Tuesday, 20 March, 2012

Destination Cape Breton Update on Important Upcoming Events and Projects

This information from Destination Cape Breton Association has come to my attention, and so I am sending this important update out to all those involved in tourism in Cape Breton Island.



Destination Cape Breton Association Update:

Destination Cape Breton Association is producing a Experience & Packaging Booklet:

A small handout booklet consisting of an iconic image on the front cover, along with photos throughout, is being developed to showcase the experiences & packages available to the visitor on www.cbisland.com. This booklet will give you, the tourism industry operators across Cape Breton Island, the opportunity to develop and promote your products and experiences with greater effectiveness, grow your potential customer base, increase your exposure to new markets and broaden your reach in existing markets.

The DCBA Experience & Packaging Booklet will be distributed to visitors at our Visitor Information Centres throughout Cape Breton Island, used for mail outs, tradeshows, special events, and will also be the main handout at the Cape Breton Kiosk located on the Halifax Waterfront.
All industry are encouraged to take part for a nominal fee upon meeting specific criteria.

It’s that time of the year again!
Destination Cape Breton Association will be hosting Tourism Industry Day - April 19, 2012.

We are pleased to invite you to be a part of this year’s presentation on what we are doing moving into 2012. The Marketing plan is complete and we have a clear focus moving forward. Please mark your calendars and stay tuned for updates as further information becomes available.

Reminder – Funding Program Deadlines

The 2012 Festival & Events Marketing Program applications deadline is March 31, 2012. Remember that as part of the criteria, all festivals must be listed on www.novascotia.com.
For those who received funding in the last fiscal year, please ensure that your final report is in.
The ECBC Festival and Events Funding Program deadline is March 15, 2012 – 4p.m. The Community Centres Program deadline is March 22, 2012 – 4 p.m.
Guidelines and applications are available on the ECBC website:www.ecbc-secb.gc.ca


Destination Cape Breton Association
70 Crescent St.
Sydney, Nova Scotia B1S6Z9

Thursday, 15 March, 2012

Tourism in Richmond County

Spring temperatures have finally arrived and our thoughts turn towards getting outside and preparing the yard and garden for spring planting. Richmond County is fortunate to have Greenhouse Co-op located in St. Peter’s, which offers an excellent variety of Annuals and Perennials for our gardens, as well as flowering shrubs and many of the popular trees such as Maples, Flowering Crabs and fruit bearing varieties suitable for our climate conditions. Every year, visitors driving through St. Peter’s stop in at the Visitor Information Centre and comment on how nice the village’s main street looks with the beautiful baskets of flowers hanging from the lamp posts, and flower boxes located along main street and at the VIC. We get many questions asked about the types of flowers used in the baskets and the care that goes into maintaining them. Visitors also ask a number of questions about flowers that they see growing along the sides of the roads, describing them by colour and size, some actually bring in a sprig of the plant to see if we can shed some light on what it might be, as they do not see these plants back home. Luckily we can refer them to the Greenhouse where their knowledgeable staff can give them the answer.

Many visitors also comment on different areas of North America where they have travelled, talking about how beautiful some communities have made their area by hosting programs where landowners have planted flowering shrubs and trees along the highways, adding to the attraction of the area for visitors. Whenever I drive along some of our roads where the trees look like matchsticks ready to tumble, I can’t help but think how nice it would be if we had a program where land owners would replace the damaged trees with a beautiful colourful shrub or fruit tree. Just think what an improvement that would be and how much nicer the drive for visitors to our area.

Accolades continue to build up for Cape Breton. This time Cape Breton has been noted as the Number 1 Romanic Destination in Canada according to the travel website vacay.ca. Cape Breton was chosen for this distinction because of the charm of our country setting with its easy going life style, cozy pubs, charming B&Bs and romantic resorts, beautiful scenery and pristine beaches. This is a designation that can describe all areas of Cape Breton, from the beautiful scenery of Inverness, Cabot Trail, Bras d’Or Scenic Drive, to Mabou with the Red Shoe Pub, Baddeck’s Ceilidhs at St. Marks Hall and the Bras d”Or Lakes Inn in St. Peter’s, intertainment at the Louisbourg Playhouse or the Eighteenth Century Experience with traditional music at the Begger’s Banquet at the Point of View Suites in Louisbourg. For accommodations, the island has many different types that would be perfect for a romantic getaway, from the resorts and Inns such as the Inverary Resort in Baddeck, Castle Moffet in Whycocomagh, the Dundee Resort in Dundee, Point of View Suites in Louisbourg and the Bras d’Or Lakes Inn in St. Peter’s. To the charm of a country B&B and Inns found at such places as the English Country Garden in Indian Brook, Cranberry Cove in Louisbourg, Grandma’s B&B in River Bourgeois and the Canal House B&B and MacDonald’s Country Inn in St. Peter’s and the L’Auberge Acadian Inn in Arichat. Cottages around the island would be another romantic setting for couples looking for an intimate getaway. The charm of these accommodations are just some of the many romantic locations found around the island. Whatever the reason couples pick Cape Breton Island for their getaway, be it a anniversary or their honeymoon, a stop at any of our quant, peaceful communities would offer a perfect setting.

