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Huron Expositor, 2016-10-12, Page 66 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, October 12, 2016 Huron Tourism Association votes to disband citing slashed budget, lack of authority from county Darryl Coote The Huron Tourism Asso- ciation (HTA) voted to dis- band Sept. 27, stating it no longer had the means, authority or ability to func- tion effectively following the county's recent restructuring of its economic development department. Its president Kim Burgsma said it was a sad end for the 27 -year-old industry associ- ation but it was left with no other option after Huron County decided in Decem- ber of 2015 to reduce the association's county support from about $200,000 to $10,000 in cash and in-kind human resources. "We don't see any way around it," she told The Sig- nal Star over the phone the day after the vote. "With the lack of funding and staff sup- port that we now receive it's not possible for us to do the things that were done in the past." The decrease in funding went into effect Jan. 1, 2016, and was the byproduct of a restructuring plan signed two weeks earlier by county council to give more empha- sis to economic develop- ment in Huron. The restructuring plan, which lays out seven key growth sectors -- one of which is tourism now combined with arts and culture -- follows the creation of the economic development department under two years ago in a move by the county to address its stagnating industry. Since Jan. 1, however, Burgsma says traffic to the county's tourism website has dropped 50 per cent on year sounding the alarm that tourism has not been a focus for the economic develop- ment department. "It's down 50 per cent because there isn't a dedi- cated tourism staff that is offering contests, promo- tions and different social media that could be attract- ing visitors," she said. She said the decision to disband was in part to spur the economic development department to take owner- ship over the tourism sector and "force them to do some- thing for tourism in Huron County:' Burgsma's other issue is that she has been unable to discover the department's plan for tourism. If she knew, she said, it might have been possible for the HTA to func- tion alongside the economic development department, but without the plan the two organizations' objectives might overlap causing redundancies and a waste of resources. "Their strategic plan to us is vague," she said. "... I would like to trust that since tourism is one of the pillars of economic development in the county -- they identify that in their draft plan -- that they have some sort of plan they will move [tourism] for- ward in the future, but we're not aware of what that is." +ea ort uronexsositor.co its oca its er- However, the director of the economic development department, Ron Gaudet, says the restructuring will place tourism in greater focus. Over the phone Sept. 29, Gaudet told The Signal Star the restructuring of eco- nomic development was done to better address a rap- idly changing world. "Our new strategy speaks to addressing that by giving more capacity and building strength around tourism ... And in the future -- hope- fully not too distant future -- giving it more attention and more leverage," he said. He said the department is in transition, which may make its direction appear murky to the HTA, but it is anything but. "We're really trying to ele- vate each of the sectors," he said. "It's unfortunate the perception was a weakening of the organization. That was never the intent. That being said, we're now prepared to move forward and continue our emphasis on tourism, arts and culture." One reason for the drastic drop in staff support to the organization was because they could no longer dedi- cate resources to any one of the seven sectors, he said. Questions also arose around whether it was appropriate for the county to perform the day -to -daywork of the HTA when it's a mem- bership association that did not include every player in the industry, he said. Before the restructuring, much of the $200,000 went to work hours by Huron County staff. After, the allotted $10,000 for the next three was to help the HTA establish itself as a healthy industry -lead asso- ciation, he said. "We had offered to work with them," he said. "Again, we can't fund an industry - lead association. Healthy industry associations need to be lead by industry:' Following the restructuring, the county's manufacturing association was offered the same deal, Gaudet said, and they "jumped at the chance to become more self-sufficient." "They have gone through strategic planning exercises with the [Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs], they have their $10,000 -- albeit not a lot of money -- and they are going forward and really being industry focused and indus- try driven, and we will look at ways to support their efforts going forwards," he said. That was the intent for the HTA as well, he said. However, with the HTA soon to be dissolved the eco- nomic development What if one company could solve all your business needs? We can connect all the pieces in more ways than ever before. 