Vote Thunder Bay Destinations for Canada’s Great Places Contest

Canadians across the country are now competing to put their favourite location on the map in the Great Places in Canada Contest sponsored by the Canadian Institute of Planners. Three Thunder Bay locations are in the running including, The Sleeping Giant, Thunder Bay’s Waterfront and the Current River neighbourhood. Residents are encouraged to go to www.GreatPlacesInCanada.com and vote for the Thunder Bay locations, or nominate their preferred local destinations, and encourage others to vote.

The competition is open to everyone – just go to www.GreatPlacesInCanada.com where you can nominate, write about, and post images of the place that inspires you. And by making a nomination, you’ll be entered into a draw for prizes. Votes will be tallied in real time to make it easy to track the leading locations.

“It would be fantastic to see one of Thunder Bay’s spectacular destinations win,” said Mayor Keith Hobbs. “I encourage people to take a few seconds to vote and demonstrate their hometown pride to make Thunder Bay a leader in this friendly competition. It will be an exciting contest as people enlist support for their entries and communities compete with one another.”

To vote for the Sleeping Giant, visit the page directly at http://www.cip-icu.ca/greatplaces/en/place.asp?id=3461

Nominating and voting will close March 25, 2011. A panel of judges will then select the finalists in late April, and the winners will be announced in May. Each winning location will receive a plaque, presented to the local mayor or reeve, and winning nominators will also be awarded.
For more information, visit www.GreatPlacesInCanada.com.

Trans Canada Trail Ontario Retains New Trail Intern

Tourism Thunder Bay is part of a regional community partnership working with the Trans Canada Trail Organization to connect Northwestern Ontario's vast geography through multi use trail development. This is an exciting regional partnership that has evolved over the past two years and demonstrates the importance of collaboration and the tourism values that trail infrastructure can bring to the region.

One project is looking at the abandoned Kinghorn rail line between Thunder Bay and Nipigon for conversion to a multi season, multi use trail that will improve local recreational and tourism opportunities.

The second project is connecting the trail from Thunder Bay to the Manitoba Border, using the historical water and portage routes. As with the King horn, the project aims to look at improving local recreational opportunities but also identify new tourism opportunities for adventure seekers.

One need only drive a short distance into Northern Minnesota from here to see the expansive trail networks that exist and in particular, the well developed trails linking many of the Lake Superior lodges and communities that are full of cyclists, walkers, horseback riders and cross country skiers.

Trans Canada Trail Ontario has announced that a Trail Intern, Shawn Karsten, has been hired to coordinate the feasibility study on the Kinghorn project and help coordinate contractor efforts with respect to the water trail inventory and mapping.

Shawn comes to us from the North of Superior Tourism Association and is a graduate of Confederation College, holding a diploma in Business Marketing, Human Resource Management and Business Administration. Shawn is well known to many in the regional tourism industry and will hit the ground running on January 10th, working from Tourism Thunder Bay's Administrative offices and the Township of Nipigon municipal office.

Parks Canada Is Looking for a Few Good People

There is no doubt that The Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area is one of the most significant recent catalyst investments in our local and regional tourism economy. Parks Canada is an essential and valued partner to us in our efforts to elevate our City to become regarded as one of North America's best outdoor community. The development of the NMCA will enhance our Lake Superior road and water based touring segments as well as creating new opportunities for "trophy" outdoor experiences that capitalize upon the significant ecological and geographical attributes of this part of the world.

As part of the development of the LSNMCA program, they are rolling out a number of critical positions and I'd like to share two of the newest positions released this morning. If you or someone you know is interested in applying, feel free to read on.

Applicants are advised to read the information and follow the instructions
carefully. Should you have any questions about the positions or the
competition process, please contact Emil Engler by e-mail
(emil.engler@pc.gc.ca) or phone (807-346-2900).

Promotion Officer III – PM03
Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area (LSNMCA)
Northern Ontario Field Unit
SELECTION PROCESS NO: 2010-PCA-NMCA-OC-11
LOCATION: Nipigon Ontario
SALARY: $54,676 - $58,912
TENURE: Indeterminate,
LANGUAGE: English Essential
CLOSING DATE: June 4, 2010:
OPEN TO: Persons employed by Parks Canada in the Northern Ontario Field
Unit, people living or working within a 160 kilometer radius of Nipigon,
Ontario and members of the Robinson Superior Treaty Group. Preference may
be given to qualified applicants who are members of the Robinson Superior
Treaty Group.


