The Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) welcomes 48 more tourism experiences as members of the Signature Experiences Collection® (SEC)—a collection of remarkable experiences available from coast-to-coast-to-coast throughout Canada. Full details http://ht.ly/aq6Qy

THORNDALE, ON– With major renovations complete, Carolinian Winery & Eatery, 4823 Dundas Street, R.R. #2 Thorndale, has re-opened and will celebrate with a Grand Opening event May 23, 2012 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Appetizers and wine samples will be plentiful in addition to goody bag giveaways and door prizes.

Some of the renovations include a larger extensive  kitchen, new specialty bakery, larger dining room, and re-locating the wine bar for greater capacity.  Plus, new owner, Bonnie Preece, hired three chefs, including Executive Chef Dave McMurray, and added catering services to their offerings.  Their menu features home-style cooking with a gourmet flare, spectacular desserts, and an extensive Sunday brunch.

“Something old is new again,” said Preece.  “I wanted to maintain the unique country feel of the winery but improve the quality of our dining and wine tasting experiences.”

After winning the Lotto 6/49 jackpot in March 2010, Preece was looking for an investment opportunity in which she could give back to her community. She bought the Carolinian after visiting the establishment for lunch in spring 2011.

“This was exactly the type of business I wanted to operate.  I loved the winery immediately and the fact that it supports local products and area farmers,” said Preece.  “I knew it needed extensive work to get it up to code and I was eager for the challenge.  I’m determined to make my mark in this business and the wine industry.”

Carolinian Winery & Eatery is a multifaceted business situated on forty acres just outside the city of London.  In addition to their dining room, catering services, and gift shop, organic berries are grown on the property, which they use to manufacture their own label of fruit wines.  Various grape wines are available from a St. Catharine’s supplier.

Carolinian Winery is open Monday through Wednesday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with Brunch from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

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Contact:

Audrey Nugent

Manager & Events Coordinator

519-268-2000

audrey@carolinianwinery.ca

www.carolinianwinery.ca

The Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce is very pleased to announce the recipients of their 124th Annual Business Excellence Awards to be held on Thursday, March 29th, 2012 at Club Lentina

Award winners are as follows:

Citizen of the Year

Jim Loyer

3 Souriquois St.

Chatham, ON N7M 2T1

Tel: 519-351-1989

Alternate Tel: 519-436-5318

Business of Excellence

Advanced Basement Systems

c/o Ben Bates

10078 Longwoods Road

Chatham, ON N7M 5J1

Tel: 519-351-3500

Entrepreneurs of the Year

Jim & Dee Meurkes

c/o Enviro-Clean Car & Dog Wash

40 Farmhouse Place

Chatham ON N7L 5C7

Tel: 519-630-6956

Industry of the Year (50+ Employees)

MSSC Canada

c/o Ken Breault

201 Park Ave. E

chatham ON N7M 3V7

Tel: 519-354-1100 Ext. 201

Environmental Leadership Award

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance

c/o Beth Hall

80 Grand Ave. West

Chatham ON N7M 5L9

Tel: 519-352-6401 Ext. 6656

Corporate Citizen of the Year

Leon’s Furniture

c/o Ken and Jan Edwards

PO Box 1416

Chatham, ON N7M 5W8

Tel: 519-351-4616

Business Professional of the Year

Rob McKinlay

459 St. Clair Street

Chatham ON N7L 3K6

Tel: 519-351-2040

Youth Entrepreneur of the Year

Rochelle Bowles

8 Timothy Cres.

Chatham ON N7L 4Z2

Tel: 519-365-7188

Industry of the Year (1-50 Employees)

Smith & Wilson Estate Wines

c/o George & Mary Jane Smith

RR #1

Blenheim ON N0P 1A0

Tel: 519-676-5867

Reception: 6:00 p.m. & Program & Dinner: 7:00 p.m.

Tickets: $80.00 each (hst included)

Tickets are available by contacting the Chamber Office at 519.352.7540, Ext 21 or

email to sarah@chatham-kentchamber.ca

By PATRICK BRENNAN TIMES-JOURNAL

Updated 1 day ago

Ontario’s minister of tourism Wednesday toasted St. Thomas’s CASO station as an ideal place to breathe new life into tourism promotion.

“The CASO station has stories to tell and breathes new life into the community,” he said in address to delegates at the launch of the Ontario’s Southwest tourism organization. A conference for 175 delegates on tourism promotion continues today.

Ontario’s Southwest represents eight members including St. Thomas-Elgin and London in planning tourism promotion.

For the full article in the Times Journal, click here

On March 14^th and 15^th tourism owners and operators in Ontario’s Southwest will gather at the Canada Southern Railway Station in St. Thomas for the Ontario’s Southwest Spring Launch.  

