Former Mayor Larry Di Ianni and Mr. Ecklund's daughter Erika

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LARRY'S CORNER- Hamilton's Former Mayor Speaks

former Mayor of Hamilton, Larry Di IanniMarketing Our City: Tourism Hamilton’s Excellent Adventure

By Larry Di Ianni
(posted March 2, 2009)

One of the things the amalgamated city did right was to create a Tourism Hamilton structure. This group is made up of city staff, stakeholders in the entertainment and hospitality industry whose mandate is to significantly increase new and return visits to Hamilton. The professional staff of Tourism Hamilton is excellent and although employed by the city, the Director of Tourism, a bright, optimistic young man, reports to the Board of Directors of the organization.

As well, Director David Adames and the group also have taken on the whole market niche, so far successfully employed, to attract sports tourism to the community. Our successes have been considerable. The International Cycling Race, the Canadian Brier, the Canadian Open are just a few of the high-profile sports events we have been happy to successfully host in Hamilton. Currently, the department is involved in the Pan-Am bid and has had experience bidding internationally with the twice-attempted Commonwealth Games bids.

Some critics contend that marketing Hamilton is like trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. Nothing could be further from the truth. As Mayor I loved shattering the image of Hamilton as a lunch bucket town whenever I spoke to out-of-town delegations. I would tell them of our natural environment, the waterfalls, the make-up of the city being over 60% agricultural, the biggest broccoli farm in all of Canada, one of the biggest hydroponics cucumber businesses in probably all of Canada, the animal reserve at African Lion Safari, the benefits of the lake as well as the Bruce Trail, the home of Battlefield Park that witnessed the definitive defence of Canada in 1812, Dundurn Castle, the RBG…and the list went on.

I was pleasantly surprised this weekend to receive a copy of this year’s tourist guide called “Experience Hamilton” highlighting our attractions, the local sports scene and shopping opportunities. There are a number of contributors, but one of my favourite local writers, Barbara Ramsay Orr, a former English teacher (my son’s…she taught him how to write well) is well featured in the magazine. She writes a number of informative and entertaining pieces about our community. As well, the publication highlights some areas that Hamiltonians would be well advised to explore. These include our Waterfalls, the Waterfront, and our Museums.
The featured waterfall on page 6 is one of my favourites, Webster’s Falls in Dundas. It and Tew’s Falls are spectacular and very accessible. If there is one omission in the whole magazine it is that the rest of the hundreds of waterfalls are not even mentioned. Why was that? A few summers before I became Mayor, even before an independent group led by philanthropist Chris Ecklund is successfully branding us as ‘the City of Waterfalls’, I set out to visit all the waterfalls pictured in the wonderful poster of the same name I had in my office. I managed most of them. It would have enhanced this tourism magazine to pay homage to the natural beauty of these waterfalls, small and bigger in our community; and to plug Ecklund’s interesting endeavour.

The waterfront is even today an under-appreciated gift right in our own community. I recall when Peter Mansbridge of CBC fame visited the Canadian Club for a speech at the Yacht club; he overlooked the harbour as the sun was glistening on the still waters dotted by sailboats. He said, “Mr. Mayor, you have got to tell people about this beautiful site.” I replied, “Peter, I am doing my best. You are on national television each night; you also tell them!” He smiled. I watched the newscast later that evening. He didn’t mention it.

Of course our museums are wonderful experiences as well. The best and most historic is Dundurn Castle. It is best all year, but particularly at Christmastime. Whitehern is a wonderful historic home, as is Battlefield House in Stoney Creek. There are some unusual venues that are worth a visit. Our very own Steam and Technology Museum, The First Women’s Institute Museum on Ridge Road, Westfield Heritage Village, the Warplane Heritage Museum, the Haida and the Canada Discovery Center are all great. There are many more, but that is why the tourism magazine has been published.

Hamiltonians should check this publication out. They will feel prouder of their city if they do. And they will really help if they and their families patronize the venues and businesses in town.


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