Being a member of The Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism & Commerce brings a multitude of benefits. Through our affiliation with the Bay of Quinte Tourist Council our County is represented at over 7 Travel & Trade shows in Canada and the US. We are knowledgeable on what is going on in our surrounding communities and we are working together to promote our community. One example is the recent TV show on the Bay of Quinte fishing. PECCTAC is also a member of The Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.

Through these associations our members are kept informed of what is going on at the Provincial level and allows PECCTAC to voice any concerns we have.

As a PECCTAC member you can submit your events Free of charge through the Ontario Travel Marketing Partnership (OTMP). If you are interested in learning more go to www.tourismpartners.com.
Our members can also get a Free web page listing on the realontario website. Go to www.realontario.ca to add your listing.

One of the membership benefits PECCTAC has always offered has been “co-operative advertising”. We will be looking at co-operative advertising opportunities that we can pass along to all our members.
In the upcoming months the PECCTAC board will be looking at new membership benefits. If you have a great idea and want to share it with us, give us a call. We want to hear from our members!

Our Website www.pecchamber.com continues to be updated. The latest - you can receive this newsletter via the website. Please let us know what you think; any and all submissions are welcome!

Lawrie Ackerman - President

6th Annual Business Achievement Awards Gala

On Friday, October 18th at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Trenton there will be a great opportunity to network with other people in business and cheer on your favourite business. Many businesses have been nominated from Prince Edward County – so come on out to join in their celebration. Tickets are $35.00 per person and includes an excellent meal, superb entertainment, wine and a very enjoyable evening. For tickets please call Babbs @476-2421 or Elaine Cole @ 613-392-8400.

Advertising Opportunity!

PECCTAC has booked 1 full page of advertising in the “Ontario East” magazine. If you are interested in being apart of this advertising opportunity please call Babbs at 476-2421. Please see the enclosed outline and costs! Deadline is October 15th so hurry.


PECCTAC is Looking...!

PECCTAC is looking for a company to provide a computer maintenance & service contract on a regular and “as needed basis”.

The company’s submitting contract proposals must be PECCTAC members. If you are interested in bidding please contact Richard Haeberlin @ 399-2801.

As A Member!

All members of Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism & Commerce have access to the Ontario Chamber of Commerce website. There is a wealth of information on this website.
Go to: www.occ.on.ca
Login – PECCC
Password – 1087

Target Marketing!

Next newsletter will be in December. Any member can submit a 1-page information sheet at a cost of $50.00 that will go out to all members. Great target marketing! Need your submission by December 2nd please.

Higher Natural Gas Prices!

PECCTAC has learned Union Gas prices will increase 1-2 % per year.
Certain retroactive costs incurred by Union Gas from 1999 to 2002 will also be added to the consumer’s bills. The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) has approved this rate increase to include the retroactive charge.
A PECCTAC representative will investigate as to why the OEB approved retroactive charges dating from 1999.

Tourist Information

Our summer has been very busy! Visitors and Calls to the office have been phenomenal and well over 2001 statistics! Compliments to Babbs and her summer staff.

Office Statistics!

Visitors to our office in July and August – 7,783. Telephone calls – 2,930

Operation Clean Water Report

On Friday, September 20th PECCTAC attended the Operation Clean Water Information Meeting in Kaladar. This information session covered 3 areas of the Ontario Water Resources Act (O.W.R.A.)

1) Ont. Reg.459/00 – Operation Clean Water
2) Ont.Reg.435/93 – Operators licensing & certificate process for Water Quality Analyst
3) O.W.R.A. Approval of Water & Sewage Works.

Dan White Program Coordinator – Operation Clean Water and I.G. (Gus) Perkins of the Ministry of the Environment went through the process and criteria of the changes to the regulations governing water.
For more information on the “safe drinking water act” Ont.Reg.459/00. go to www.ene.gov.on.caOnt.Reg.435/93 applies to all water works, which would require a Certificate of Approval. The information on the licensing process is at www.oetc.on.ca or by calling the Ontario Environmental Training Consortium (OETC) 905-796-2851.

