1. HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED ATLANTIC CANADA’S BEST GEOCACHING TOUR?

What is geocaching you ask? Well it’s a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game. Players try to locate hidden containers (called caches) using GPS enabled devices. They will then share their experiences online - and Fredericton was full of geocachers on October 15th for the launch of the Fredericton Geocaching Tour.

The tour is a cooperative effort between Fredericton’s Recreation & Tourism Divisions along with the Fredericton Region Geocachers. In response to this special event, Mayor Brad Woodside proclaimed October 15th, 2012 as Geocaching Day in Fredericton. The special tour, which will operate permanently, includes 30 special caches hidden around the city, focused on 3 themes: nature, heritage and culture. The caches provide the opportunity to increase awareness of things to see and do in the city, including interesting anecdotes geocachers may have not otherwise known about certain locations. Some cache locations include Government House, Barracks Square, Marysville Cotton Mill, the Springhill Road Vista, the Killarney Lake Esker and local art galleries.
Since the launch, there has already been an overwhelming response to the tour, with a total of 47geo-cachers visiting our office to collect their coins, with many out-of-town geocachers clamouring to the city to participate. Much chatter is taking place over social media including:

“The coins and pathtags are a treasure, and a wonderful reminder of a fun day!”

“…I got to see so much of Fredericton that I didn’t know about, and had such a great time that day that I cannot imagine this tour having been organized better. If you have the opportunity to go to Fredericton and do this tour, please do it. You will not regret it…”

2. ST. JOHN RIVER HERITAGE CORRIDOR IS FOCUS
    FOR TRAVEL TRADE

This month Mary Ellen Hudson heads to Ontario Motorcoach Association marketplace (OMCA) where she has a busy appointment schedule with nearly 40 tour companies. Tour operators at OMCA are mainly from Ontario with a few other Canadian and US tour operators attending. New Brunswick Tourism & Parks is sponsoring a tour operator breakfast during the conference and will showcase the St. John River Heritage Corridor during the breakfast presentation to all tour operators attending OMCA. Other suppliers attending OMCA from Fredericton are Marc Jesmer, Riverside Resort, and Janica Daigle, NB Tourism & Parks. 

Last week Mary Ellen Hudson was in Gatineau Quebec promoting Fredericton and the St. John River Heritage Corridor to Quebec-based tour operators at Bienvenue Quebec, the annual marketplace of the (Association des propriétaires d'autobus du Québec). Mary Ellen had close to 40 appointments and met several other tour operators during various events during the marketplace. Many tour operators were interested in the St. John River Heritage Corridor as a potential route for future New Brunswick and Maritime tours.

3. PROMOTING TO THE C.S.A.E.

Last month, Wendy Bradley (Fredericton Tourism) and Erin Blanchard (Fredericton Convention Centre) represented our city and the Rendez-Vous Fredericton (RVF) partnership at the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) showcase.  CSAE is the national, non-profit professional organization of association executives.  It was a fantastic opportunity to sell Fredericton as a meeting & convention destination to hundreds of national associations.

4. SELLING THE CITY TO POTENTIAL CONFERENCES

Francine St-Martin, Canadian College of Health Leaders, was wowed by Fredericton’s welcoming spirit last month.  Francine plans the National Health Leadership Conference (co-hosted by the Canadian College of Health Leaders and the Canadian Healthcare Association).  Fredericton has been shortlisted along with Charlottetown, PEI to host their 2015 conference.  This would be a city wide event with over 700 delegates.   During her visit, she visited hotels, the convention centre, several restaurants and off-site venues. 

Wendy would like to thank everyone who participated in this fam tour. We’ll keep you updated.
Bill Belanger plans the only gaming convention in the Maritimes, Animaritime.  It’s a three day event that happens over the long weekend in July.  Bill will be visiting us in November to determine if Fredericton meets his needs for their 2012 convention. 

