Tourism Marketing Launched for 2018

At an event at the Cobourg Community Centre on Thursday, several Tourism marketing initiatives were presented.  Information intended to attract Tourists to Cobourg will be provided to locations across Ontario and the marketing material will have a new look with the focus on Experiences.  The Town’s Tourism web site (although still on line) will be superceded by a new one: ExperienceCobourg.ca – the idea is to not overdo the details and encourage visitors to get more detail at the web site.  At the program launch, a collection of Souvenirs produced by Hoselton Studios was unveiled.  These will be sold at Tourism centres in Cobourg; that is, at 1) the Tourism office in the Market Building behind Victoria Hall and 2) at the Community Centre (NOT at Dressler House which no longer houses any Town staff).

Cobourg Souvenirs by Hoselton
Cobourg Souvenirs by Hoselton

Artist Beth Hoselton created sculptures of:

  • Victoria Hall
  • Our iconic lighthouse
  • A sailing ship modelled after the famous Cobourg built Countess of Dufferin, an 1876 contender for the America’s Cup and inspiration for an across-lake yacht club race.

Beth and Hoselton President Jan Hoselton helped Mayor Gil Brocanier unveil the souvenirs which will sell for $49.95 each (souvenirs in photo at right, unveiling in photo below).

In addition to the Brochure which was first unveiled at a Council meeting in March this year, contract marketing employee Bryan Mercer has now also released a new Map and Event Guide. It has the same look and feel but with a different format – it folds open to reveal a map of Cobourg showing most of the locations you might want to visit, or should I say “Experience”.  Four walking tours are included, museums and galleries are listed and more.  It lists all the major events (sorry, experiences) for the year.  You can download the brochure from the Town’s web site here,  but not the Map and Event Guide (although Google maps works for me and events are online here.)

The intent is that this new approach and zest will be used in future years – these brochures (previously known as Tourism guides) will continue to be published every year with content chosen to promote each year’s particular events.

The tourism season kick-off event attracted about 60 people and featured entertainment, a cash bar and food from the CCC Canteen – if it’s all as good as the sample, the canteen will do well.  The summer students hired by the Town are now called “Experience Ambassadors” and they helped by handing out the food samples. Another Cobourg Feel Good Experience!

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Wally Keeler
5 years ago
Wally Keeler
Reply to  Wally Keeler
5 years ago

Quite tellingly, 779 people like this FB page and over 800 follow it. Puts into perspective the tiny mouthy minority that opposes this profitable fun site.

Wally Keeler
5 years ago

My bad. I did not notice the name change. All of the “Ryan said” comments belong to Wally Keeler

Tim
Reply to  Wally Keeler
5 years ago

It really wasn’t necessary to clarify because your parking lot comment gave you away, but it was a nice change from “Dean Hustwick said …”

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Tim
5 years ago

There was no motive of concealment, as you suggest, and yes, I regard it as necessary to clarify for the record. What you think? — PRZT!

cornbread
5 years ago

Is there any chance of donating the run down pier to the Federal Government for them to repair and maintain…seems to me they have a “Base” established at this location. Another thought could be…who needs the pier? Closer ‘er down for good…even for pedestrians. We still have the beach, park, and all the rest for our tourist friends…as well as the boat slips and yacht club

ryan said
Reply to  cornbread
5 years ago

No chance of that happening at all. Cobourg owns it all. But, run for council on that proposition.

democrat
Reply to  cornbread
5 years ago

why would the Feds want it back they sold it for a buck just to get rid of it!

Deborah OConnor
Reply to  cornbread
5 years ago

Actually the Town of Cobourg and village of Port Hope were in fierce competition to have the pier designated as an official Upper Canada wharf in 1829. They both wanted it badly to go with their prospective railroads planned from the lake shore to Peterborough. At the end of the day Cobourg, supported by a cabal of business people, won the prize.

Some Port Hopers have never forgiven Cobourg for that, and many believe it was this particular issue that started the whole Port Hope/Cobourg rivalry and mistrust, still thriving almost two hundred years later!

