Ontario's Southwest adds flavour to EDCO Awards

WOODSTOCK, ON, Feb. 7, 2012 /CNW/ - Ontario's Southwest experienced the sweet taste of victory when it was honoured on February 1st at EDCO's 55^th Annual Conference & Showcase at the Toronto Marriott Downtown. The Economic Developers Council of Ontario is an independent, non-profit, incorporated association engaged in economic development. These awards recognize marketing initiatives to promote tourism, business development and product development in Ontario.

Ontario's Southwest 2011 Culinary Guide was named best Tourism Specialty Brochure/Map/Guide of the year. This publication has benefited from the dedicated collaboration of culinary tourism and design professionals who contributed their significant expertise to the project.

"Ontario's Southwest offers an exceptional variety of culinary options and the guide reflects just how bountiful the region truly is.  We are delighted the guide has been recognized as this is the first collaborative piece of nine destination marketing organizations," said Lori Da Silva, Chair of the regional tourism organization's Board and General Manager, London Convention Centre.

"The Culinary Guide is a huge first step in the new collaboration of all nine tourism organizations in Ontario's Southwest. Our region is known as the breadbasket of Ontario.  It makes perfect sense to work together to strengthen culinary and farm fresh food initiatives and demonstrate we are stronger together than apart," said Joy Sim, Manager of Tourism at Economic Development for Chatham-Kent and co-chair of the interim board of directors.

Fellow co-chair and Manager, Tourism & Economic Development for Norfolk County Clark Hoskin added, "We identified early on that each community within our region had a claim to fame when it came to food grown locally, as well as great restaurants that are committed to supporting our farmers and food producers. This differentiates us in Ontario - we grow most of the food.  The Culinary Guide celebrates the many flavour destinations within Southwest Ontario".

The Culinary Guide is currently on display at tourist destinations all over Ontario's Southwest and a digital version is available at www.ontariossouthwestculinary.com.

About Ontario's Southwest
The Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation is the Regional Tourism Organization for Ontario's Southwest. It is designed to bring regional tourism into the hands of the private sector. The guide was produced by the Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation formally RTO 1 Transition Group and funded by the Government of Ontario. Editorial and creative was produced by Bryan Lavery and Chris McDonell of Eat Drink Magazine respectively. Marco Di Carlo and Shane Stuart of Velocity Studio's took the reins in creating the website and online version of the guide.

Media Contacts: 

Jen Moore, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Ontario's Southwest
519-290-8687
[email protected]