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For the past year, the Digital Excellence Centre has been providing no cost digital support to Elora Fergus businesses and operators to improve their digital presence. During these uncertain times, the Digital Excellence Centre aims to support you in your digital improvements, knowledge and ideas. Join now to learn about the benefits available – including grant funding to participants!
Contact Charlotte@RTO4.ca for more information and further assistance.
As part of the RTO4 Digital Excellence Program the following Digital Excellence one pagers were created to show operators where visitors access their information. Leveraging Digital Excellence has never been more important, and it all begins with digital hygiene. Digital Hygiene refers to the foundation of a digital presence – the basic building blocks of creating the most impact with your digital assets. Thus, RTO4 built these one-pagers around three main building blocks:
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The Destination Animation Strategic Co-Investment Project was first launched by The Township of Centre Wellington, Elora & Fergus Tourism and Regional Tourism Organization Four (RTO4) in 2017. The Elora & Fergus Destination Animation Project (DAP) looks to the create/enhance bigger and better projects that showcase the DNA of the region; natural setting, heritage and arts and culture. DAP projects are intended to be highly shareable and create unique experiences for residents and visitors alike. This year DAP accepted projects that are in person along with virtual or self-guided projects/experiences including those that incorporate sustainability and focus on equity, diversity and include and/or indigenous culture.
Background
The Elora & Fergus Destination Animation Project enables experience and product development. The project was launched in response to the issue of the Elora and Fergus area having a "lack" of "things to do" for visitors. In order to create truly unique experiences for both visitors and residents, the project focuses on enabling feasible ideas that align with the DNA of the region; natural setting, heritage and arts and culture, are highly shareable and have high impact on the destination.
The Destination Animation Strategic Co-Investment Project was first launched by The Township of Centre Wellington and Regional Tourism Organization Four (RTO4) in 2017 with $13,000 and resulted in a combined investment of approximately $40,000 in 2017 for a total of 6 unique and highly successful projects. The first year was a success with new events created such as "Twilight at Templin" and "Rappelling and Riverfeast" along with enhancements to existing events such as the Bissel Quick Paint Competition. Due to the successful program in 2017 and enthusiasm from the community, the program has continued with the creation of 13 new events and projects.
| Eligibility |
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Eligible organizations include:
- Festivals and Events
- For-profit or non-profit organizations
- Tourism enterprises, BIA's and businesses (as individual organizations or as a consortium) with interests in nature, arts & culture, heritage, agri-culinary, sports, meetings & conventions, etc.
Applicant businesses/organizations must be visitor-friendly establishments/events located within or in close proximity to Elora and Fergus. The project may be brand new or an enhancement and can be small or large in scale. Applicants are welcome to submit multiple applications for different projects. Individual projects can submit for any amount from $500 to $10,000.
Ineligible requests include:
- Capital/Infrastructure expenses
- Regular operational expenses
- Charitable contributions
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Application Process and Deadlines
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The application process for the Destination Animation Project (DAP) is open year-round. For more information about DAP, please contact:
John Carrolo
Tourism and Destination Development Coordinator
Office: 519-846-9691 ext. 380
Email: jcarrolo@centrewellington.ca
Karen Mitchell
Destination Project Manager at RTO4
Office: 519-271-7000 ext. 102
Email: karen@rto4.ca
| Evaluation Criteria |
- Projects/Experiences must be virtual or self-guided
- Net new or enhanced experience (not pre-existing)
- Unique, authentic "nature, heritage, arts and culture" experience
- Level of shareability (i.e., inspires social media sharing)
- Feasibility
- Appeals to both local residents and out-of-town visitors
- Potential of overall economic benefit to the Elora Fergus area
- Level of collaboration with other stakeholders
- Hyper-Local marketing/promotional support provided
The selection committee will evaluate applications against their given project scoring criteria.
Successful applications investments are then issued in two instalments:
- The first 50% is issued following the signing of an MOU between DAP partners and the successful applicant.
- The remaining 40% is issued following the completion of the selected experience/project and submission of final reporting materials.
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Due Diligence
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Before proceeding to funding, Elora Fergus Tourism will undertake due diligence on the lead organizations. The due diligence assesses if potential applicants meet minimum criteria for:
- Governance, risk management and internal controls
- Financial status, procurement and financial management
- Programmatic capability and readiness to deliver
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Past DAP Projects
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| 2017 Interactive Open-Air Celidh as part of Culture Days |
| An interactive open-air event, to celebrate Celtic music, offering a free cultural activity for the whole family as part of Culture Days. Using songs, drums, clapping, and dancing, the event will get the audience involved and continue drawing people into the celidh. |
| 2017 Bissell Quick Paint Competition |
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This is a new event and challenge added to the Elora en Plein Air Festival this year! Artists were given 8” x 10” pre-stamped boards and had 2 hours to capture their image of the natural and historical beauty in Bissell Park in Elora. Artists works were put on display for award presentation and sale after.
https://elorapleinair.ca/home/paint-events/
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| 2017 Festival Faire |
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A free family-friendly event brought together Centre Wellington’s festivals, events, artists, artisans, merchants and performers for a huge Canada 150 celebration.
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2017 The River is Calling
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A celebration of the Grand River Canoes and Paddles Exhibiting artist Brad Copping discusses his current solo exhibition Setting afloat on a river in spate and the Mirrored Canoe Project (2015). Brad Copping will portage his canoe of mirrored glass to Bissell Park and set it afloat on the Grand River.