To kick things off, Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Michael Chan will paint the big picture of tourism in the province. Next will be an update on tourism in Ontario and Ontario’s Southwest by Executive Director Jim Hudson. Delegates will then hear from destination development expert and key note speaker Roger Brooks, CEO/President of Destination Development International.

Before the sun sets, delegates will be welcomed to a networking event by Elgin County Warden Bill Walters and St. Thomas Mayor Heather Jackson-Chapman. Here delegates connect with their peers while tasting some of Elgin’s homegrown finest from the culinary masters of Savour Elgin.

Day 2 will be “Breakout Education Day”. Delegates can choose from sessions as: Embracing the Social Web, Being Group Ready, Turning the War of 1812 into Dollars Today, Accessibility and Building a Service Culture.

Ending the conference with a bang will be the launch of a new consumer website OntariosSouthwest.com and announcement of a new strategic direction for the region. This strategy will outline the marketing, workforce development, product development and investment attraction priorities for the next year.

The overall theme is: Regional tourism is about sharing ideas, best practices and linking ourselves together. That will be the future of tourism.  When people ask about the future of tourism, we say “Tourism IS the future!”

The Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation is the Regional Tourism Organization for Ontario’s Southwest. It brings regional tourism into the hands of the private sector.  With a goal to
double tourism by 2020, it will build cohesion as a regional team. Ontario’s Southwest consists of nine areas and it is estimated that 13.4 million visitors spend $1.3 billion annually.

For more information contact:

Jen Moore

Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Ontario’s Southwest

519.290.8687

jen@swotc.ca

www.swotc.ca

Geared to the needs of regional tourism owners and operators, this two-day conference on March 14 & 15, 2012 will provide first hand business training and put delegates “on the track” to success.  The conference agenda was designed with input from Destination Marketing Organizations and the Ministry of Tourism to ensure delegates’ time is well spent.

An update on tourism in Ontario and Ontario’s Southwest by Executive Director Jim Hudson will precede a key note address by Roger Brooks, CEO/President ofDestination Development International.  One of North America’s top experts in the creation of great destinations, Roger has guided nearly 1,000 communities in community branding, revitalization and marketing efforts. His practical approach gives audiences the steps, rules and ingredients to use to make an immediate difference in their businesses.

Rounding off the day will be a Networking Reception hosted by Savour Elgin. Delegates will sample local cuisine while forming valuable new contacts and sharing ideas in a relaxing social atmosphere.  The Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation is the Regional Tourism Organization for Ontario’s Southwest. It brings regional tourism into the hands of the private sector.  With a goal to double tourism by 2020, it will build cohesion as a regional team. Ontario’s Southwest consists of nine areas and it is estimated that 13.4 million visitors spend $1.3 billion annually.

For more information contact:

Jen Moore

Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Ontario’s Southwest

519.290.8687

jen@swotc.ca

www.swotc.ca

 Elgin County Ambassadors are people who volunteer their time to help promote business throughout Elgin County and actively participate in the growth and development of the County. The Ambassador of the Year is awarded based on points that are given to ambassadors for a variety of items including attendance at quarterly meetings, recruiting new members, promoting Elgin County at events, and informing Economic Development staff about new business in the area.

 McGartland has represented the County at numerous events over the past year, has spoken about Elgin’s Creative Economy at several conferences and organized the Western Elgin Interactive Showcase in October 2011. She sits on the County of Elgin’s Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Committee and represents Elgin County on the Board of Directors of the Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation.

 “We would like to thank Grace for her commitment, creativity and enthusiasm,” said Elgin County Warden Bill Walters. “Her involvement and contribution has been an immeasurable asset to our Economic Development program.”

 The Elgin County Ambassador program is open to entrepreneurs, business owners and community leaders. For more information on the program please call 519-631-1460 ext. 168 or email jberinger@elgin-county.on.ca.

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For further information contact:

Katherine Thompson

Marketing and Communications Coordinator

County of Elgin

450 Sunset Drive

St. Thomas, Ontario, N5R 5V1

www.progressivebynature.com

Phone: (519) 631-1460 Ext. 180

kthompson@elgin-county.on.ca

Use of the ‘Ontario’s Garden’ slogan allows local agriculture champions to raise awareness among food buyers and consumers of how important Norfolk is within the food sector. The target of the brand is the audience of people with the ability and interest to spend money on food from Norfolk County.

‘Ontario’s Garden’ has been incorporated into publications, print, radio and web advertising, websites, social media and signage. Positive feedback from consumers and agriculture stakeholders locally and from other communities and confirms that Norfolk County made a good choice by promoting itself as ‘Ontario’s Garden’.

The concept of the ‘Ontario’s Garden’ slogan was brought to the attention of a consulting firm working on behalf of Norfolk County, as part of a wholesale food sales marketing plan. The slogan was a welcome spin-off benefit of the research project, which was funded by the Ontario Market Investment Fund, Norfolk County and the Norfolk District Business Development Corporation.

