Editorial: Opportunity’s knocking

For the past five years, the Parks of the St. Lawrence’s “Pumpkinferno” event has been growing. Not only has the event garnered awards and accolades from the tourism industry, the event has been attracting ever-building crowds.

Call it a perfect storm if you will, the convergence of a warm fall, and an attractive activity for families to check out. Last week, The Leader reported record crowds and hours-long line ups to get into the event. Coupled with that, were traffic gridlocks on Highway 401, and County Roads 2 and 41! It is safe to say it has been a long time since there have been traffic delays getting into Upper Canada Village. While there were a few kinks to work out at the Village, this past weekend still saw large crowds attend the closing weekend of the event, but less disruption on the roads.

All of this points to this major attraction ‘getting it right’.

Area businesses that were open enjoyed long line ups of shoppers, diners and tourists: that is great for them. Now as Upper Canada Village gears up for ‘Alight at Night’, we should be looking at how our area can benefit from the next increase in traffic.

Upper Canada Village may be in South Dundas, but you wouldn’t know it. There is minimal signage greeting visitors. We need to improve that to draw visitors into Morrisburg and beyond, as well as UCV. At night, departing visitors face a dark intersection with no indication of what is just down the road if they made a short drive.

How can we draw visitors’ attention to something beyond the Village? Maybe a lit up, giant arrow pointing to Morrisburg? Maybe Christmas light displays along County Road 2?

When we get visitors into our town, let’s make sure there are places open for them to visit. Perhaps, on those busy weekends in particular, merchants might consider staying open a couple hours longer?

Tourist events like Pumpkinferno and Alight at Night demonstrate the growing successes of Upper Canada Village. As a community can we also find profitable ways to succeed as well?

When the lights turn on for Alight at Night, South Dundas should be ready to reap some of the benefits too.

Together we could make our whole community shine for our merchants and attractions alike.