Niagara Original eNewsletter

'UnConventional' Brand User Celebrates Grand Opening

The Scotiabank Convention Centre (SCCN) in Niagara Falls opened its doors this past weekend and we’re proud to have them as a Niagara Original Brand user. The Convention Centre has taken advantage of the Brand and innovatively included its language and attributes into their marketing. For its Grand Opening Celebrations, the SCCN has designed a unique graphic with the words “Vivid, Abundant, Original” (see image to left). On their website home page they also invite visitors to: “Contact the Scotiabank Convention Centre, for successful event experiences that are Vivid, Abundant and Original!”

To mark the Grand Opening Celebrations, a significant and momentous event, SCCN hosted a weekend full of fun activities for everyone. They have numerous upcoming events and conferences. Don’t miss your chance to see Niagara Falls’ state-of-the-art meetings, conventions and entertainment facility!

For more information please visit: www.fallsconventions.com

Niagara Food & Wine Expo to use Brand

We’re pleased to announce that the Niagara Food & Wine Expo (NFWE), taking place on Memorial Day weekend (May 27-29, 2011), will be using the Brand in its Expo marketing.

The NFWE is a premier international tasting event featuring wines, beers and spirits from around the globe and stunning regional wines direct from neighbouring vineyards. These delectable samples will be served alongside fresh, local cuisine prepared by top area restaurants.

Brought to you by the producers of the highly acclaimed Gourmet Food & Wine Expo, InterVin International Wine Awards and VINES Magazine, this event is a cooperative effort supported by numerous industry professionals, associates and partners. The newly constructed, state-of-the-art, environmentally designed Scotiabank Convention Centre plays host to this spectacular event.

The Expo envelops Niagara-area residents, visitors and tourists in the international ambiance that this event brings to the city. Be part of this groundbreaking venture.

For more information or to purchase tickets please visit: www.niagarafoodandwine.com

Province Cites Niagara Original as ‘Best Practice’

Niagara’s award-winning regional brand, Niagara Original, has been recognized by the Province of Ontario as an innovative practice which is both promoting greater regional collaboration and catalyzing new job creation and investments for Niagara. Niagara is very much a leader in this field and offers many beneficial practices that other Ontario communities could potentially adopt.

NEDC representatives, Guy Graveline, Director of Economic Development and Marketing (far left in photo), and Lyndon Ashton, Economic Development Officer (at podium in photo) recently presented the Niagara Original branding strategy at the Annual Conference of the Rural Ontario Municipal Association/Ontario Good Roads Association (ROMA/OGRA), which has become one of the largest municipal conferences in Canada attracting over 1,500 delegates and more than 2,300 participants in total.

Read the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s case study on Niagara Original (.pdf).

View NEDC’s presentation (.pdf) given at the ROMA/OGRA Annual Conference.

Read full announcement >>

Niagara Original at Your Service

Are you interested in learning more about the Brand? Are you passionate about it like we are? Do you have colleagues who might want to learn more about the Brand? If so, we welcome you to invite us to present the Brand to your group. (For example, recent presentations were given to the Leadership Niagara group and the St. Catharines Business Club).

We will have one of our NEDC Brand Representatives present to your group either with a simple, brief presentation on the Brand or, time permitting, we can give up to an hour long multi-media presentation. We are committed to sharing this Brand opportunity with Niagara businesses, organizations and the community. Please contact us for more information and to schedule a presentation.

Tune In - Brand 'Takes Niagara By Storm'

Paxton Allewell, NEDC's Marketing Associate for the Niagara Original Brand, was recently interviewed on TV Cogeco's program Taking Niagara By Storm. We invite you to tune in. The interview airs Monday, April 18th at 6:00pm, Wednesday, April 20th at 6:30pm and Sunday, April 24th at 1:30pm.

Niagara Original 'Swag' Available

NEDC has created Niagara Original branded luggage tags, LED key chains, and buttons. You are welcome to request some 'swag' from us to show off your pride for Niagara. Or, you might consider ordering some branded swag for your own company as well. Please contact us for more information.

Reminder: Niagara Original Gets Social!

You can now keep up-to-date with the Niagara Original Brand at the same time as updating your social media status. We invite you to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for Niagara Original Brand news, updates, brand spotting, tips and lots more! We currently have over 30 fans on Facebook, and over 100 followers on Twitter. Join us!

Recent Brand Spottings

1. Fallsview Casino Resort used the Brand on their latest Entertainment line-up card (for March, April, May 2011)

2. CareersNiagara.ca recently lauched their website and they have used the Brand extensively in their marketing.

3. The Chocolate Race (happening Aug. 28th in Port Dalhousie) encourages visitors to "explore Niagara" on their website and uses the master n - without the 'Original' tagline. See here

4. Did you see our latest Niagara Original Ad in the 'Our Niagara Region' Newsletter? See the ad here

5. See picture of Guy Graveline, NEDC's Director of Economic Development and Marketing, and his wife Karen at the Scotiabank Convention Centre's "Vivid, Abundant & Original" Grand Opening.

6. You may recall that Niagara Original was a part of the recent Brock Conversation Cafe event "What are our dreams for Niagara?" You can read the recap of this conversation on their official blog.

Have you spotted the Brand lately? Let us know where and we'll feature it!