Planning & Servicing Fredericton Conferences
For assistance in bringing or planning your next event in Fredericton, please contact Wendy Bradley at 460-2852 or wendy.bradley@fredeicton.ca
For assistance with conference servicing (marketing materials), please contact Debbie Perry at 460-2087 or debbie.perry@fredericton.ca

5. AAA’s “FREDERICTON DRIVE VACATION” SHOWS        ENCOURAGING     FIRST     YEAR RESULTS

Launched at the AAA New England consumer show in March, the Fredericton Drive Vacation had a fairly successful first season, with 13 packages sold. NB Tourism & Parks, in partnership with Fredericton Tourism, Delta Fredericton,  Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Kings Landing, River Trails Bike Rentals and Lighthouse on the Green,  created the 2012 AAA Drive Vacation to Fredericton, promoted to  members within the  AAA Southern New England club (1.3 million households). With additional promotion of NB Drive Vacations planned for next year, we hope to see the sale of the Fredericton Drive vacation increase.

6. TIME TO ADD UP THE NUMBERS...HOTEL GROUP TOUR REPORTS

Mary Ellen Hudson will be requesting room reports for coach tour room nights for the month of October in the next few days, to complete the season stats.   Hotels are asked to also report any FIT production- room nights sold as part of a City stay or Fly-Drive package.

Thanks to everyone who have provided these reports on a monthly basis. A total for the season will be calculated in mid November after receiving the remaining October numbers.   These reports are confidential and only shared with NB Tourism & Parks to be able to measure the number of group tours overnighting in the province.

7. GREAT PRESS COVERAGE IN NATIONAL TOUR     ASSOCIATION’S     (NTA)     COURIER MAGAZINE

National Tour Association’s (NTA) November issue of Courier magazine features River Trails Bike Rentals & Tours in the Atlantic Canada section highlighting soft adventure in Atlantic Canada.  Thank you to NB Tourism’s US Trade rep, Lynn Meehan who pitched her great bike tour experience to NTA ! Courier has a circulation of 6000 and the November issue is the Convention 2011 issue, also distributed to 900 UMA(United Motorcoach Assoc.) buyers and NTA’s 1500 tour operator members.  Check out the digital version at this link: http://onlinedigitalpublishing.com/publication?i=85816 (pages 86-87).

8. THANK YOU TO OUR AD PARTNERS!

Fredericton Tourism recently completed a 7 page gatefold ad for the 2012 New Brunswick Experience Guide.  Thank you to our partners for 2012: The Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Kings Landing Historical Settlement, Science East, Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel Fredericton, Delta Hotel, Days Inn Oromocto, Hartt Island RV Park, Fredericton Inn, Best Western Plus, Amsterdam Inn & Suites, City Motel, Norfolk Motel, Lakeway Houseboat Vacations, Fort Nashwaak Motel, Comfort Inn, University of New Brunswick Accommodations and Downtown Fredericton.  We appreciate your cooperation with this ad and helping to create a presence for Fredericton within the New Brunswick Guide.

9. RAISE YOUR SPIRITS! ON NOVEMBER 16 - 18

For 16 years, the NB Spirits Festival, with the outstanding support of Alcool NB Liquor, has featured some of the world’s finest and rarest single malt whiskies, outstanding first release vodkas, new twists on classic spirits and premium rums and cognacs.  One of Canada’s best spirits festival is right here in Fredericton!

The Festival has zero tolerance for drinking and driving, and we make it as easy as possible for you to get home safely. A free taxi ride home within Fredericton city limits is available for ticket holders. If you don’t want to take a taxi, have someone come meet you, or better yet book a night at the Delta and tell them it’s for the NB Spirits Festival to get a special rate! Tickets are available at The Lunar Rogue Pub, Delta Fredericton, Read’s Fredericton and at select ANBL stores.
This year’s schedule of events can be found on the website: www.whiskynb.ca

10. SILVER WAVE CELEBRATES 12 YEARS OF TALENT IN NEW BRUNSWICK IN 2012

The NB Silver Wave Film Festival (SWFF) screens feature films, documentaries and short films shot in the province and produced by New Brunswick filmmakers. It also showcases some of the best film and videos from Canada and around the world.

By infusing a warm glow and setting the town abuzz, the Silver Wave Film Festival is a grand celebration of New Brunswick's growing presence in the world of film and television entertainment.