3st department will be looking for other avenues for indus- try participation. Gaudet wouldn't say he was disappointed that the HTA will be no more, only that he is disappointed it had the notion the county was less interested in attracting tourist dollars. "We're very serious about [tourism], and we know the tourism operators and mem- bers of the association had a real conviction to the indus- try as well. And we appreci- ate that. We acknowledged it. We appreciate it," he said, adding that he is grateful for all their work. "I guess if there's any disappointment it is the perception that the county is trying to weaken its effort in tourism. That is not the case," he said. As the owner of a hotel, Burgsma is invested in Huron County tourism whether the association exists or not, she said. And she wants to be a part of the process and she wants to know exactly what the coun- ty's plan is. "Times change and things sometimes have to change as a result," she said. "And the county has assured us that they have a plan for tourism, so we're going to trust in that but they have not been able to communicate to us what that plan is." ##.1. rp] POSTMEDIA For more information, visit postmedia.com/advertise @LRC'H I RY You are invited to attend these area churches ST. THOMAS ANGLICAN 21 Jarvis St., Seaforth Church Office 519-527-1522 holyspirit@tcc.on.ca Rev. Shaun Eaton - Deacon -in -Charge Sunday October 16 Worship 9:30am followed by coffee hour Everyone Welcome Council meets Tues. Oct. 18 at 3pm EGMONDVILLE UNITED CHURCH Worship Leader - Pastor Elly Dow _ October 16 - 10:30 Youth Sunday School 10:30 Crafting a folding Stick Canvas Turkey Supper October 26 Like us on facebook www.egmondvilleunitedchurch.com BETHEL BIBLE CHURCH AnAssociated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth 519-527-0982 Interim Pastor: Rev. Laurie Morris October 16 -11 am "Beholding God#4" Sunday School 9:45 am October 16-6 pm "Behold Your God" Video #5 Tuesday Evenings: Youth Group - 6:30 - 9 pm B&G Club - 6:45 pm Wednesday Evenings: Men's & Ladies' Bible Study - 7 pmNursery (. EVERYONE WELCOME FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 59 Goderich St. W. Seaforth 519-527-0170 Rev. Dwight Nelson Lorrie Mann - Organist Sunday Worship October 16 -11 am October 16-7pm Folk/Celtic Concert for Food Bank SundaySchool Provided a Needed �' ALL WELCOME +ea ort uronexsositor.co its oca its er- However, the director of the economic development department, Ron Gaudet, says the restructuring will place tourism in greater focus. Over the phone Sept. 29, Gaudet told The Signal Star the restructuring of eco- nomic development was done to better address a rap- idly changing world. "Our new strategy speaks to addressing that by giving more capacity and building strength around tourism ... And in the future -- hope- fully not too distant future -- giving it more attention and more leverage," he said. He said the department is in transition, which may make its direction appear murky to the HTA, but it is anything but. "We're really trying to ele- vate each of the sectors," he said. "It's unfortunate the perception was a weakening of the organization. That was never the intent. That being said, we're now prepared to move forward and continue our emphasis on tourism, arts and culture." One reason for the drastic drop in staff support to the organization was because they could no longer dedi- cate resources to any one of the seven sectors, he said. Questions also arose around whether it was appropriate for the county to perform the day -to -daywork of the HTA when it's a mem- bership association that did not include every player in the industry, he said. Before the restructuring, much of the $200,000 went to work hours by Huron County staff. After, the allotted $10,000 for the next three was to help the HTA establish itself as a healthy industry -lead asso- ciation, he said. "We had offered to work with them," he said. "Again, we can't fund an industry - lead association. Healthy industry associations need to be lead by industry:' Following the restructuring, the county's manufacturing association was offered the same deal, Gaudet said, and they "jumped at the chance to become more self-sufficient." "They have gone through strategic planning exercises with the [Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs], they have their $10,000 -- albeit not a lot of money -- and they are going forward and really being industry focused and indus- try driven, and we will look at ways to support their efforts going forwards," he said. That was the intent for the HTA as well, he said. However, with the HTA soon to be dissolved the eco- nomic development What if one company could solve all your business needs? We can connect all the pieces in more ways than ever before. 3st department will be looking for other avenues for indus- try participation. Gaudet wouldn't say he was disappointed that the HTA will be no more, only that he is disappointed it had the notion the county was less interested in attracting tourist dollars. "We're very serious about [tourism], and we know the tourism operators and mem- bers of the association had a real conviction to the indus- try as well. And we appreci- ate that. We acknowledged it. We appreciate it," he said, adding that he is grateful for all their work. "I guess if there's any disappointment it is the perception that the county is trying to weaken its effort in tourism. That is not the case," he said. As the owner of a hotel, Burgsma is invested in Huron County tourism whether the association exists or not, she said. And she wants to be a part of the process and she wants to know exactly what the coun- ty's plan is. "Times change and things sometimes have to change as a result," she said. "And the county has assured us that they have a plan for tourism, so we're going to trust in that but they have not been able to communicate to us what that plan is." ##.1. rp] POSTMEDIA For more information, visit postmedia.com/advertise