Reflecting on 2020 and the year ahead |
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#ShopInDurham this holiday season |
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Join Durham Tourism and the Durham Region Joint Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade, BIA's and Municipalities to celebrate #ShopInDurham Week from December 14 to 20. We have a special request for residents this holiday season: shop local.
The goal of the campaign is to spread the message that buying local will have a big impact for small businesses, while encouraging residents to shop local for their holiday gift-giving.
Shoppers can help spread the message of support by using #ShopInDurham when sharing their holiday finds on social media; this is an opportunity for consumers to participate in the campaign and enter to win local products and services from Durham-based businesses.
Follow @DurhamTourism on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and use #ShopInDurham for your chance to win one of eight grand prizes—including gift cards to businesses, restaurants and accommodations across the region, and free opportunities to safely explore some of the amazing experiences Durham has to offer. Giveaway details will be posted on Durham Tourism’s social media accounts.
To learn more about the campaign and how you can support local, visit ShopInDurham.ca.
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Upcoming Webinar: Mental Health in the Workplace |
The start of the New Year is hard for many. It is cold out, new resolutions are already falling, and bills from holiday spending are coming in. This webinar is designed to help Executives, Human Resources, and People Leaders support the well-being of employees.
This webinar focuses on how prevalent mental illnesses and stigmatized attitudes are in the Canadian workplace. To reduce stigma in the workplace, we will educate your participants first on recognizing signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety in the workplace, and then how to respond. Research has shown that investing in a mentally healthy workforce is good for employees and employers alike. And now, during COVID-19, more than 80 per cent of employees are reporting they are experiencing mental health problems.
Presented by: Christina Fuda, a Mental Health First Aid Coordinator from Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences.
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A trail of brilliant lights, festive windows,
and a wave from Santa!
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The Uxbridge Holiday Trail is a safe and festive journey through the Uxbridge Optimist Fantasy of Lights and the downtown holiday shopping area. The Fantasy of Lights is a long established self-driving tour that is being held daily until January 2 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. in Elgin Park. The trail features holiday light displays installed by local businesses, organizations, and individual families. This year, the downtown shops are joining in on the festivities with their windows decked out in holiday themes such as “The Nutcracker Comes to Life” presented by the Bridge Social and Blue Heron Books, Santa’s Workshop presented by the Lemonade Stand, and a wave through the window from Mr. and Mrs. Claus themselves hosted by H. Bee Architecture.
Drive or stroll along Brock Street to browse the beautiful scenes, pick-up unique gifts, and snap a selfie in front of the spectacular Santa’s Sleigh and Snowflake display presented by Rutledge Jewellers. With the white lit trees, the chime of the clock tower and the sounds of the season along the way, a journey through downtown Uxbridge is a safe way to enjoy some festive family time. The shops are also offering online shopping, so it is a great way to shop ahead and co-ordinate your curb-side pick-up on your way through.
To fuel up along the journey, the food establishments along the Culinary Trail offer a full selection of hot beverages, snacks- and meals to go.
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Personal Protective Equipment Reimbursement Program
Just a friendly reminder that Central Counties Tourism has launched a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Reimbursement program for private and not-for-profit businesses in the hospitality and recreation sector.
The program will provide matched funding of 50 per cent, up to a maximum of $1,000 per applicant ($2,000 total expense).
Eligible expenses include plexiglass, sanitizing stations, masks, stickers, and other items that are needed to help minimize the spread of COVID-19 by keeping business employees and guests safe.
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Tourism Readiness Survey
Central Counties is measuring the tourism readiness of businesses in the region. This survey is open to business members in the Central Counties region.
Stakeholders are invited to complete the survey to get:
- A detailed snapshot of critical business and tourism skill sets and requirements that are key to successfully integrating tourism into your business strategy.
- Information on where your business ranks in your current level of tourism business readiness and capacity.
Central Counties staff can assist you in completing the tourism readiness self-assessment. You can contact your regional field rep Eleanor Cook to work with you to complete the survey and update your profile on our website.
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In an effort to continue to keep our marketing materials current and fresh, we would like to take this opportunity to reach out to all of you with the request to share your tourism images with us.
Please send any images to tourism@durham.ca and include verbiage that notes that you have full rights to share these images and that they do not include any individuals from a vulnerable sector for which you may not have permission to share.
These images could be used in social media, print and digital advertising, and could be shared with our tourism partners at the Provincial and Federal levels for further promotion.
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Durham Tourism launches modern, exciting and vibrant new brand |
Durham Tourism is excited to announce the launch of a new brand that celebrates our unique blend of urban excitement and country charm; the heart of our brand. Although 2020 has looked a little different, Durham Region—in a typical year—is a place where you can spend your afternoon on a scenic country drive, visiting a farm or boutique. That same evening, you can head to one of Durham’s downtowns to dine at an urban bistro offering a farm to fork menu.
The new logo shape is made of the letters D and T, as well as a map to create a single shape. Your mind may start to visualize an arrow, symbolizing exploration—or a map, which is a nod to tourism.
As part of the new brand, Durham Tourism is developing icons to represent the array of distinct communities throughout the region, each with their own value propositions and key features. These icons will be featured on merchandise, including t-shirts and hats that will be available for purchase on the Durham Tourism E-commerce Marketplace, launching in early 2021.
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Festivals and Events Ontario Awards Program |
This year has been one of the most challenging our industry has ever faced, and the future is still very uncertain as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to put the Festival and Event industry on hold.
FEO is pleased to unveil the Achievement Program that is specifically for FEO Members in 2019 and 2020 that were able to Adapt - Pivot - Evolve.
If the above paragraphs relate to you, we want to hear from you. Please tell your story by filling out the entry form. Each and every person that gets back to FEO will have their story shared and will receive recognition for your efforts during the FEO Summit in February.
The other very important aspect of festivals and events are volunteers. They are the lifeblood of our industry, and we don’t want to stop recognizing those that give so freely and share their talents and time with their community. If you successfully conducted an event (in person or virtually) in 2020, and had volunteers involved, please fill out the attached form and share with us who those people are so they can be recognized and thanked by a Provincial organization for making such a difference.
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Rural Economic Development Program (RED)-
now accepting applications
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The Rural Economic Development (RED) is a cost-share funding program that supports projects that create strong rural communities in Ontario.
RED applications are assessed on their ability to result in one or more of the following:
- Jobs retained or created
- Investments attracted or retained
- Businesses attracted, retained and/or expanded
- Enhanced strategic economic infrastructure
- Regional partnerships that drive growth
To be eligible for RED you must be:
- a Municipality
- a Not-for-Profit Entity
- an Ontario Indigenous Community or Organization, or
- a Local Services Board
There are two RED streams:
Economic Diversification and Competitiveness Stream: Projects that remove barriers to business and job retention/growth, attract investment, attract or retain a skilled workforce or strengthen sector and regional partnerships and diversify regional economies in Rural Ontario. The majority of costs for projects in this stream will be non-capital.
Strategic Economic Infrastructure Stream: Projects that advance economic development and investment opportunities in Rural Ontario (e.g. rehabilitation of cultural, heritage or tourism attractions; redevelopment of vacant or under-used properties; main street minor capital improvements). Applications for strategic economic infrastructure Projects should include previously completed work (e.g. plans, strategies, research, data) that identifies the Project as an economic development priority.
The RED program is a cost-share program. This means your organization is sharing the costs with the Government of Ontario.
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For unique trip ideas or to plan your perfect day, visit DurhamTourism.ca, or call 1-800-413-0017. If this information is required in an accessible format, contact Durham Tourism. |
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