To view this year’s film line up, visit: http://www.swfilmfest.com/SWFFProgramme_Oct16_web2_2011.pdf

11. FOUR FREDERICTON AREAS ADDED TO THE LOCAL HISTORIC PLACES REGISTER

City Council approved the recommendation of the Preservation Review Board to include four historic places related to the Fredericton loyalist settlement of 1783 onto the Local Historic Places Register.
All of the historic places are in the Waterloo Row area of downtown Fredericton, near the site where the Loyalists landed on the banks of the St. John River. They include:

• The Green, located across from the New Brunswick Legislature, which was an encampment area for Loyalists and has been reserved as a public common since 1785,
• The Loyalist Memorial, which features a tablet on a 3-ton boulder located along The Green commemorating the 150th anniversary of the landing of the Loyalists at St. Anne’s Point,
• The Loyalist Cemetery (also called the Loyalist Provincials’ Burial Ground), which is located at the eastern end of Waterloo Row, and is where early Loyalist where buried after their first, particularly hard winter in the area, and
• The Memorial Cross, located within the Loyalist Cemetery, and unveiled to recognize the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Province of New Brunswick.

The addition of these historic places on the Local Historic Places Register coincides with the anniversary of the loyalist’s arrival in Fredericton. By October 1783, some 2,000 Loyalists had ascended the St. John River, including several army regiments. Surrounded by deep snow, bitter cold, canvas tents and a scarcity of supplies, many perished.
“The timing of these additions to the Register couldn’t be more appropriate,” said Mayor Brad Woodside. “It presents an opportunity to learn more about the people who founded Fredericton and the challenges and aid they encountered so many years ago.”

About the Register

Council approved the establishment of the Local Historic Places Register on July 21, 2003. The Local Historic Places Register is a list of places (buildings, archaeological sites, and areas or spaces) deemed to be of local historical significance and placed on a list with the permission of the property owner. The Local Historic Places Register was established as a result of a Federal Government Program called the “Historic Places Initiative” and designed to raise awareness of historic places and encourage conservation. For more information of the Local Historic Places Register visit: www.fredericton.ca

12. 2012 BUSINESS AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS

On behalf of His Worship Mayor Brad Woodside and Members of City of Council, this is an invitation to any interested individuals to the 2012 Fredericton Business Ambassador of the Year Awards.  This appreciation reception is held to celebrate Fredericton’s 525 ambassadors and to recognize the 2012 ‘Ambassador of the Year’! 

Just by educating yourself about Fredericton’s advantages, YOU are making a significant contribution in being able to speak knowledgeably about our community.   No matter your level of program participation, we want YOU to attend this event –to help continue elevating our community spirit & pride, and building upon team camaraderie!

Please join us to show your support, to network with fellow ambassadors, and to enjoy some hors d’oeuvres & refreshments.
We hope to see you on November 23.  There is no cost to attend, and feel free to bring along colleagues and friends so they can experience first-hand -- the infectious enthusiasm! Please RSVP by November 16 at:
www.teamfredericton.com/en/ambassadors/resources/AwardsNotice11.pdf

13. ‘TIS THE SEASON FOR CRAFT IN ATLANTIC CANADA’S CRAFT CAPITAL

Christmas Arts & Crafts Show – November 4 – 6, Capital Exhibition Centre, Smythe Street.  For more information, contact 458-8819 or visit: www.frex.ca

Christmas at the Market Craft Show – November 17-18, Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market.  For more information, contact 451-1815 or visit: www.boycefarmersmarket.com

Christmas in the Village – November 26-27, Village of Gagetown.  For more information, contact 488-3567 or visit: www.villageofgagetown.ca

 

14. WELCOME DELEGATES!

Please help to welcome delegates visiting our city this month:

Contact Atlantic: November 2-3, 250 delegates
New Brunswick Association of Assessing Officers: November 8 – 10, 130 delegates
New Professionals Conference 2011: November 24, 200 delegates.

15. WHAT’S HAPPENING

November is a great time to sample a variety of events that mark the beginning of a new season!  Take advantage of what Fredericton has to offer; check out our Calendar  of Events by visiting: www.tourismfredericton.ca

16. LITERATURE DELIVERY

A.J. Furlotte, Fredericton Tourism's Operations Assistant, continues to make literature deliveries to accommodations and attractions. Should you require quantities, call A.J. at 460-2954/460-2041 or allenj.furlotte@fredericton.ca