Editorial: 50 days of summer

Did you know that we are right in the midst of 50 Days of Summer?

Do you even know what 50 days of summer is and that today is day 26? If you do you are well informed and probably a well-versed user of Facebook. If you don’t, join the crowd.

In a quick non-scientific poll of friends, few had ever heard of the 50 Days of Summer SDG, and what a shame that is.

Having taken the tourism portfolio into Counties hands last year, this is the first summer that the new SDG group has been fully responsible for the promotion of all this vast region of Eastern Ontario has to offer.

July 9th the SDG 50 Days of Summer campaign was launched. Through its Facebook page SDG Tourism gives five, or more, things to do or see in SDG to keep one busy all summer long.

Week one featured historical sites such as the Glengarry Pioneer Museum, Upper Canada Village, SDG Historic Jail, Prehistoric World and the Lost Villages Museum.

Week two featured a list of events taking place that week such as the grand opening of Stone Crop Acres Vineyard, the Ingleside Firefighter Challenge and the Seaway Train Show.

Week three has focussed on pubs and restaurants, including both the well know and the lesser known local favourites such as Gregor’s Place in the Morrisburg Plaza.

The planning and inclusion of all areas of SDG has been remarkably well done. It is a shame that the campaign has not been more widely promoted, because the resource that list provides for tourists and residents, whether travelling from afar or for those looking for a stay-cation destination, is excellent.

This is one of the best, most inclusive, broad-based, SDG focused tourism initiatives we have ever seen.

However, it remains a well kept secret.

Our guess is that because the campaign is not well known, it is not translating into noticeable increases in visitor traffic like it could.

Let’s hope SDG Tourism can do it again for next summer, but next time achieve its potential for the good of area businesses and attractions. Perhaps they will do better on the promotion side of the campaign and realize that social media is a useful tool, but not the only tool in the promotional toolbox.