On the local scene: Remember March 17th is St. Patricks Day. St. Peter’s will be celebrating St. Pats Day at the Bras d’Or Lakes Inn with traditional music and Paul Davis and your choice of Corned Beef and Cabbage or Coq Au Vin, reservations are necessary for this event. St. Patricks Dance at the Framboise Community Center from 9pm until 1 am. The Riverdale Community Center in Lower River will be having an Adult Dance from 9pm until 1am. A St. Paddy’s Day Dance will take place at the West Bay Community Centre from 9:30pm until 1:30am. Until next week, Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Saturday, 10 March, 2012

View of Richmond

Thinking ahead to warmer temperatures and the outdoor activities that will be drawing visitors to the area, it is only 6 months to the 9th Annual Surf Classic at Point Michaud. Michelle Richards is already planning this year’s event and is in the process of looking for sponsors to help make the event a success. Ms. Richards, the Municipality of Richmond’s Recreation Department’s Surf Instructor at Point Michaud since the start of the surf program, has worked diligently making the surf program a success. Richards has managed the Surf Classic the last number of years, making the season ending event a reality for all the surfers who have taken the recreation department’s program, as well as those coming to the area to enjoy the competition. Last year was the first year that the Municipality of Richmond’s Tourism, Culture and Economic Department funded the Classic in hopes of expanding the one day event to a full weekend, with hopes of attracting more visitors into the area. It is unclear if the the event will be receiving funding from the Department of Tourism, Cultural and Economic Development this year, as they feel the Surf Classic may be more of a Department of Recreation rather than a Tourism event. Besides the Municipality’s support, the village of St. Peter’s stepped up to the plate as it showed its support for last year’s Surf Classic in many ways; from giving discounts on rooms, to donating venues, to holding events and donating prizes. The Village On the Canal Association, VOCA, lent its support to the Surf Classic as one of the Host Sponsors for this very popular event.

Outdoor Tourism is one of the most sought after and growing avenues of the industry in Nova Scotia. It is important to stay in tune with what the visitors are looking for, especially with all the excellent reviews that Cape Breton has been drawing as the number one island destination in North America. The Surf Classic takes place just as the tourism industry starts its shoulder season, as families with school aged children have already left for home. The Surf Classic, Paddlefest, as well as ATV events are drawing quite a bit of attention to Richmond County from visitors around the area and beyond. It is gratifying to see that the communities surrounding these events see the importance of outdoor tourism.

Wednesday, 7 March, 2012

Point Michaud Surf Classic Looking for Support

The 9th Annual Point Michaud Surf Classic is only 6 months away. This information has just arrived at my desk from Michelle Richards, organizer for the Classic, and so I want to pass it along to all those who would like to see this event grow even bigger and better than past years. Michelle could use your help, and if you would like to become a supporter of this fun filled event give her a email or call her.


9th Annual Point Michaud Surf Classic


The 9th annual Point Michaud Surf Classic is scheduled for Saturday, August 25th 2012 at Point Michaud Beach on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.

This event is the longest running (non name changing) annual surf contest held in Canada. It attracts people of all ages from Nova Scotia, who participate in surf sports.

We would love to have your involvement for this year’s upcoming surf contest. Anything is greatly appreciated, as we will accept prize donations, food and beverage donations, media coverage, ideas, etc.

The Point Michaud Surf Classic will generously promote you in return. Your name and logo will appear on the posters announcing the event. Your logo will be printed on certificates handed out to all participants during the award ceremony. Sponsor names will also be announced at the event. For the duration of the contest on Aug 25th, all sponsor prizes will be on display for participants and spectators to view.

The Point Michaud Surf Classic is like no other surf contest. With multiple divisions, everyone is encouraged to enter in many categories. These divisions are as follows:

Surf Board: Kids, Jr Boy, Jr Girl, Men’s, Women’s, Master, Long Board, Short Board,
Team Surf Relay, Finless, and Open

Other Divisions include: Body Board, Skim Board, Kayak Surf, Body Surf Team Expression Session, Kite Surf, Wind Surf and Stand Up Paddleboard

With so many divisions that are further broken down into age categories, everyone walks away a winner with a prize, certificate and trophy at the Point Michaud Surf Classic. The emphasis for this event is placed on fun. It is a time to celebrate the end of another great summer at Point Michaud Beach.

