Impact: TMAC Travel Conference Put Peterborough & Kawarthas On Map Across Canada

The June 2015 Travel Media Association of Canada Conference & AGM showcased Peterborough and the Kawarthas to hundreds of travel industry professionals from around the planet—and now the numbers are in to show the impact it has had on the region.

According to a Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism release, the economic impact of the conference was $575,000. In addition, the value of the media coverage earned has the region’s destination marketing organization particularly pleased—since June, the region has received 46 external media coverages valued at $588,000 and growing.

And the momentum continues...

“We currently have 54 qualified media leads as a result of hosting the conference, a high number compared to the 10-15 we average in a typical year," says Fiona Dawson, Director of Tourism for Peterborough Economid Development. "We’re answering calls from media outlets on a frequent basis now."

Of the 211 delegates that visited the region, 96 of them were media—representing the highest media turn-out that the association has seen in recent years.

“With our close proximity to Toronto and Ottawa, we were an easy choice for media travelling from all over Canada," says Dawson. "Peterborough & the Kawarthas offered media plenty of opportunities to discover new things and to leave with new story ideas."

To date, media coverage of the region as a result of hosting TMAC spans from large 2-3 page features in Canadian Cycling Magazine, West Jet Magazine and the Travel Section of the Toronto Star (including a feature on the new Star Touch App), to medium-sized articles in papers and magazines across Canada—as well as dozens of digital stories ranging from Buzzfeed Canada to personal travel blogs and websites.

Also, the power of social media was demontrated as there were 1.3 million Twitter impressions generated for the conference to the hashtag #TMACPtbo.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com.

Peterborough Community Trading Cards Introduced To Raise Money For The Warming Room

Kawartha Local—a company that sells locally produced products—has launched a fun community trading card project to raise money for The Warming Room.

Kawartha Local's Rob Howard explains that the collectable cards of "community heroes" are a tangible way to show a love of community, with after-cost proceeds going to The Warming Room—a safe place where Peterborough’s most vulnerable can spend a winter night when no other options are available.

Mike Judson

Each card depicts a different local community hero. According to Howard, “they are all people who make a difference every day—and, just as importantly, work to bring out the superhero in others.”

The cards feature caricature illustrations by local artist Jason Wilkins, with graphic design work by Jeff Macklin of Jackson Creek Press. Featured on the cards are MP Maryam Monsef, Mike Judson, Donald Fraser, Diane Therrien, Michelle Ferreri and our PTBOCanada co-founder Neil Morton.

Maryam Monsef

“There are dozens and dozens of people we could recognize this way in Peterborough,” says Howard. “But for this edition, we asked six to participate.” 

A reception and project launch is taking place Saturday, February 6th from 4 to 6 pm at Black Honey Coffeehouse, 221 Hunter. Cards will be available for sale with several “superheros” on hand at the event.

Donald Fraser

Cards are sold in packages of 3 for $17.70, and are available online at kawarthalocal.ca, and at Naked Chocolate and Black Honey Coffeehouse on Hunter Street. Collectors can complete their set by trading any “doubles” at Facebook.com/KawarthaLocal or by making contact with other collectors on Twitter with the #PTBOTradingCards hashtag.

Diane Therrien

Howard has plans to do a future edition with different personalities. "If we do another Peterborough Trading Cards edition, it will have a different theme and support a different local charity," he says.

Michelle Ferreri

For more information on the “Peterborough Trading Cards” project, contact Rob Howard at 705.791.0050 or email.

More deets on the official launch and reception here.

Neil Morton

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com.

Two Teens Took An Ice Floe For A Joyride On The Otonabee River

You don't see this every day. Two teens decided to get on an ice floe on Thursday (January 28th) afternoon on the Otonabee River in Peterborough, and take it for a joyride.

The teens seem quite relaxed. Screengrab via Chex Newswatch

EMS were called, and a river rescue ensued south of Inverlea Park at Parkhill Road—though the two males didn't seem all that concerned about moving downstream at a quick rate in ice cold water from this footage CHEX Newswatch captured.

The pair even had a laptop computer and were using long sticks to steer their floe.

Screengrab via Chex Newswatch

Fire Services deployed an inflatable Rapid Deployment Craft at the London Street footbridge and two firefighters in immersion suits quickly rescued the males from the ice floe and brought them safely to the west shore.

The teens chill out as the rescue raft comes. Screengrab via Chex Newswatch

It appears this was an intentional act, according to police. The two males, both in their late teens and not from the Peterborough area, were spoken to by officers at the scene and warned regarding their dangerous actions. 

Watch the raw footage over at CHEX Newswatch's website.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com.

Winter Pictures Of Downtown Peterborough Churches

Our Scott Arnold spent a day in the downtown area of Peterborough exploring churches this week. 

Have a look at his great pics below...

St. Andrew's United Church

George St. United

All Saints' Church

Knox United Church

Murray Street Baptist Church

Park Street Baptist Church

Sacred Heart

St. James United Church

St. Paul's Presbyterian

St. John's Anglican Church

Cathedral of Saint Peter-in-Chains

Trinity United

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com.

Watch Maryam Monsef's Passionate Maiden Speech In The House Of Commons

On Monday (January 25th), MP Maryam Monsef gave her Maiden Speech to the House of Commons as a Member of Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha.

In her passionate talk, she made commitments to the people of her riding here and to the people of Canada. She also made a plea for civility to her colleagues in the House to work together and make this country all that it can be.

Watch her speech below...

On January 25th, 2016, Maryam Monsef spoke for the first time as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons. Watch her "Maiden Speech" and her special message for the people of Peterborough--Kawartha.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com.