Visitor Experience Product Development Officer IV – PM04
Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area (LSNMCA)
Northern Ontario Field Unit
SELECTION PROCESS NO: 2010-PCA-NMCA-OC-10:
LOCATION: Nipigon Ontario
SALARY: $59,727 - $64,539
TENURE: Indeterminate,
LANGUAGE: English Essential
CLOSING DATE: June 4, 2010
OPEN TO: Persons employed by Parks Canada in the Northern Ontario Field
Unit, people living or working within a 160 kilometer radius of Nipigon,
Ontario and members of the Robinson Superior Treaty Group. Preference may
be given to qualified applicants who are members of the Robinson Superior
Treaty Group.

Vote Thunder Bay onto MONOPOLY Canada Game

Mayor Lynn Peterson is encouraging all residents, as well as their friends and families, to support Thunder Bay in the quest tobe featured on the new MONOPOLY Canada Board Game by voting atwww.monopolyvote.ca.

“We want to rally our citizens to put Thunder Bay on the board,” said MayorPeterson. “This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our unique city on agame that is recognized and loved around the world. I encourage allresidents to vote for Thunder Bay each day and also to encourage theirfriends and families to support Thunder Bay in this quest. Let’sdemonstrate our civic pride by voting to get Thunder Bay its rightful placeon MONOPOLY Canada!”

Thunder Bay is one of 65 Canadian cities that will compete for a spot onthe MONOPOLY Canada game board. Hasbro, the makers of MONOPOLY, havecreated an online nationwide vote to choose Canada’s 22 favourite citiesfor the new MONOPOLY Canada edition that will be released this summer.

Voting began online at midnight on Jan. 11 at www.monopolyvote.ca.Canadians are invited to cast their ballots for three cities each day ofthe vote, which will be open until Feb. 7, 2010. The city that receives themost votes will be placed on the highest rent property traditionally heldby Boardwalk.

The 20 cities that receive the most votes will be part of MONOPOLY historyas the first cities selected to be on the Canadian game board through aconsumer vote. However, two spaces on the board will be reserved for citiesthat are nominated through a wild card vote, which means any city in Canadacan be nominated for these property spaces. Once the top 20 city vote iscomplete, the top 10 nominated wild card cities will also be put to a voteand the wild card winners will occupy the low-rent property spacestraditionally held by Mediterranean Avenue and Baltic Avenue. The wild cardvote will take place from Feb. 8 until Feb. 21.
The cities voted onto the final game board will be announced in June 2010.The new MONOPOLY Canada Edition will be available in stores in summer 2010.

Marketing Employment Opportunity with Parks Canada Posted.

Parks Canada has posted an employment opportunity in the marketing sector with their Northwestern Ontario field office located in Thunder Bay for an Internet Content and Media Officer III position.

For information, you can visit the following links.

English
https://psjobs-emploisfp.psc-cfp.gc.ca/psrs-srfp/applicant/page1800?toggleLanguage=en&noBackBtn=true&poster=108438&psrsMode=1

Français
https://psjobs-emploisfp.psc-cfp.gc.ca/psrs-srfp/applicant/page1800?toggleLanguage=fr&noBackBtn=true&poster=108438&psrsMode=1

Applicants are advised to read the information and follow the instructions
carefully. Should you have any questions about the position or the
competition, please contact Mona Gingras by e-mail (mona.gingras@pc.gc.ca)
or phone (807-346-2904).

FWHP Wins Discovery Award

Fort William Historical Park has been recognized by its peers in the Ministry of Tourism for noteworthy efforts in increasing cross-border visits from the United States.

The Fort received the Discovery Award for Innovative Risk Taker thanks to the opening of the Fort William Historical Park Canada Gateway Centre in Grand Marais, Minnesota earlier this summer.

The Discovery Awards identify and recognize excellence in public service within the Ministry of Tourism. Awards in six categories were presented at the Ministry’s Staff Day in Toronto earlier this month.

On hand to receive the award as team members were General Manager Sergio Buonocore, Manager of Marketing and Customer Service Doug Stanton, Historical Operations Manager Peter Boyle, and Business Services Manager Sandei Beattie. Fellow award winners absent for the ceremony were Corporate Development Officer Chris Ficek and Collections Team Leader Shawn Patterson.

The Canada Gateway Centre represents a partnership between the Fort and American entrepreneur David Parsons of Parsons Management, who also operates the Grand Marais Inn. The grand opening occurred May 27th, 2009. The initiative is designed to encourage U.S. travellers passing through Grand Marais to visit the Fort, Thunder Bay and northwestern Ontario. Grand Marais was targeted due to high tourist traffic during the summer and its relatively close proximity to Thunder Bay.