I look forward to working with you towards a successful 9th annual Point Michaud Surf Classic this year.


Thank you for your consideration,

Michelle Richards
Point Michaud Surf Classic Organizer
surfmichuad@yahoo.ca
Hm Phone: (902) 345–0741
Cell Phone: (902) 227–1230

Plans For Surf Classic at Point Michaud Underway

Tourism in Richmond County
By
Ann Marie Yorke

March is here and we are now counting down the days until Spring, with it’s longer days and warmer temperatures; I can hardly wait. But since we still have to deal with snow, we may as well make the most of it. And when you think about it, there are still lots of things to do to keep busy. This is perfect weather to take to the slopes for an afternoon of sledding, or travel to Ben Eoin’s Ski resort and have fun skiing. These are great activities to keep in mind over March break. Thinking ahead to warmer temperatures and the outdoor activities that will be drawing visitors to the area, it is only 6 months to the 9th annual Surf Classic at Point Michaud. Michelle Richards is already planning this year’s events and is in the process of looking for sponsors to help make this year’s event a success. Ms. Richards, who has worked as the Municipality of Richmond’s Recreation Department’s Surf Instructor at Point Michaud since the start of the program, has worked tirelessly making the surf program a success. It is Richards who has managed the event the last number of years, making the Surf Classic a reality and an event that all the surfers who have taken the recreation department’s surf program, as well as those coming to the area, have come to enjoy.
Last year was the first year that the Municipality of Richmond’s Tourism, Culture and Economic Department funded the Classic in hopes of expanding to a full weekend of activities, which they hoped would bring more visitors into the area. It is unclear that the event will be receiving funding from the Department of Tourism, Cultural and Economic Development for this year.Besides the Municipality’s support, the Village of St. Peter’s stepped up to the plate as it showed its support for last year’s Surf Classic in many ways. Rhoda and Jean Pierre Gillet of the Bras d’Or Lakes Inn lent their support to the event by offering surfers travelling to the area to take in the Classic a discounted room rate which was a great benefit for the surfers. The Inn also hosted the first night and donated one of the major prizes. The MacBouch Restaurant and Lounge hosted the Saturday night event for the Classic, which was very successful seeing many visitors taking in the event. VOCA, the Village On the Canal Association, lent its support to the Surf Classic as one of the Host Sponsors for this very popular event. As well as the above mentioned support, there were also other business from the area that supported the Classic by donating prizes for the events. Outdoor Tourism is one of the most sought after and growing avenues of the industry in Nova Scotia. It is important to stay in tune with what the visitors are looking for, especially with all the excellent reviews that Cape Breton has been drawing as the number one island to visit in North America. With outdoor activities offered in Richmond County, it will continue to draw the interest of visitors. The Surf Classic, as well as last year’s new Paddlefest, have caused quite a bit of interest from visitors around the area and beyond.
It is great to see the renewed interest of businesses and community organizations from the county lending their support to our tourism ventures. In order to see our county grow in the tourism sector this support is a necessity. The Surf Classic which takes place the last weekend of August also aids the increase of visitors coming to the area during the start of what we refer as our shoulder season, as this is the time period that many of the visitors with families have already headed back home due to the start of school. Well until next week, I hope you enjoy your time in Richmond and have fun during the school March Break!