More here (for the curious and the doubters).
http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/community-stories_histoires-de-chez-nous/cobourg-harbour_port-de-cobourg/story/3-lets-build-a-harbour/

Rusty Brown
Reply to  Deborah OConnor
5 years ago

A neighbour of ours years ago used to tell the apocryphal story that there was a sign for new arrivals at the Cobourg harbour reading “Port Hope, 7 miles this way” and pointing west. Those who could read proceeded on to Port Hope while those who couldn’t settled in Cobourg.

Walter L. Luedtke
5 years ago

The up/down voting pattern here shows the prevalence of ‘group think’ among certain posters.
Maybe they only repeat the party line of the group they belong to.
But here is a question.
What is the difference between a tourist and a group thinker?
A tourist is a person away and if he/she does not like Cobourg, he/she will leave and never visit again.
A group thinker is a person from away and if he/she does not like Cobourg, he/she will stay around anyway and badmouth our town forever.
Proud to live in Cobourg,

Bill Thompson
Reply to  Walter L. Luedtke
5 years ago

You just described the word “opinion” and has nothing to do with “group” thinking and tourist.
Opinions are like……
.everybody has one and is entitled to it.
That’s what great about freedom of speech.

Walter L. Luedtke
Reply to  Bill Thompson
5 years ago

comment image

ryan said
Reply to  Bill Thompson
5 years ago

Groupthink and opinions are not mutually exclusive. I don’t care what facts HE presents — I agin it. If it’s not groupthink, then it is shallowthink or nothink at all. More like pseudonym pseudothink. Yes, that’s it, PSEUDOTHINK.

This is Wally Keeler, not Ryan said. My mistake, now corrected.

Durka
Reply to  Walter L. Luedtke
5 years ago

Wally is making a comeback in his up/down battle.

ryan said
Reply to  Durka
5 years ago

Level playing fields are boring.

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Durka
5 years ago

Level playing fields are boring.

Wally Keeler
5 years ago

So many miserable Cobourgers who cannot accept facts, especially when they go against the stupid narrative that tourists bring only grabage to Cobourg, that tourists bright nothing to Cobourg, that tourists do not benefit the town, that most people don’t want tourists. May many lies perpetrated by a minority of grumps gripes and geriatric groaners cannot even accept good news.

I am quite happy that Cobourg earns all the revenue it does from tourists. I hope the tourists are further exploited for all money we can get from them. Money. Money. Money. that’s it. But look at all the thumbs down I get. What a pathetic lot, that hate tourists so much that they cut off their noses to spite their face, rather than accept the facts. I quite believe Dean Hustwick’s facts.

Tim
Reply to  Wally Keeler
5 years ago

I do not believe Dean Hustwick’s ‘facts’.

Durka
Reply to  Tim
5 years ago

You probably don’t believe in climate change either, do you?

Tim
Reply to  Durka
5 years ago

Sorry to disappoint you but I very strongly believe in climate change.

Durka
Reply to  Tim
5 years ago

Sorry to disappoint you but I very strongly believe in climate change

You seem to struggle with facts and analysis coming from Town of Cobourg staff so I won’t say I’m disappointed but I will say I’m surprised

Tim
Reply to  Durka
5 years ago

“Facts and analysis coming from Town of Cobourg staff”?
Perhaps if the facts and analyses weren’t provided largely by consultants hired by the Town to do their bidding they might have a modicum of credibility.

Durka
Reply to  Wally Keeler
5 years ago

Hear hear Wally, this blog has a grumpy old men syndrome. The “get off my front lawn!” type.

Durka
Reply to  Durka
5 years ago

Further to this, the thumbs up thumbs down might drive away people in frustration if they’re constantly down voted. As we can see this blog attracts more negative thinkers, the grumps gripes and geriatric groaners as Wally put it, if they drive away the counter balance of generally positive open-minded thinking people then the level of discourse takes a hit.

Tim
Reply to  Durka
5 years ago

I’m more the “get off my front lawn!”, “don’t park in my driveway!”, “stay out of my backyard!” and “stop picking my pockets!” type.

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Tim
5 years ago

Yep, mean and selfish.

Tim
Reply to  Wally Keeler
5 years ago

No, just respectful of others and expecting others to be respectful of me.

Tim
Reply to  Wally Keeler
5 years ago

In Cobourg, it’s not the tourists who are exploited for money.

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Tim
5 years ago

You should be the “get outa town” kind a guy, since Cobourg life treats you so miserably.