General Manager Buonocore says that the Gateway Centre is a unique initiative and that the Discovery Award represents hard work by all Fort staff. “There’s no other initiative like this in the Ministry of Tourism,” says Mr. Buonocore. “And the Discovery Award is a reflection of the ongoing team effort by the entire Fort staff.”

The Centre is contributing to increases in revenue (29%) and attendance (40%) for FWHP 2009 to date, compared to the similar calendar period in 2008.

COUNTDOWN TO 2010 THUNDER BAY MARATHON - MILES WITH THE GIANT BEGINS

The countdown to the fi rst annual Thunder Bay Marathon - Miles with the Giant race
weekend began in earnest yesterday with the launch of the official website at http://www.thunderbaymarathon.com/.

The Thunder Bay Marathon - Miles with the Giant event on September 19, 2010 will feature a marathon of 26.2 miles, a half-marathon of 13.1 miles, and a 5 km race. The weekend will also include a Health & Fitness Expo, a pre-race Spaghetti Dinner, entertainment and activities around the city - along the racecourse, and at Marina Park. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to raise pledges for local charitable organizations.

Barry Streib, President and Chair of the Thunder Bay Marathon - Miles with the Giant, a not-for-profit corporation says, “We believe that this event will provide numerous benefi ts to our community by encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle, generating economic stimulus, increasing tourism, and fostering collaboration between community groups.”

The course will combine Thunder Bay North’s urban, park, and residential settings into a unique experience for participants. Runners will be treated to a spectacular view of the Sleeping Giant on their sprint to the finish down Red River Road. Half marathoners will circle the route once while full marathoners will complete the route twice. A full map of the course is available on the website.

“An event of this magnitude cannot happen without the support of the community,” says Streib. “We will be actively seeking support from the business community and from enthusiastic volunteers to assist in making the weekend a success.”

The Thunder Bay Marathon – Miles with the Giant’s mission is to create a world class marathon offering a fast, challenging course, attracting both elite and recreational runners and walkers, and a series of associated events to encourage community and corporate involvement, with a single common thread - a love of wellness and the sport of running.

For more information on getting involved as a runner or volunteer, please visit www.thunderbaymarathon.com or visit their Facebook group at:http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=Thunder+Bay+Marathon&init=quick#/group.php?gid=134888051133&ref=search&sid=571295562.2675316804..1

Quetico Celebrates its Diamond Anniversary in 2009

Quetico Park is one hundred years old this year and Ontario Parks is celebrating with a year long roster of events to commemorate the milestone. For North American outdoors enthusiasts, Quetico is already a well known name and is about as great a wilderness paddling experience as you will find anywhere on the planet. Summer events will kick off June 12 in celebration of Canadian Rivers Day and there will be a number of events throughout the summer, both in the park and neighboring Atikokan (www.atikokan.ca)

The Park is also an important part of a bi national visitor experience as it connects with the Superior National Forest in Minnesota. The Heart of the Continent Partnership is a coalition that consists of land managers, along with stakeholders, that work together on cross-border projects to promote the natural health of the lakes and forests near the Ontario-Minnesota Border. To honour the partnership, and raise awareness, a canoe trip will weave in and out of Canadian and U-S waterways, with paddlers visiting several communities. Quetico Park will also see the return of their legendary Canoe Marathon, a two day round trip race from French Lake to Prairie Portage, that hasn’t taken place since the 1960’s.


Quetico Park is an asset that those of us in the Thunder Bay tourism industry don't really connect with as much as we should. despite it being 200 km away from the city, its an important part of the tourism economy we need to weave into our larger sustainable tourism strategy. Thunder Bay is a gateway to wilderness adventures, the single largest travel motivator in North America. Quetico's international reputation attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually and many of those need to come through Thunder Bay, either by road or air. Opportunities exist for Thunder Bay hotels, culinary providers, outdoor equipment outfitters and retailers, car rental firms and others to capture part of the market by encouraging visitors to consider Thunder Bay as their "base camp" before heading out to Atikokan and into the park.


Quetico has developed an incredible level of brand equity among the outdoor community, a demographic generally characterised as educated and more affluent. Quetico's name is attached to such products as canoes and even lifevests and is the subject of many, many books. Aligning Thunder Bay's image with that of Quetico helps raise our profile and opportunities exist, through passive and active cross promotion, to align their brand with ours. We have embraced economic, social and environmental sustainability as the cornerstone for moving our tourism industry forward and working with our iconic parks makes good sense all around. Parks lovers are also often people who plan conferences or particpate in organized sports. Building awareness with them on the liesure market may certainly help raise our urban profile for the conference and sport tourism markets as well.