According to Statistics Canada, Norfolk County is Ontario’s leading grower of apples, asparagus, cabbage, cucumbers, green onions and shallots, peanuts, pumpkin, squash and zucchini, strawberries, sweet corn, and sweet potatoes.

For more information about Norfolk food and agriculture, visit http://www.norfolkfarms.com/, pick up a copy of the Norfolk County Official Map and Local Food Guide, or join www.facebook.com/norfolk.farms or www.twitter.com/norfolkfarms .   

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 Media contacts:

 Clark Hoskin, Manager, Tourism & Economic Development, Norfolk County

Phone 519-426-5870 ext 1238

Dennis Travale, Mayor, Norfolk County

Phone 519-426-5870 ext 1220

Ontario’s Southwest 2011 Culinary Guide was named best Tourism Specialty Brochure/Map/Guide of the year. This publication has benefited from the dedicated collaboration of culinary tourism and design professionals who contributed their significant expertise to the project.

“Ontario’s Southwest offers an exceptional variety of culinary options and the guide reflects just how bountiful the region truly is.  We are delighted the guide has been recognized as this is the first collaborative piece of nine destination marketing organizations,” said Lori Da Silva, Chair of the regional tourism organization’s Board and General Manager, London Convention Centre.

“The Culinary Guide is a huge first step in the new collaboration of all nine tourism organizations in Ontario’s Southwest. Our region is known as the breadbasket of Ontario.  It makes perfect sense to work together to strengthen culinary and farm fresh food initiatives and demonstrate we are stronger together than apart,” said Joy Sim, Manager of Tourism at Economic Development for Chatham-Kent and co-chair of the interim board of directors.

Fellow co-chair and Manager, Tourism & Economic Development for Norfolk County Clark Hoskin added, “We identified early on that each community within our region had a claim to fame when it came to food grown locally, as well as great restaurants that are committed to supporting our farmers and food producers. This differentiates us in Ontario – we grow most of the food.  The Culinary Guide celebrates the many flavour destinations within Southwest Ontario”.

The Culinary Guide is currently on display at tourist destinations all over Ontario’s Southwest and a digital version is available at www.ontariossouthwestculinary.com.

 About Ontario’s Southwest

The Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation is the Regional Tourism Organization for Ontario’s Southwest. It is designed to bring regional tourism into the hands of the private sector.The guide was produced by the Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation formally RTO 1 Transition Group and funded by the Government of Ontario. Editorial and creative was produced by Bryan Lavery and Chris McDonell of Eat Drink Magazine respectively. Marco Di Carlo and Shane Stuart of Velocity Studio’s took the reins in creating the website and online version of the guide.

Media Contacts:    Jen Moore, Marketing & Communications Coordinator

                                    Ontario’s Southwest

                                    519-290-8687

                                    jen@swotc.ca

Norfolk County awards Travel Writer of the Year

George Bailey of Niagara Falls has been named Norfolk County Travel Writer of the Year.

The winning entry was an article Bailey wrote and published in several newspapers, including The St. Catharines Standard and the Niagara Falls Review. The article, called “An ideal place for an autumn getaway,” focused on Port Rowan, but also explained many of the other activities that happen around Norfolk County.

“The article was well written and was accompanied by colourful photos,” said Clark Hoskin, manager of Tourism and Economic Development for Norfolk County. “ The article also focused on autumn as a time to travel, which supports our goal to spread tourism spending into the shoulder seasons.”

The winning travel writer was announced at the Norfolk County Economic Development Symposium on January 26, where about 150 businesses, tourist operators, farmers and others gathered to hear interesting speakers and network among themselves.

“So often I am called on to recognize and celebrate the efforts of Norfolk County residents who contribute to our community,” said Norfolk County Mayor Dennis Travale. “This time I was able to recognize someone from outside of our community who is helping to spread the word about us.”

The Norfolk County Travel Writer of the Year Award was launched at the “Evening in Norfolk County” event held in Toronto in spring of 2011. A delegation of businesses, tourist attractions and event organizers from Norfolk County hosted members of the Travel Media Association of Canada that night to learn more about Norfolk County as a travel destination. Writers were asked to write and publish articles extolling the virtues of travelling to Norfolk County for a visit. The award contest is expected to continue in 2012.

The Norfolk County Travel Writer of the Year Award prize was $1,000, co-sponsored by Norfolk County and the Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation.

For more information about travel ideas in Norfolk County, visit http://www.norfolktourism.ca/.

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A copy of the article can be seen on George Bailey’s website:

http://www.whattravelwriterssay.com/portrowanont.html

Media contacts:

Clark Hoskin, Manager, Tourism and Economic Development, Norfolk County
Phone: 519-426-5870 ext 1238

Dennis Travale, Mayor, Norfolk County
Phone: 519-426-5870 ext 1220