Indigenous Tourism Ontario Newsletter - April 21, 2020

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Kwe Kwe / Aanii / Boozhoo / She:kon / Sge:no / Wachay / Shekoli / Tansi / Greetings,

We at Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO) hope you are keeping well and staying safe.

The ITO team is here for you. We know these are difficult times for everyone and we are working very diligently to provide you with support and up-to-date information. It is imperative that our communities, businesses, and the Indigenous tourism industry remain united during these uncertain times to maintain our collective pre-pandemic momentum.

As such, we would like to lend a hand to ensure your tourism business remains self-sufficient when the dust settles. We have dedicated a team of Business Support Brokers (BSB) to work with you on the following activities;

Rescue
Spring/Summer/Fall of 2020
At this time, our BSBs are working closely with our industry partners to ensure you have access to necessary funding and grants that support entrepreneurs, business owners, and the tourism workforce. Our main priority is to help our members with the application process for grants and loans. This includes but is not limited to:

Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) Stimulus Fund
Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) grants

Recovery
Fall/Winter of 2020/21
For this phase, we are focused on building awareness about your business and regaining domestic traveller interest through advertising and promotion. Our BSBs will help you identify appropriate marketing opportunities with partners including but not limited to:

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO)
Indigenous Experience Ontario (IEO)
Destination Ontario

Resurgence
Winter/Spring/Summer of 2021
More details to come in the following months.

CONNECT WITH A BUSINESS SUPPORT BROKER (BSB)

ITAC STIMULUS FUND

What You Need to Know

Deadline to apply: April 30, 2020

Maximum funding: $25,000

Eligibility: Applicants must be Canadian Indigenous tourism businesses who are at least 51% owned by Indigenous entrepreneurs, Indigenous communities or economic development corporations.

The goal of the stimulus fund is to provide relief for as many affected Indigenous tourism businesses as possible across Canada. Funding will be provided to support projects specific to helping your Indigenous tourism business recover from COVID-19. Projects should focus on one or more of the following objectives:

Maintaining jobs
Diversifying revenue streams
Resiliency/strengthening business offerings

For more information, access the ITAC Solutions Paper here.

Please connect with the ITO Business Support Broker (BSB) in your region to assist you with your application and help you with your specific COVID-19 needs.

ITO, NOTO, & TIAO ISSUE PRESS RELEASE

April 21, 2020

Press Release: Indigenous and Seasonal Tourism Businesses Facing Permanent Closure Without Immediate Support

A Message from our President & CEO

In an effort to amplify the voice of the Indigenous and Seasonal tourism businesses, ITO collaborated with Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario and the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario to issue the following press release today.

We will continue to collaborate and work with both our Federal and Provincial governments/departments and many other partners to help the Indigenous tourism businesses through this difficult time.

Miigwetch,
Kevin Eshkawkogan
President and CEO
Indigenous Tourism Ontario

A MESSAGE FROM TIAO

Nominations are now open for the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario’s (TIAO’s) Board of Directors

The Nominating Committee of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario is seeking nominations of qualified candidates for election to TIAO’s Board of Directors.

Qualified candidates should apply by downloading and completing an application form here, and return it along with any applicable documents, to TIAO by no later than Friday, May 1st.

Currently seeking interested individuals who have skills in the following areas:

Public Affairs, Risk Management, Finances, Legal, and Technology.

All candidates will be considered by the Nominating Committee. The process for short-listed candidates will include at least one interview with a committee member.

The final slate will be presented to the members at the AGM on May 27th.

Thank you for your interest.

The TIAO team.

Indigenous Tourism Ontario
1300 Hwy 540
4 Directions Complex Unit 4
Aundeck Omni Kaning, Ontario
P0P 1K0
info@indigenoustourismontario.ca
www.indigenoustourismontario.ca

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Indigenous Tourism Ontario Newsletter – April 21, 2020