Canada' Great Outdoors Program Partnership Continues into Chicago this Year

This Thursday January 13, we're going to be at the Pheasant Run All Canada Show in St Charles Illinois to promote a new enhanced partnership with OTMPC around their "Canada's Great Outdoors" tactical strategy promoting the northwest's iconic outdoor experiences into the U.S. midwest market.

Last year, we partnered up with Porter, OTMPC, Thunder Bay Airport Authority and others to align with Canada's Great Outdoors with our own "Canada's Great Outdoors Begins in Canada's Great Outdoor City" program and web portal landing site to encourage US midwest anglers and soft outdoor adventure seekers to consider Thunder Bay as their hub and to consider the convenience of flying into the region versus driving.

This year, through our RTO transition mandate, we've expanded the partnership, taking a lead on the program with Tourism Kenora and NOTO, and input from Sunset Country and NOSTA, to keep building upon the "Canada's Great Outdoors" brand, positioning our region as the best outdoor adventure destination in the country. Its a great partnership by numerous organizations that understand that in the northwest, we have common experiences and common markets, making it essential that we collaborate on a regional level versus working in our traditional organizational silos, often based on geo political boundaries. That is what the RTO is about. Leveraging each other's equity and resources to present the region to the consumer most effectively.

The All Canada Show is only one channel and a good chance to meet with regional tourist operators, conduct some research with respect to the experiences offered by other regions and build some awareness of regional collaboration in an RTO world. Other tactical channels of this campaign will roll out between the end of January and end of May, 2011, primarily into the Chicago area wish a focus on avid outdoor adventure markets.

Tourism Spotlight - Get in Gear

Promoting Thunder Bay as one of Canada's Great Outdoor Cities requires a strong network of local retail partners to help visitors prepare for their adventures. Being a gateway or base camp, the city realizes a powerful economic impact when anglers, campers, hikers, kayakers and sailors stock up on supplies, food and equipment in the city prior to heading out and taking in our urban accommodation, cultural and culinary experiences at the end of their trip. One of those key outdoor retailers is Gear Up For Outdoors and owner Jon Wynn, who has been a huge supporter of our outdoor tourism strategy.

Celebrating 23 years of business, Gear-up for Outdoors has grown and expanded to become one of the largest outdoor retailers of high quality name brand tents, packs, clothing, outerwear, boots & shoes. And that’s not all. They also carry a complete line of winter outdoor gear like snowshoes and summer camping gear including camp stoves, sleeping bags and a whole line of
accessories. They consider their kid’s line of clothing is only the best for your children.

Well established high end name brands of outerwear and footwear will provide warmth when required and the necessary comfort all day long. Gear-up prides itself on knowledge, and their well educated staff has an extensive understanding of all brands and products to make decisions on what to buy easier; but important to make your outdoor experience a memorable one. Their staff is among the best at what they do and pride themselves on making sure customers are happy.

"We are constantly attending Vendor Product Trade shows 6-months to 1-year in advance
to assure the most current products are available for our customers, as well we attempt to
stock the most current colors, styles, and sizing! Our online store has been outfitting
and shipping all your outdoor equipment and clothing needs throughout Canada, United States, Europe, both poles and everywhere in between for the past 14 years!"

Gear Up For Outdoors endeavors to provide the highest quality and most functional outdoor products and equipment for all seasons. For professionals in the field of Forestry, Geology,
Mining and Tree Planting, we carry an extensive variety of specialized safety footwear and clothing as well as measuring, mapping, and marking supplies, instruments & tools.

And for those special occasions throughout the year, they carry some of the most wonderful gift
ideas for those special people in your life. Check out their website at http://www.gear-up.com/ or drop in and see them at 894 Alloy Place, Thunder Bay.

(portions of this article were recently seen in New Horizons magazine)