Globe and Mail Profile's the Sleeping Giant Loppet...and Our Nordic Culture

building and maintaining a high profile in the travel media is a significant element of our overall marketing strategy and we're off to a fantastic start this year, with three travel media requests coming in on our first week back to the office after Christmas break.

The Globe and Mail had a short piece in their online weekend edition this past weekend, profiling the Sleeping Giant Loppet, Kamview and Lappe as part of our nordic culture, including favorite Apre' ski traditions including - you guessed it -the Hoito and Kangas Sauna.

The bundling of the core ski experience with the northern European culinary and cultural components is an example of the visitor experiences being picked up by our media partners continuously now, building strength on our outdoors focus while presenting a well rounded visitor experience as well. The skiing is the experiential driver, while the urban components, woven into the presentation, fill out the visitor experience and demonstrate that urban economic impacts are achieved by an tourism strategy that focuses on our connection to our natural environment.

Following on this weekend's highly successful Haywood U23 World Cross Country ski Trails, our reputation as a winter playground for the avid outdoor enthusiast is gaining steam. Winters in Canada attract a very specific avid outdoor adventure seeker and over the years, we've gained more insight into who they are, what they want and where they live. Its still a niche market but its one willing to travel farther for an iconic high quality experience. Just ask the winners of this year's Winter Win contest, who are from British Columbia.

Proof positive we are always deliberately building upon our community's reputation as Canada's Best Outdoor City.

Thunder Bay Does Well With Celebrate Ontario for 2009

Celebrate Ontario recently rolled out funding for the 2009/2010 fiscal year and a number of Thunder Bay events received welcome Provincial contributions that will help them grow and attract more visitors.

Thunder Bay Bluesfest, to be held July3-5 this year at Marina Park, received a little over $45 000. This iconic summer event, now in its 9th year, draws bands from across North America and fans from around the globe. What better way to spend a summer weekend in Thunder? For more information, visit www.tbayblues.ca


The Sleeping Giant Writer's Festival, now moved to its new home at Fort William Historical Park (www.fwhp.ca) received approximately $33 000. This event has been drawing writers from further afield every year since its inception several years back. for more information, visit www.sleepinggiantwriters.com

The Sleeping Giant Loppet received $18 000. This iconic cross country ski race will be able to grow and reach new Canadian and U.S. ski enthusiasts. Visit www.sleepinggiantloppet.ca to learn more about registeringfor the event in 2010.

The 2010 CIS Mens Univeristy National Hockey championships received $75 000 towards the second year of the event being held in Thunder Bay. Visit www.thunderwolveshockey.com to learn more abou the event and the local Lakehead University hockey program.

Congratulations to all of the successful event organizers.