Thursday, 1 March, 2012

Tourism in Richmond County

February is finally coming to an end and I can honestly say I will be glad to see the month behind us. I guess that I have become a little spoiled by the mild weather we had in January and then the shock of February with the cold temperatures and abundance of snow was just a little too much, since I was so looking forward to that early spring that the knowledgeable but slightly confused groundhog had predicted. Oh well! Spring is just around the corner I hope and now we can look forward to some nicer weather.
Great news for St. Patrick's Day lovers. Make sure to mark March 17th on your events calendar and get ready to celebrate. If you come from an Irish background as I do, you have probably grown up listening and enjoying Irish music, and making sure that you had something green to wear on St. Patrick's Day. This year I am looking forward to attending the sixth annual St. Patrick's Day party at the Bras d'Or Lakes Inn. There will be lots of great traditional Irish music to get your toes tapping, while enjoying a tasty meal, sound like a party to you? Well you are right, so dig out something green to wear and join in the fun. The Sixth annual St. Patricks’s Day event is the biggest live traditional session of the year in these parts, featuring an acoustic jam with dozens of players, in the very amiable surroundings of the Bras d'Or Lakes Inn. This year's celebration will also be a tribute to Paul Davis, who will be celebrating the 30th Anniversary of his weekly radio show, “The Music of Ireland”. Without a doubt, Paul definitely deserves to be roasted and toasted by his friends and fans, after producing 1,560 hour-long shows for our enjoyment. Anyone of his friends or fans who would like to make public remarks for Paul during the meal may do so. If you are interested in making a toast to Paul you can contact Greg Silvers at 1-902- Office 1-902-535-3990 or at 1 902- 631- 5050 in advance of the event, to answer any of your questions and to schedule your toast or roast for the evening’s event. On Saturday, March 17, starting at 5 pm, the Jam session will begin, then there will be a break while guests enjoy a delicious meal served at 7pm and following the meal, the Jam session will resume Chef JP Gillet from the Bras d’Or Lakes Inn, has planned a delicious supper of your choice of either Corned Beef and Cabbage or Coq au vin for their guests. Reservations and advance tickets are required, as this is a private function at the Inn. Seating is limited, so book early to avoid disappointment. Tickets are $17.25 including taxes and can be purchased in advance from Rhoda or Jean Pierre at the Bras d'Or Lakes Inn.

Also on the entertainment scene: On March 4th, there will be a Community Breakfast held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 150 in Arichat from 8am until 11am. Also on March 4th, there will be a Merchandise Bingo held at the Riverdale Community Centre in Lower River starting at 2pm. On March 9th, there will be an Adult Dance held at the D’Escousse Hall from 9pm until 1am with music by Mike McNamara. Attendees must be 19 years of age and over to attend this event. Until next week, I hope you have fun as you enjoy some of our excellent entertainment and explore our beautiful county of Richmond.

Saturday, 25 February, 2012

Richmond County Skating Club's Year End Show a Success!

Skaters come out for finale at Richmond Skate.

Texas Rockers pose for photo before taking to the ice.


Figure Skaters from the Richmond Skating Club Show Their Style.

February 24th, The Richmond County Skating Club hosted their year end Ice-Capades. It is amazing to see how the young skaters have progressed during their first year of the Can Skate Program and just how good the more advanced figure skaters who have been skating with the club for a few years actually are. This event was the major fundraiser for the skating club and it was great to see the turn out of parents, grandparents and relatives and friends that turned out to support the skating program. The skaters ranged from the very young beginners who were adorable in their customes and performed delightly as their skating coaches led them through their routines, to the more seasoned figure skaters who ran in age from 7 to teen aged skaters and wowed the audience with their precision skating program. I can easily imagine what it would be like to attend the Olympics and see someone you know receive a Medal as the pride in our young skaters shined in every parent or grand parent as their young skaters received a medal for their performance on Friday. The club did a marvelous job perparing for the event and should be congratulated for their hard work.

Friday, 24 February, 2012

View of Richmond

The Bras d’Or Lakes Inn was the location for a meeting with Harvey Sawler, an independent consultant, who has been hired by the Department of Tourism, Culture and Economic Development for the Municipality of Richmond to come up with a new tourism brand for St. Peter’s. Sawler has worked with the Departments of Tourism in both PEI and New Brunswick in marketing and development as well as consultant for Destination Cape Breton Association. Tourism operators were invited by the Municipality to come out an express their ideas as to what the area had as a drawing agent for visitors. The consensus among the 20 operators present was the importance of the Bras d’Or Lake, especially now that it has been designated as an UNESCO Biosphere Site. The St. Peter’s Canal was also mentioned as an important sight that approximately 40,000 visitors stop off in the village to see, as well as our music, the fact that the village itself was a service area, where visitors can find a variety of excellent shops, museums, marina and restaurants which offer a variety of levels from family fair to one of the finest gourmet restaurants on the island, as well as essentials such as a service station, post office, bank and grocery and liquor stores and pharmacies. Although the area has a lot of attractions in the area that are of interest to the visitor, the main objective is to find that one aspect in the area that will stand out and entice visitors to pick St. Peter’s. Sawler will be holding one on one meetings with interested tourism operators to gather more information before he completes his report for the municipality.

A meeting was also held earlier in the day in Isle Madame with the same scenario to find their drawing card and then build on that. After speaking with members of the tourism industry in Isle Madame to see what had been accomplished at their meeting, the consensus was that, of all the attractions that the island has to offer, the one factor that would make the island stand out was their coastline. Isle Madame is rich in coastline which surrounds several communities, although the one obstacle was making sure the visitor could gain access to the coastline. Sawler will also be doing one on one meetings with operators on the island before submitting his full report in 4-6 weeks.