Wally Keeler
5 years ago

Cobourg has been recognized multiple times by MoneySense Magazine as “One of Canada’s Best Places to Live” in populations under 25,000.

Some of that goodness comes from happy tourists bringing money to Cobourg.

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Wally Keeler
5 years ago

Look how stupid are some people in Cobourg, that they thumb down on the fact that MoneySense zine says Cobourg is one of the best places to live. Reality folks.

Frenchy Robb
Reply to  Wally Keeler
5 years ago

Maybe they are “thumbing down” you because of your rep and history here.

ryan said
Reply to  Frenchy Robb
5 years ago

How petty of them.

Walter L. Luedtke
5 years ago

The new website “Experience Cobourg” is splendid. Congratulations to its creators.
A wonderful celebration and evocation of our town, “one of Canada’s best places to live”.
Proud to live in Cobourg and hearty cheer for Council and Staff who have worked hard over the years to make it all possible!
Hip Hip…..!

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Walter L. Luedtke
5 years ago

Look at all the thumbs down you got Walter, and for what? You praised Council and staff. Terrible thing to do, when there are so many pathetics with delusions that the staff are rogue, blah blah. They got thumbs down because they got no facts.

Durka
Reply to  Wally Keeler
5 years ago

What a sad bunch of people to downvote Walter’s post. What the heck are you even down voting?

ryan said
Reply to  Durka
5 years ago

They don’t like person, that’s all. It’s not about opinions. It’s just petty personal grudges. It’s the small mind thing to do. Invariably by pseudonyms.

Tim
5 years ago

Dean Hustwick said. Dean Hustwick said. Dean Hustwick said. Why should we listen to anything Dean Hustwick said since Bryan just pointed out that the figures he provides are inconsistent with the Town’s published numbers?

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Tim
5 years ago

Take it up with Dean Hustwick, if it is so important to you.

Wally Keeler
5 years ago

Dean Hustwick said, “Just looking at the economic impact from the marina alone, Touristics calculates that figure at $12.2-million in direct expenditures, insurance, supplies, repairs, groceries, restaurants, retail sales, and tourist attractions and events. Touristics offered a further calculation – the average transient boater spends an average of $211.30 per person for an overnight stay, and the average stay is two nights.

That busts a couple myths about visiting boaters.

Wally Keeler
5 years ago

Dean Hustwick said, “Visitors generate revenue through parking, canteen sales, sports tournaments, community events. There are benefits to local businesses, local organizations, and to the town. (From consultants’ surveys: 80% of residents responding indicated that tourism is or will be important to the town’s economy.)

Eight out of ten residents judge tourism as beneficial to the town’s economy. The other 20% are a minor nuisance that loath making money off tourists.

Wally Keeler
5 years ago

Dean Hustwick said, With 71 serviced RV sites and five unserviced tent sites, the campground has generated a profit of $961,096 over the past six years, with some $881,000 transferred to the town’s general revenue to help keep taxes lower.

More money, money, money, mostly by tourists.

Tim
Reply to  Wally Keeler
5 years ago

Tim says: $881,000.00 divided by 6 (years) is $146,000.33 annually. Once $90,000,00 is spent on the much-needed cultural plan and another 51,000,00 is spent on lighting the Town Hall at night, which is the one thing the people of this town can not do without and I really don’t know how previous generations managed, I’m afraid we won’t have enough left for window wrapping. I guess they’ll have to raise our taxes, but it’s worth it to cover these crucial projects.

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Tim
5 years ago

These consultations are for our benefit, not for the benefit of tourists. How many tourists were surveyed by the Waterfront study — none. That is as it should be. It’s about what residents of Cobourg want, and the survey was successful in fleshing out the sentiments, ideas and opinions of Cobourgers. It was extensive coverage and very revealing of the desires of the majority of Cobourg residents. The fact that a majority of Cobourg residents are not constantly down on Cobourg (as you are) is hopeful for the future. But you are mixing apples and cucumbers in your above rant.

Wally Keeler
5 years ago

Dean Hustwick said, “Taxpayers will absolutely have to pay for that harbour as long as it exists, so how can we offset the burden on taxpayers? Through attraction and user fees.

“The problem with the harbour is, the only real user fees are paid for by boaters. The only real revenue source in the harbour is through the marina through slip rental, storage, boat lifting, hull washing, things like that.”