As you can well imagine the amount of information received is overwhelming and could not be outlined in a newsletter. PECCTAC is submitting a request to have a Ministry of the Environment representative come to Prince Edward County to give information on this subject and address our members concerns.

Submitted by Lawrie Ackerman

Skilled Trades Fair

On Tuesday, October 22nd at the Wally Devour Arena in Belleville, the second annual Skilled Trades Fair will be hosted by the East Central Ontario Training Board. With the average age of a skilled trades person being 47, there is a major effort underway to promote the skilled trades as sound career choices.

This one-day event is an information forum wherein students, teachers, parents and the general public will have the opportunity to see and hear about industry's needs for skilled trades people. The communities of Greater Napanee, Prince Edward County, Belleville, Quinte West and outlying areas as far as Bancroft have joined forces as a result of the growing shortage of skilled trades people. The manufacturing, construction and automotive sectors of industry will be showcasing a broad range of skilled trades which they require in order to operate their businesses. Goodyear, General Mills, Norampac, Essroc, Stegg, Greif Bros., Decoma Autosystems, Amphenol, Rexcan Circuits and Enbridge are just a few of the forty companies along with industry trade associations and community colleges who will be in attendance at this year's forum which is free to both exhibitors and the public. The fair will run from 9 a.m. to 8p.m. during which time 1,800 students will be bussed into the fair in order to discover alternative career options in the skilled trades. It is the hope that parents and the general public will also come and acquaint themselves with what kinds of industry exists in the Quinte region as well as what they require in the ways of skilled labour in order to secure the ongoing operation of their respective industries.
There is still space for more participants from these three industry sectors, especially the automotive and construction fields. Anyone wishing to garner further information about the event please contact Lynne McMullan at 476-1211 or 848-4129.

Remember the skilled trades are the foundation on which our economy is built upon - from the homes and offices where we live and work, to the cars and trucks we drive to the food we eat and to the water we drink plus all the other amenities we enjoy in life; therefore, the ramifications of our inaction to address the need for our youth to look at the skilled trades for secured employment opportunities will erode on all that we have attained as a first world country.

Welcome New Members!

Carusos on King Bed/Spa &Breakfast
Our Space The Perfect Place - Bed & Breakfast
The Gables B&B

What's New With Street Smarts!

Early in 1999 the Streets Smarts Project for downtown Picton was established with the County acting as sponsor on behalf of the Heritage Canada Foundation, The Ontario Heritage Foundation and the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario. Since inception a representative from PECCTAC has met with a group of volunteers from various locations in the County. Through the efforts and connections available to Dan Taylor, Economic Development Officer, our own resident architects and Planning Department, we have arranged with Ryerson University to undertake a study as part of the student curriculum.

This study will focus upon Picton initially and hopefully provide a platform, which can be applied in other communities in terms of “revitalization” of the downtown area. The event is planned for the weekend of March 14 – 16th. About 25 students of architecture and 5 staff persons will land upon Picton to go to work. There will be a walk-about and community consultation of sorts on Friday evening, marathon work on Saturday and early Sunday a presentation of findings and suggestions. The former Picton Town Hall will be the major work centre and headquarters.

Under the leadership of John Hill, PECCTAC Director, committee members are currently planning for the infrastructure needs of the study group. They must have accommodation for two nights, meals, refreshments and all the necessary electronic equipment and tools to do their work. Transportation from Toronto and return is part of our local responsibility.
There is no cost to the County for the services of the Ryerson group except for providing the needs outlined above. Thankfully our County Council agreed to budget some funds last year and the committee is developing a budget for the event next March.
There will be a need for local support from businesses and citizens in all the categories mentioned. Members interested in becoming involved with the project in any way are invited to contact the PECCTAC office.

Submitted by John Hill