summit agenda and speakers
AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS
The Northern Ontario Tourism Summit committee is currently planning over 25 incredible sessions and two evening events you won't want to miss! Full agenda details will be released closer to the event.
Schedule and speakers are subject to change. Please refer to the NOTS 2023 app or check back here for details!
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2023
10:00 AM
North Channel Marine Tourism Council Annual General Meeting
- Summit Registration Desk
- Exhibitor Setup
11:00 AM
Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario Annual General Meeting
2:00 PM
Destination Northern Ontario Annual General Meeting (off-site at the Water Tower Inn)
2:30 PM
Algoma Kinniwabi Travel Association Annual General Meeting (off-site at the Water Tower Inn)
7:00 PM
Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario's Retro Welcome Party at Northcrest Bowling Alley!
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2023
7:30 AM
Breakfast – Sponsored by Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO)
8:30 AM
Welcome Message from Chief Karen Bell of Garden River and Chief Mark McCoy of Batchewana
- Land Acknowledgement
- Opening Remarks
- Message from MP Terry Sheehan
- Tourism Sault Ste. Marie
9:00 AM
Keynote Speaker: Max Valiquette
Innovation, Transformation, and Marketing Expert
10:00 AM
Coffee Break – Sponsored by Northeastern Ontario Tourism
10:30 AM
Destination Northern Ontario Address
- Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario Address
- Indigenous Tourism Ontario Address
- Destination Ontario Address
- Tourism Industry Association of Ontario Address
- Experience Fishing Update with Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario
- Village Media
12:00 PM
Lunch – Sponsored by Tourism North Bay
1:00 PM
Websites in 2024; Trends, Strategy, Design, Development and Maintenance
2:00 PM
Energy Break – Sponsored by the Lake Temiskaming Tour
2:30 PM
Cycling Tourism in Northern Ontario
- Funding Opportunities for Tourism Businesses
- Addressing the Mental Health, Addiction and Homelessness Crisis in Northern Ontario – Panel Discussion
- MNRF Fish and Wildlife Updates (Baitfish, Moose, Black Bear)
3:30 PM
Is Your Workplace up to Date With OHSA Requirements?
- Operator Panel: Developing New Markets
- Destination Northern Ontario: How Your RTO Can Help You
- Development of the Lake Superior North Shore Inside Passage
7:00 PM
Opening Reception – Agawa Canyon Train Station – Hosted by Tourism Sault Ste. Marie and the City of Sault Ste. Marie
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2023
7:30 AM
Breakfast – Sponsored by Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO)
8:00 AM
Opening Remarks
- Message from Hon. Graydon Smith, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry
8:15 AM
Feast On®: A Certified Taste of Local by the Culinary Tourism Alliance
8:30 AM
Tourism and Economic Development – Creating a Lifestyle for the Future
9:15 AM
How to Sell Your Business - What Does it Really Take?
10:00 AM
Coffee Break Sponsored by Gateway Casinos Sault Ste. Marie
10:30 AM
Tourism Workforce: A Students Perspective – Panel Discussion
11:15 AM
Magnetic North - Workforce Retention and Attraction
12:00 PM
Presidents Award Luncheon Sponsored by The Standard and Brokerlink
1:00 PM
Live Strategy Sessions; Websites and Social
- Cultural Tourism in Ontario: Challenges and Opportunities from Inclusion to Participation
- 2SLGBTQI+ "Spark" Finalists' Pitch Session (1:00pm-3:30pm)
- General Best Business Practices and Small Business Management Tactics
2:00 PM
Energy Break with our Industry Marketplace Exhibitors
2:30 PM
Building Arts Destinations in Northern Ontario: A Spotlight on the Thunder Bay Art Gallery – Brought to you by Ontario Culture Days
- NWMO – Nuclear Waste Management Organization
- 2SLGBTQI+ "Spark" Finalists' Pitch Session (1:00pm-3:30pm)
- Exhibitor Booth Takedown (2:30pm-4:00pm)
- Exhibitor Booth Take down (2:30pm - 4:00pm)
3:30 PM
Why you REALLY want to attract the Cultural Tourist: A Conversation on the OAC’s 2023 Cultural Tourism Report: Brought to you by Ontario Culture Days
- Indigenous Tourism Ontario - Business Networking Session
- OPTIS/NOPTIS Micro-credential: From Development to Delivery
- Exhibitor Booth Take down (2:30pm - 4:00pm)
6:00 PM
Gala Awards Dinner: Quattro Hotel and Conference Centre Ballroom – Hosted by The New Business, Destination Northern Ontario and Noture & Outdoor Tourism Ontario
10:00 PM
NOTO Hospitality Night – Sponsored by Mercury Marine
In addition, we are currently locking in over 20 incredible sessions such as
- General Best Business Practices
- Small Business Management Tactics
- Transportation and Electric Charging Stations
- Employee Manuals
- Experience Fishing Program
- Homelessness, Addiction and Mental Health in Northern Ontario
- Grant Opportunities (Provincial and Federal)
- New Markets and How to Appeal to Family Vacationers
- Ontario Professional Tourism Industry Specialist and Northern Ontario Professional Tourism Industry Specialist Micro-credential Program
- Bear and Moose Population
- Northern Policy Institute’s Immigration Pilot project
- Northern Ontario 2SLGBTQ+ SPARK Program
- An update from Workforce Planning Boards
- Chat GPT for Beginners
- Workforce Recruitment and Retention and many more!
