Maynooth area entrepreneurs and stakeholders gathered last Monday at the Hastings Highlands library to share information and prepare for the busy summer tourism season.
The meeting, billed as a “networking break — a chance to check in with fellow businesses,” was organized by Amy West of West Pines Resort & Campground in Lake St. Peter and Hastings Highlands events planner Amy Doole.
The gathering aimed to be a space for participants to share updates, support each other and build momentum heading into the busy season.
“We just decided to see if we could get everyone together before it gets crazy busy and check in on any special things that are going on this summer” Doole told MooseFM “See if there is anything that they want to tell each other about — so that we can be each other’s cheerleaders in Hastings Highlands and always be able to refer people to what they’re looking for.”
Doole said the idea followed a tourism workshop in Bancroft hosted by Hastings County, which is currently gathering input for its regional tourism plan. Without an official organization in the municipality, local businesses saw the meeting as a chance to connect and collaborate.
Tourism development co-ordinator Jenn Burke of Hastings County and Mary Kavanaugh of the North Hastings Heritage Museum, which also serves as the tourism information centre for all of North Hastings, were also in attendance, sharing support and resources. Dave and Kelly Hunt, organizers of the Maynooth Morning Market also joined in.
Participating area business owners included Amy West of West Pines Resort & Campground ,Pat McGillivray fromThe Carriage House Maynooth, Virginia DeCarle, Nature Connects, Paul and Michelle form Nomad Vintage, Loree Lawrence form Wildwood Gallery, Sean Cassidy form Cassidy’s in Maynooth, councillor Tracy Hagar from Foxfire Gallery, Gifts & Antiques, Rick Dolishney of Maynooth Station Lodge and Dave and Kelly Hunt of the Maynooth Morning Market.