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2017 Rapelling and Riverfeast
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This evening event includes a cultural tour by costumed historians of Chalmer’s Church built in 1877. After the tour rappel down 60ft into the gorge and enjoy dining along the riverbed ensconced by lights. Enjoy a four course locally sourced menu while being serenaded by famous local cellist, Christopher Sharpe.
https://www.oneaxepursuits.com/
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2017 Twilight at Templin
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Twilight at Templin Gardens is a free family friendly music event held at the Fergus Templin Gardens on Wednesday evenings from 7 pm - 9 pm during the months of July and August. The musical events include artists sharing their personal stories of Centre Wellington, and also features handmade market where local artists display their creative works. True to the Scottish heritage of Fergus, each concert ends with a Piper piping down the sun on the historic 1920’s Templin Garden stairs lit up with candles, creating an intimate finale to the evening.
https://twilightattemplin.com/
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2018 Brunch on the Bridge
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Brunch on the Bridge - The event will celebrate the opening of an enhance gateway to the Fergus downtown historic district and promote and increase public knowledge on sustainable and local food producers, farmers and growers. The event will be a harvest style farm to fork brunch on the bridge over the Grand River prior to reopening.
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2018 Grasslands Enhanced
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Grasslands Enhanced - An enhanced and expanded Grasslands experience saw major festivals and events of Elora/Fergus animate the Greenspace in downtown Elora through 1-hour live performances on Saturdays mid June – Mid August to promote the upcoming festival season in Elora and Fergus.
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2018 Follow the Flock
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“Follow the Flock” Online Campaign – For the entire month of June and the first week of July, a life-size flock of wooden sheep moved in and around Elora and Fergus with the two-fold purpose of promoting the Black Sheep Festival of Contemporary Textile Art and showcasing the natural setting and surrounding tourist attractions. Locals and visitors alike were encouraged to “spot” the flock themselves and post their own pictures using the #location #followtheflock #blacksheepelora. In 2019, the plan was to revise the campaign to get more key community members involved to bolster the exposure.
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2018 Fergus Medieval Faire
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Fergus Medieval Faire - This new one-day festival on July 28th featured interactive and educational activities; Medieval re-enactments (archery show, sword fighting, fight the knight, armor display), an authentic Viking encampment, Celtic music, Falconry demonstration with hands on meet the Birds of Prey, Weavers / Spinners / Embroidery Guild demonstration, Live forge, Apothecary tent, an open-air market and more. Costumed actors and horses mingled about downtown while a town crier announced merchant specials and promotions. A Medieval Feast dinner was held at 6pm followed by a guided Ghost Tour of the histories and mysteries of downtown Fergus at 8.00 p.m.
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2018 Monster Rappel
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Monster Rappel - On Saturday, October 20th, 2018 monster march parade started with a spectacle at One Axe Pursuits on Henderson Street with monsters rappelling out of the bell tower, along with Tim Murton’s lantern creatures. A headless horseman lead the parade to Bissell Park where parade goers were treated to snacks at a spooked out shelter at Bissell Park decorated with lantern creatures.
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2019 Fergus Quick Paint
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Fergus downtown is beautiful with classic Scottish heritage stone buildings and three charming bridges that span one of the most stunning areas of the Grand River. This is an idyllic place of artists to paint 'En Plein Air'. During the Fergus Quick Paint Competition artists will capture the beauty of this specific core area. The Elora Arts Council will be collaborating with the Fergus BIA for the Fergus Quick Paint. They will welcome artists and spectators to the downtown core of Fergus and invite the community and visitors alike to join in the fun: Discover the artists painting on street, by the river, on a bridge and wherever they set up an easel. Templin Gardens set on the banks of the Heritage Grand River is the 'headquarters' for the Fergus Quick Paint. The painting begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 11:00 a.m. Artists have 2 hours to paint an 8" x 10" image of a defined area. Artists must turn in their work by 11:15 a.m. and the art pieces submitted are set up for display. At 11:30 the work is viewed by a qualified judge and a prize is awarded for 'Best in Show. A Show and Sale: of the works follow immediately and will run until 1:00 p.m.
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2019 Wizard's Way at the Fergus Medieval Faire
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On July 27th, 2019, Wizards Way will be located in one of the existing Alleyways in downtown Fergus which will be transformed into a magical place for kids to explore. Attractions will include; • Zoltan the Adequate (wandering magician and fire eater). His pet rats will accompany him (they sit on his shoulder) as they wander the streets performing magic tricks and directing folks to Wizards Way. Comedic Act. • Theatrics. A group of actors and acrobats. They will be located in Wizards Way providing Wizardry classes and demonstrations.
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2019 Ontario Week of Wonder Magic Festival
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Ontario Week of Wonder Magic Festival; a seven-day celebration of magic and illusion held Downtown Fergus. The festival runs the last week in October and coincides with National Magic Week Oct 24-31. There will be free and ticketed events. The event will see magicians’ table-side at restaurants downtown along with gala shows hosted at the Fergus Grand Theatre. Free late-night events that the public and magicians will love will take place at a secondary venue. A magician convention being a part of the event, secret sessions during the day at the theatre which will be hosted by magicians that magicians come to see.
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