Frederic Dimanche
Director of the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management
Frederic Dimanche is Director of the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Toronto Metropolitan University. He worked in the USA and France before coming to Canada. He has published numerous tourism-related research articles on hospitality and tourism management. Frederic is a past President of the Travel and Tourism Research Association Europe and a fellow of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism..
Max Valiquette
Innovation, Transformation, and Marketing Expert
For over 20 years, Max Valiquette has been at the forefront of what's now, what's new, and what's next. Anointed by Marketing Magazine as one of Canada's “most influential marketers,” Valiquette has worked with some of the biggest companies in the world, helping them transform their organizations, business, and brands. He is an award-winning marketer and market researcher; an author; a broadcaster; and a journalist who relishes engaging with audiences.
Michael Murray
CEO, Ontario Arts Council
Michael Murray was appointed CEO of the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) in July 2022. He brings wide-ranging leadership experience in the professional not-for-profit arts sector and cultural industries provincially, nationally and internationally. Previously, Michael was director of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) Performer's Rights Society. He also served as executive director for the Toronto Musicians' Association, Local 149 of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (2015-2021), and as the OAC's popular and world music and arts service organizations officer (2007-2015). Michael began his career as a professional musician, producer and songwriter in Montréal. Later, he was named executive director of UrbanArts, a community arts council in Toronto engages youth facing socioeconomic barriers in community building through the arts. Michael holds an MBA with a specialization in Arts and Media Management from the Schulich School of Business (York University). He is also a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and holds an Honours Bachelor of Music from McGill University.
Kathleen Sharpe
Executive Director, Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund
Kathleen Sharpe is a senior manager in government and the cultural sector. She has been Executive Director of the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund since its inception in 1999. The Fund, a unique program established to support cultural tourism attractions through a combination of grants and loans, has committed over $80 million to more than 800 cultural tourism projects around Ontario. Prior to OCAF, Kathleen was Director of the Culture Division of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto, a post she held from 1991 until amalgamation of the municipality into the City of Toronto in 1998. Kathleen has also held management positions at the Ontario College of Art and Design and The Banff Centre. Kathleen has been chair and president of a number of boards including the Toronto Arts Foundation, Toronto Artscape and the Canadian Conference of the Arts. She sits on many advisory committees including Nuit Blanche.
Charles Cirtwill
President and CEO of Northern Policy Institute
Charles Cirtwill is the founding President and CEO of Northern Policy Institute. NPI is northern Ontario's independent, evidence-driven public policy institute. The Institute is committed to building a road map to a growing, sustainable, and self-sufficient Northern Ontario. Charles personal research focus is on government structure and organization, business-government relations, inter-governmental relations, and performance measurement and accountability. He attended Dalhousie University, earning a BA in Political Science, a LLB, and a MPA with a focus on quantitative and qualitative assessment of public policy and programs.
Mike Jacobs
CEO, The New Business
Mike Jacobs is a lifelong and passionate marketer focusing on the tourism industry in Northern Ontario. He has worked with destinations from coast to coast, and business owners from all over the province.
Shawn Newman
Arts and Culture Researcher, Educator, Consultant
Shawn is an arts and culture researcher, educator, and consultant. His work spans many fields including cultural tourism, creative practice, and program design and evaluation. He has worked in both the non-profit and commercial arts and culture sectors, and his teaching at Queen's and York universities ranges from film and media to dance to gender studies.
Frederic Dimanche
Director of the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management
Frederic Dimanche is Director of the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Toronto Metropolitan University. He worked in the USA and France before coming to Canada. He has published numerous tourism-related research articles on hospitality and tourism management. Frederic is a past President of the Travel and Tourism Research Association Europe and a fellow of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism..
Max Valiquette
Innovation, Transformation, and Marketing Expert
For over 20 years, Max Valiquette has been at the forefront of what's now, what's new, and what's next. Anointed by Marketing Magazine as one of Canada's “most influential marketers,” Valiquette has worked with some of the biggest companies in the world, helping them transform their organizations, business, and brands. He is an award-winning marketer and market researcher; an author; a broadcaster; and a journalist who relishes engaging with audiences.