A visit to March Street

Brian Coburn, Ontario's Minister of Tourism and Recreation, today officially opened the new Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) office at 123 March Street. Coburn (shown) said that the Sault Ste.

Brian Coburn, Ontario's Minister of Tourism and Recreation, today officially opened the new Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) office at 123 March Street.

Coburn (shown) said that the Sault Ste. Marie office will support the work of a new Northern Marketing Committee, to which two Saultites, Michael Morrow and Ian McMillan, have been appointed.

The March Street office will co-ordinate communication between OTMPC's marketing programs, work to create partnerships within the tourism industry, and will ensure that northern marketing priorities are supported by appropriate promotions.

(TOTALLY GRATUITOUS SOOTODAY.COM ASIDE: The new office is located on the second floor of 123 March Street. SooToday.com's editorial office is located immediately above it, on the third floor. When we're bored, we can cause them endless botheration by making rude noises down the heating ducts.)

The following is a news release issued by Coburn's office: **************************************************************** Eves government opens new Northern Ontario tourism marketing office

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON, Aug. 26 - The Ernie Eves government is fulfilling its commitment to enhancing and promoting tourism in Northern Ontario with a new Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) office based in the North, Brian Coburn, Minister of Tourism and Recreation, said today.

"Our tourism industry stakeholders in Northern Ontario want a tourism marketing structure that meets northern priorities," said Coburn. "This office will work to promote Northern Ontario as a four-season tourism destination."

In addition to opening the office, Coburn announced the members of the newly formed Northern Marketing Committee of the OTMPC and presented a cheque for $100,000 from the Eves government's Tourism and Economic Recovery Plan to the City of Sault Ste. Marie to promote Northern Ontario as a four-season tourism destination. The OTMPC office in Sault Ste. Marie will support the work of the newly created Northern Marketing Committee, ensure efficient communication of OTMPC's marketing programs, establish powerful marketing partnerships with the northern tourism industry, and ensure northern marketing priorities are strengthened through tourism promotion. "The North is a unique region of this province, with specific tourism marketing needs," said Ed Meijer, a member of the OTMPC Board and a resident of Thunder Bay. "The province's new tourism marketing office is devoted to meeting those needs, and producing new, dynamic campaigns that increase travel in Northern Ontario."

"Our announcement today clearly reflects the Ernie Eves government's ongoing commitment to the northern tourism industry by attracting new dollars and bringing economic development opportunities to the North," said Northern Development and Mines Minister Jim Wilson. "Our government understands the importance of tourism in the north and that is why we are providing a direct voice to the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation Board." In addition to the $100,000 presented today, the Eves government's two-year, $138-million Tourism and Economic Recovery Plan has also supported:

- aggressive campaigns to rebuild global confidence in Toronto and Ontario as world-class tourism destinations

- a five-month provincial tax holiday on admissions to places of amusement and accommodations across Ontario

- a $5-million Destination Marketing Partnership Fund, a $5-million Cultural Tourism Marketing Fund and a $5-million Convention Development Fund to stimulate convention business The OTMPC is the official tourism marketing agency of the Ontario government, and promotes Ontario internationally as a four-season travel destination.

The members of the Northern Committee

- Lynn Cox, Canoe Frontier Expeditions, Pickle Lake

- Nicole Guertin, Manager, Destination Nord, Kapuskasing

- Donna Hanson(x), Hanson's King Island Lodge, Nestor Falls

- Roger Liddle, Fishing Lodge Owner, N.O.R.T.H. Realty, North Bay

- Donald MacKay, President, Muskoka Highlands, Bracebridge

- Virginia Mckenzie(x), Temagami Anishnabi Tipi Camp, Lake Temagami

- Ian McMillan, Director of Tourism, Tourism Sault Ste. Marie, Sault Ste. Marie

- Edward Meijer(x), General Manager, Valhalla Inn, Thunder Bay

- Michael Morrow, Manager Passenger Marketing, Algoma Central Railway, Sault Ste. Marie

- Anthony Potestio, Vice President and Co-Founder, Mink Mountain Properties, Thunder Bay

- Bill Rogoza, General Manager, Northern Ontario Native Tourism Association, Thunder Bay