increase visitation to your business.
Suggested ways to get involved include:
- Prix fixe menu - Create your own menu that features local maple syrup in each of your menus courses (lunch or dinner). You set the price - it has to be a deal! Visitors will be required to make advance reservations (directly with your establishment) to take part in this promotion.
- Featured food or drink items - Provide us with a description of what products you are featuring that at your store or restaurant that showcase local maple syrup.
- Maple events and activities - If you are offering a maple syrup cooking class, selling maple products, running a sugar bush or even creating something unique like maple-inspired art -- provide us with the details and we will promote.
Booking deadline - February 9th, 2018
Leading With the Best partners -
FREE to participate
Non-partners - $250.00 participation fee
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Call for participation: 2018 Headwaters Horse Country Stable Tour
Based on participant feedback, and to better serve the needs of visitors, we will be modifying the format of our Headwaters Horse Country Stable Tour in 2018.
Rather than hosting the Stable Tour on just one weekend each year, we are inviting stables and equine businesses to open their doors to the public on the dates of their choice between April and December 2018. This will give businesses a better opportunity to tailor the visitor experience and showcase their equine operations when it makes most sense for them.
Open for a day, or multiple days throughout the year, and we'll promote the entire calendar of events throughout the year.
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Tourism Industry Association of Ontario shines the spotlight on Headwaters Tourism
 Headwaters Tourism was honoured to be highlighted by TIAO in their inaugural member spotlight that was shared across the province with tourism industry stakeholders and professionals.
The article highlighted Headwaters Tourism's business model, how we work with tourism operators in our region, and how we work with and align with our partners and agencies across the province.
TIAO is an important and valuable resource for tourism advocacy in the province of Ontario, and Headwaters Tourism is proud to be a member and support the work they do.
Thanks for the great coverage, TIAO!
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Public consultation (February 8th): proposed Greenbelt expansion
The Province of Ontario is proposing a potential expansion of the Greenbelt. They are seeking input on a study area which includes areas within the Headwaters boundaries.. A public open house is scheduled for February 8th, 2018 at Tony Rose Arena in Orangeville.
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Ontario announces Revitalizing Main Streets program
The Province of Ontario is helping rural communities attract investment and tourism, create jobs and enhance regional economic growth by supporting the revitalization of downtown and main streets across the province.
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Last chance to apply: 2018 Canada Summer Jobs program
The Canada Summer Jobs program is a Government of Canada initiative that provides funding for not-for-profit organizations, public sector employers and small businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees to create summer jobs for students between the ages of 15 and 30.
Deadline for submissions: 02 February 2018
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New incentives for electric vehicle charging in the workplace
Ontario is making it easier to use electric vehicles to get to and from work by assisting employers, commercial building owners and managers to install charging stations at their workplaces. This investment is part of Ontario's
Climate Change Action Plan and is funded by proceeds from the province's cap on pollution and carbon market.
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New grant program for Dufferin farmers
Farmers in Dufferin County can now take on meaningful environmental projects on their properties with the support of a new grant program offered by the county.
The Dufferin Rural Water Quality Program provides technical and financial assistance to agricultural landowners to encourage sustainable farm practices that improve and protect water quality.
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Nominations now open for Caledon business accessibility awards
Recognition shall be awarded to businesses located in Caledon that have contributed by taking the initiative to make the Town of Caledon more accessible to all its residents and visitors ensuring the accessibility standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) are fully implemented by 2025.
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Town of Shelburne appoints new CAO
Mayor Ken Bennington and the Council of the Town of Shelburne are pleased to announce the appointment of Denyse Morrissey to the position of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the Town of Shelburne effective February 26, 2018.
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Town of Erin call for artists
The Town will be providing a dedicated space within Town Hall for residents to freely display their artwork, in an effort to showcase the diverse array of creative talent that thrives in Erin.
The 'Art in the Hall' program will accept seasonal submissions from artists of all ages, and display
artwork in various mediums.
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2018 Industry Luncheon to feature Steve Paikin as keynote speaker
The host of TVO's
The Agenda with Steve Paikin, will be sharing insights with our local business community and discussing themes from his newest book
Bill Davis, Nation Builder and Not So Bland After All on February 22nd at the 2018 Annual Industry Luncheon in Orangeville
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Call for Art for 2019 Bruce Trail Calendar
The Bruce Trail Conservancy invites artists to submit colourful images of your explorations on the Niagara Escarpment, showcasing its natural beauty, heritage and/or the people who hike it. Thirteen pieces will be chosen for the 2019 Bruce Trail Calendar. Each artist who enters will receive a complimentary copy of the calendar. New and returning artists welcomed. Artists need not be members of the Bruce Trail Conservancy to submit.
Deadline March 16, 2018
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Headwaters Inspired: arts & culture project
 Understanding the impact of arts and culture on our community, Dufferin County, the Town of Caledon and the Town of Erin are funding a project to develop an arts and culture framework in Headwaters. The project will be managed and executed by Headwaters Tourism.
Call for participation: We encourage all artisans, arts and culture businesses and organizations, and all heritage groups to help us build a robust database, by adding your information for inclusion in the database. This database of arts and culture assets will give exposure to each individual artist, group and business in our region and, when viewed as collective, will serve to raise the profile of the entire region as a destination for arts, culture and heritage.
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The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario is hosting a full-day Tourism Issues Forum on Thursday, February 22nd, to facilitate conversation around key tourism issues including the Municipal Accommodation Tax, Bill 148, the Red Tape Challenge, and the upcoming provincial and municipal elections.
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Tourism leaders gather in Headwaters for first provincial Rural Tourism Symposium
On Tuesday, January 16th, tourism and business leaders from across the province of Ontario gathered at the Orangeville Town Hall Opera House for the first provincial Rural Tourism Symposium.
Close to 150 delegates from all across Ontario came together to raise the profile of rural tourism as an integral part of the provincial and national visitor experience. Delegates discovered best practices in rural tourism, were inspired by rural tourism leaders and helped give a voice to the importance of rural destinations in showcasing the best of Ontario and Canada to national and international visitors.
Read the full media release-->>
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Headwaters Tourism announces 2018 award winners
Headwaters Tourism recently recognized 12 deserving Headwaters businesses and individuals in 10 categories as recipients of Headwaters Tourism Awards for their contribution to tourism & hospitality excellence during 2017.
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LAST CHANCE: book your advertising space now
Headwaters 2018 Four-Season Visitors' Guide
Our multi-award winning Headwaters Four-Season Visitors' Guide will be published and distributed in the Globe & Mail in May 2018.
We are now booking advertising space in the 2018 edition of this annual consumer lifestyle publication that showcases the best of Headwaters to consumers across Ontario.
Last year advertising space sold-out quickly, so we encourage you to book your space for the 2018 edition now in order to avoid disappointment.
Deadline for booking: 12 February 2018
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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.
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 and become part of our targeted and featured promotions in Headwaters through our digital and social media platforms.
Learn more about how Headwaters Tourism can market your business to tourists.
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NEED COPIES OF THE 2017 HEADWATERS
FOUR - SEASON VISITORS' GUIDE?
Tourism businesses who are interested in distributing copies of the 2017 edition of our award-winning Four-Season Visitors' Guide should contact Headwaters Tourism directly to obtain copies.
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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 |
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