The Blue Mountains council has unanimously endorsed the new Beaver Valley Sustainable Tourism Strategy.
Council received a presentation about the new strategy at its committee of the whole meeting on Nov. 8 and subsequently voted in favour of endorsing the strategy and moving ahead on the development of a memorandum of understanding with Grey Highlands, Grey County and Regional Tourism Organization 7: BruceGreySimcoe to implement the plan.
At the meeting, council was visited by representatives from Grey Highlands and Grey County and received a presentation from project consultant Camilo Montoya-Guevara.
Tim Hendry, the town’s manager of communications and economic development, presented the staff report on the new strategy. Hendry said the strategy was developed with a “true sense of collaboration and partnership.”
He stressed the word “balance” during his presentation to council.
“It really is the entire basis of the strategy,” he said. “This is a starting point. This is a foundation we can build upon. Tourism is growing, it is happening. We need to be at the table.”
Two members of Grey Highlands council – Deputy Mayor Dane Nielsen and Coun. Joel Loughead - attended the meeting to show support for the strategy.
“There is no one voice for tourism in Beaver Valley. There are many different voices,” said Nielsen. “Part of the strategy is that we all work together to formulate the future of Beaver Valley.”
Grey Highlands council recently endorsed the strategy and called for the draft memorandum of understanding to be presented at a joint meeting between Grey County, The Blue Mountains and Grey Highlands. Grey County council also endorsed the strategy, but held off directing staff to work on the memorandum of understanding until the county’s 2024 budget process is complete.
Savanna Myers, Grey County’s director of economic development, tourism and culture, was also on hand to praise strategy.
“We are sitting here right now with the ability to take that step forward together,” said Myers. “I really do feel like we’re going to be in an excellent spot. This is the beginning.”