There are smaller sources of revenue, but other user fees are rare. The Survivor Thrivers Breast Cancer Dragon Boat Team, for example, pays no user fees and is given one of the marina slips for its dragon boats.
The Cobourg Dragon Boat and Canoe Club pays about $5,200 a year.

The Cobourg Yacht Club pays property taxes and storage and has some slips in the marina (for total revenues of about $10,000), and they get the use of the west wall of the centre pier to dock the occasional boat. Add that up, Hustwick said, and see how it compares to $676,000 in revenue from boaters using the marina.”

==================
Bring on the revenue. More money from tourists to pay for our asset maintenance, keeping our taxes low. Exploit tourists for as much money as we can get from them.

Wally Keeler
5 years ago

Dean Hustwick said, “Sources of direct revenue from the waterfront are predominantly the campground and marina, Hustwick said, with parking also generating about $170,000 a year

Mostly from tourists. $170,000.

Tim
Reply to  Wally Keeler
5 years ago

Tim says: If parking generates approxiamately $170,000 a year and the tourist season is roughly 4 months of the year whereas people in this town are parking 12 months of the year it defies reason to say that the parking revenue is mostly from tourists.

ryan said
Reply to  Tim
5 years ago

Most of Cobourg’s parking is free at the mall. Cobourgers go there to do their shopping, not downtown. So yes, tourist season is the glut season for parking where it ain’t free.

Wally Keeler
5 years ago

Dean Hustwick said, “the campground has generated a profit of $961,096 over the past six years, with some $881,000 transferred to the town’s general revenue to help keep taxes lower.”

Revenue is a good thing.

Bryan
Reply to  Wally Keeler
5 years ago

I agree that revenue is a good thing. Net profit is even better. It would be helpful and improve his credibility somewhat if the numbers Dir. Hustwick provided agreed with the Town’s published numbers.

The Town’s published budget documents show both budget and actual YTD (Year to Date) amounts. The following is from the 2014-2018 budget documents: These provide the actual net profit for the five years 2013 to 2017

2017 $182,086
2016 177,752 capital repair washrooms $30K
2015 113,527 capital repair unidentified $ 10K
2014 150,683
2013 131,131

Total 5 years 2013-2017 $755,179

2012 estimated 205,917 plug to agree with Hustwick’s $961,096

Total per Hustwick $ 961,096

It is unlikely that the 2012 net profit was $205,917, the highest in the six years. A more believable amount would be in the $125K range, about $80K lower.

The capital budgets indicate $40K in capital repairs/replacement
Dir Hustwick’s numbers indicate $80K

Regardless of which numbers you accept, the Victoria Park Campground is providing a worthwhile return to the Town and these profits are likely sufficient to pay for some/most of the upgrades suggested by the Waterfront plan for the VPC.

My apologies. The chart format for the financial data does not transfer to the posted comment very well

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Bryan
5 years ago

good clarification. The salient point is that $$$ is earned to the benefit of town

Tim
Reply to  Wally Keeler
5 years ago

That isn’t the salient point. You’re always applauding the amount of money tourists spend in Cobourg but the real question is: “What does the Town spend to lure tourists to Cobourg?” Subtract that from the so-called profits and we’ll see exactly how much this town benefits.

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Tim
5 years ago

“Subtract that from the so-called profits and we’ll see exactly how much this town benefits.”

Ok, so go ahead and do it and let us know what bad news you find.

Reply to  Tim
5 years ago

Very good point Tim!

Dubious
5 years ago

Isn’t Hoselton Studios in Colborne? How does selling their stuff help Cobourg? Why is the town competing with private businesses?

Walter L. Luedtke
Reply to  Dubious
5 years ago

OMG Colborne?
Next thing you know, they will be selling stuff from Wicklow at the Town Hall and ruin all the downtown merchants!

Walter L. Luedtke
Reply to  Dubious
5 years ago

Thank you Beth Hoselton for creating these these memorable souveniers for visitors to our town.
And thank you too for generously contributing over the years to one of Cobourg Rotary major fundraisers.
Much appreciated!

