What's New IN THE LAb
​OCTOBER 2020

Updates

"Spark" Winners To Be Featured At The
2020 Ontario Tourism Summit
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Clockwise from top left: Alexandre Gagnon, Barbara Rabicki Canning, Jen Desjardins-Grondin, and Terry Jenkins.


​Four of our "Spark" Program winners from around the province will be featured at the 2020 Ontario Tourism Summit during the Green Shoots: Be Inspired - Innovation Take 5 program segments:

Alexandre Gagnon - Timmins Fitness Alternatives, Hollinger Headframe Aerial Adventures (Northeastern Ontario)
Barbara Rabicki Canning - Wild by Nature Forest Sanctuary, Forest Bathing Walks & Experiences (Bruce County)
Jen Desjardins-Grondin - GL Heritage Brewing Co., Heritage Partnerships & Experiences (Windsor Essex)
Terry Jenkins - TJ Stables, Spirit Horses Indigenous Tourism Initiative (Chatham-Kent)

The Summit, hosted annually by the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, will be held virtually on October 27th and 28th. This year's program focuses on the pandemic's impact, strategies for adaptation and growth, supporting local, and celebrating excellence in the tourism industry.

​For more information and to register go to 
​www.tiaontario.ca​

Round 2 Bruce County "Spark" Program Launched
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After a successful first year, a second round of the “Spark” Mentorship & Grants Program has been launched in Bruce County. Area residents, small businesses and non-profit organizations are encouraged to come forward with new sustainable tourism ideas for the Bruce Peninsula. An online Info Session is being held on Monday, October 5th at 11:30 am to provide prospective applicants a walk-through of the program and application process. 

​The Round 2 Bruce County "Spark" application deadline is October 23rd.

For more information go to
​www.tourisminnovation.ca/Bruce

Sparking New Tourism Ideas In Cornwall & SDG Counties
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Thank you to Cornwall Mayor Bernadette Clement and SDG Counties Warden Frank Prevost who joined the Lab and our tourism partners to launch the "Spark" Program in the region. There is an online Info Session on Monday, October 5th at 5:00 pm for local residents and entrepreneurs to learn more about the program, application process, and focus areas to consider.

The Cornwall & SDG Counties "Spark" application deadline is October 30th.

For more information go to
​www.tourisminnovation.ca/CornwallSDGCounties

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ONE WEEK TO GO! The Northwest Ontario "Spark" Application Deadline is October 9th.

More "Spark" Regions Coming Fall 2020

The "Spark" Mentorships & Grants Program​ will be expanding to new regions across Ontario in Fall 2020. Stay tuned for announcements. 
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Ignition: Solving Big Challenges In Windsor Essex And Chatham-Kent
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WEtech Alliance, in partnership with our Founding Partner Libro Credit Union and Digital Main Street, are launching Ignition, a unique partnership aimed at connecting main street businesses with innovators in order to solve the big challenges in future-proofing our region. Interested? The first sessions will be held on October 5th and 6th​.

For more information go to
www.wetech-alliance.com​

Building Mentorship In Ontario's Tourism Sector

Are you a recognized tourism innovator, successful entrepreneur, experienced operator and/or sector expert?


​Join our "Spark" Mentor Network and support up-and-coming and early stage tourism innovators in Ontario by providing advice and guidance to help them take their new tourism ideas to the next level of development. Contact us at [email protected]​ for more information on the program and how you can be a mentor.
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What's Your New Tourism Idea?

www.tourisminnovation.ca

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