Our organized parks systems have emerged as the major visitor attraction in the region. Consider that Quetico welcomed over 92 000 visitors in 2008 while Sleeping Giant saw over 57 000 and Kakabeka Falls over 283 000 and the importance becomes clear. Entities like Ontario Parks (http://www.ontarioparks.com/) and Parks Canada (http://www.pc.gc.ca/) are increasingly expanding their tourism visitor focus, recognizing the economic value and power of the experiences and geography they manage. In Thunder Bay, the successful realignment of our urban brand around Sleeping Giant Provincial Park is a prime example. The Lake Superior National Marine Conservation, whose boundary is a scant 15 miles from Prince Arthur's Landing is another gem that will increase our profile even more. Even our fantastic local parks - Chippewa, Centennial and Marina Park are all important elements in visitor attraction and retention and do, if partnered in the right context, deliver greater economic impacts for our local business community.



For more information on Quetico Park in general or the park's centennial celebrations, visit www.ontarioparks.com/english/quet.html or http://www.parkreports.com/events/event_details.php?parkID=71&Submit=View+Events

Parks Canada Posts New Career Opportunity

Parks' Canada has a lot of exciting things going on in and around the city lately as they increase their presence and awareness of the role of National heritage and natural environment parks. The announcement of the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area in 2007 has created a lot of excitement about the growth and potential of the regional tourism industry in the long term.

Parks Canada has a career opportunity posted for an External Relations Officer to work out of Nipigon, with a focus on developing and executing communications and external relations strategies. The position is open to qualified candidates within a 160 kilometer radius of Nipigon. Its great to see new employment opportunities around the NMCA and related initiatives already taking shape.

Visit: https://psjobs-emploisfp.psc-cfp.gc.ca/psrs-srfp/applicant/page1800?toggleLanguage=en&psrsMode=1&poster=90013&noBackBtn=true for more information on this opportunity.

Building Canada Fund Announces New Program for Tourism Infrastructure.

Federal and Provincial Ministers responsible for Infrastructure have announced the opening of intake 2 of the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund (BCF) and launched the application process for the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The deadline for applying for both programs is May 1, 2009.

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) has been advised that the application process for the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund is very simple and that the application process for Intake 2 of the BCF Communities Component has been further streamlined. Municipalities can apply for up to 3 projects under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. Municipalities with populations under 100,000 can apply for the BCF Communities Component.

Note that for both programs, projects must be completed by March 31, 2011.

Municipalities will be required to attest that the projects would not have been built over the next two construction seasons without the federal and provincial funding. Both programs require a one-third municipal financial contribution.

A program guide and a very short application form for Stimulus Funding can be accessed at: www.bcfontario.ca. You can also access application forms for the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund through this web site. Municipalities are encouraged to contact the Canada–Ontario Infrastructure Secretariat at 1-866-306-7827 to get a username and password to access the on-line application form.

According to the letters, successful proponents will be notified quickly so that construction may begin. Financial agreements will be signed between the Province of Ontario and municipalities. Prior to final approval of funding and the conclusion of an agreement with the Province, the Municipality must provide proof of Council support for the approved project and the municipal contribution.

Eligible Categories:

The following are eligible project categories for Local Government Assets under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund:
· Water and Waste Water Infrastructure
· Public Transit Infrastructure
· Local Road Infrastructure
· Disaster Mitigation Infrastructure
· Solid Waste Management Infrastructure
· Brownfield Redevelopment Infrastructure
· Cultural Infrastructure
· Airport Infrastructure
· Port and Cruiseship Infrastructure
· Municipal Buildings
· Parks and Trails

While new construction which can be completed by March 31, 2011 is eligible, the Governments of Ontario and Canada advise that existing asset rehabilitation is the primary focus of the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund program.

Under the BCF Communities Component Intake Two there are 18 project categories:
· Brownfield Redevelopment
· Collaborative Projects
· Connectivity And Broadband
· Core National Highway System
· Culture
· Disaster Mitigation
· Drinking Water
· Green Energy
· Local And Regional Airports
· Local Roads
· Public Transit
· Recreation *New*
· Shortline Railways
· Short-Sea Shipping
· Solid Waste Management
· Sport
· Tourism
· Wastewater Infrastructure

The “Recreation” category is a new addition under Intake Two of the BCF Communities Component. Eligible municipalities with populations under 100,000 continue to be able to submit one application to this program intake.

For further information, municipalities should review the web site www.bcfontario.ca or contact the Canada-Ontario Joint Secretariat at:
Building Canada Fund, Communities Component Joint Secretariat1 Stone Road West, 4th Floor NW, Guelph, Ontario N1G 4Y2Phone: 1-866-306-7827, Fax: 519-826-4336, Email: BCF.CC@ontario.ca