Tim
Reply to  Walter L. Luedtke
5 years ago

It’s true they’re souvenirs, but I don’t know how memorable they are. I hope you’ve ordered one of each for your mantel, Walter. I don’t think any self-respecting cheerleader would be without a complete set.

Wally Keeler
5 years ago

Dean Hustwick was the premier speaker at this event. https://northumberland897.ca/news/2018/6/13/objections-are-premature-and-sometimes-in-error-director-says

“When you look at all the data, it’s pretty consistent in direction – leverage the visitors, develop new opportunities to leverage those visitors, and generate funds to pay for our assets.”

Tim
Reply to  Wally Keeler
5 years ago

Same old ploy: compliment everyone for contributing to the discussion and then go ahead and do what you planned to do in the first place, supposedly backed up by “the broad wishes of the community” who miraculously always seem to agree with the consultants who have spent countless hours compiling their idiot ‘plans’ for this grand metropolis, plans which cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars and which always end in a pronouncement of “flexibility” so there is no sense of urgency. Ignore sound objections that people have taken a great deal of care to present because you are presenting facts but they, on the other hand, represent only unreasonable emotions. Because the people with objections to the scheme have no possibility of challenging the facts they’re always at a disadvantage. Tell us we all have to compromise.Then, the Council’s arms are in the air and the deal is done. It might be a fairer system if the people presenting the facts – in this case, Dean Hustwick – had to provide everyone with the facts he intended to present in advance to they could be verified.

ms jenkins
Reply to  Tim
5 years ago

how fortunate Cobourg is that the boaters dont have to observe the olde sidebrook property falling in on itself and the unkempt grounds – and right in the heart of the Feel Good Town”hmmm

Wally Keeler
Reply to  ms jenkins
5 years ago

There is a disgusting derelict-looking building sitting on the north-east corner of King and Division. Unlike Sidebrook, boaters can easily see that building which IS “right in the heart of the Feel Good Town”, not on the outskirts of Town. There are parties that have tried to lease that building and they have failed for a decade or more. Remember the names on the signs on that building trying to lease it? They failed their mission on that single property. They likely would do the same to Cobourg if elected to Council.

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Tim
5 years ago

So go verify them now, and come back to tell us the real facts.

Bryan
Reply to  Wally Keeler
5 years ago

Is it a correct assumption then Wally, that you are not interested in the “correct” facts and therefore won’t spend any time researching them.
Do you accept whatever Hustwick says because critical thinking and looking into matters for yourself is too much bother

ryan said
Reply to  Bryan
5 years ago

Tell us some more facts. You only provided a minor inconsistency. I accept his other facts because there is no counter them. Do you dispute the trailer park figures? Do you dispute the parking figures? You conflate a lot in the one minor example you provided.

Bryan said “2012 estimated 205,917 plug to agree with Hustwick’s $961,096
Total per Hustwick $ 961,096. It is unlikely that the 2012 net profit was $205,917, the highest in the six years. A more believable amount would be in the $125K range, about $80K lower.”

I’ll take Hustwick’s number rather than your conjectured number — conjectured because you do not know any more than I do, what the 2012 number is. But, by all means look into it and find the facts that support your fuzzy conjecture.

Bryan
Reply to  ryan said
5 years ago

Well Wally (Ryan Said), my fuzzy conjecture was not too far off. I indicated that a more believable amount was in the $125K range rather than the $206K that is needed to make Hustwick’s numbers work.
It took some research to find, but here it is. The actual 2012 Camp-ground net earnings were…..$137,090.
So Wally, are you still on of Dean’s unquestioning disciples?

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Bryan
5 years ago

I question yours a bit more than I question Dean’s.

Frenchy
Reply to  Wally Keeler
5 years ago

It doesn’t sound like you question Dean’s at all.
Dean said, Dean said, Dean said.

Bryan
Reply to  Wally Keeler
5 years ago

Wally, the numbers that I quoted are from the Town’s published financial records. What is the source of Dean’s numbers that you have so much faith in? Clearly not the Town’s numbers.

Tim
Reply to  Bryan
5 years ago

Thank you very much, Bryan, for doing this research. I wonder what Dean would say now?

Frenchy
Reply to  Tim
5 years ago

I wonder what Wally would say now.

Dubious
Reply to  Frenchy
5 years ago

He’d probably say that we need tourists at any cost so we should ignore the facts.