Congratulations to Headwaters Tourism, who accepted awards earlier this week in three categories at the 2016 Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence ceremony!
Headwaters Tourism, the small Ontario destination marketing organization that represents Dufferin County and the Towns of Caledon, Erin, Mono and Shelburne, has flourished in bringing much-deserved attention to the area, while recognizing the opportunity in the agricultural sector and the impact it can have. Headwaters Tourism has always highlighted the area’s great food and beverage businesses, and harnessed their specialty, branding the area as “true horse country”.
Headwaters Tourism won honours in the following categories: Tourism Marketing Campaign Under $25K for the Headwaters: Where Ontario Gets Real brand launch; Tourism Print Collateral Award for the Headwaters 2015 Four-Season Visitors’ Guide; and Tourism Innovator of the Year for the Headwaters Parade of Horses.
“Being recognized at this level, among hundreds of tourism industry leaders, is indeed an honour, and perhaps more importantly recognizes the exceptional work being done to make Headwaters Ontario’s premier rural tourism destination” said Stacey Coupland, Headwaters Board Chair. “People now know who we are and all the exceptional offerings in the region.”
Michele Harris, Executive Director at Headwaters Tourism, was a keynote speaker at this month’s Municipal Agriculture Economic Development Forum, where she spoke about “The Journey of Developing Headwaters Horse Country – Ontario’s Centre of Equine Excellence.” Michele discussed the benefits in recognizing your community’s economic strengths, and then shared their journey in identifying a strength in their equine sector, and developing and branding Caledon and surrounding area as Headwaters Horse Country, Ontario’s Centre of Equine Excellence. And clearly, it was a success.
Their news release says this recognition is testament to the passion and commitment of many people, including the Headwaters Tourism Board of Directors and staff, the Headwaters Equine Leadership Group, the creative team at Touchwood Design, and of course the many businesses and tourism operators.
Headwaters was also showcased in two other categories, with area businesses/partners being recognized as finalists, including the Ontario Culinary Tourism Event of the Year for Spirit Tree Estate Cidery’s Family Day Wassailing Festival.
The Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence are presented annually, and are an opportunity to recognize those who have made significant contributions to Ontario’s tourism industry.
We are thrilled to see Headwaters Tourism recognize the pull that agricultural businesses and activities can have for communities and tourism, and that their outstanding work is now in turn being recognized too. Congratulations!