Stratford Annual Swan Parade held on April 4^th, 20108 March 2010Stratford, ON One of Canada’s most unique events, Stratford’s Annual Swan Parade will take place on Sunday April 4 at 2:00 pm sharp at the Avon River. For many, the first sighting of a robin or two in their backyard is an indication that spring has arrived. For residents of Stratford and the surrounding area, the return of the swans to the Avon River is a truly festive celebration to announce the arrival of spring. This unusual event has become an annual tradition that attracts more and more visitors each year from as far away as US border states, Toronto, Windsor, London and Kitchener.  The Stratford Police Pipes and Drums will lead the swans from their Winter Quarters behind the William Allman Arena to the Avon River along a route lined with hundreds of onlookers. Additional assistance will be provided by members of the District Scouting Movement and City of Stratford Community Services staff. Tim Hortons, event sponsor, will generously provide complimentary coffee and timbits.  The lengthening daylight hours trigger a hormonal response in the swans and they need to get onto the river to establish their territories. You will see the mated pairs looking for their nest sites within hours of being released and the younger birds in the non-breeding herd will be engaged in a lot of flirtations. There will be 28 swans in this year’s parade.  The total herd is larger, but some additional breeding pairs must be held back so they can be transported to other nearby waterways. If too many breeding pairs are released, there will be territorial fights between rival males that can turn deadly. The parade will also include Chinese Geese, a Bar Headed Goose and one black swan. Plan to arrive early. The event is organized by Stratford’s Volunteer Civic Beautification and Environmental Awareness Committee who are encouraging people to walk or cycle to the parade. Parking is also available along Lakeside Drive in Stratford.  If you wish to feed the swans, keep in mind that they like greens and grains (not bread). Bags of dried corn can be purchased at Stratford Tourism Alliance throughout the season. For those interested in learning more about swans video clips depicting key moments in the life of the swans and more information are available at www.welcometostratford.com/swans .  Contact: Ted Blowes   519-393-5877Stratford Civic Beautification and Environmental Awareness CommitteeORCathy RehbergMarketing ManagerStratford Tourism Alliancewww.welcometostratford.com519-271-5140 or 800-561-SWAN

jugend Helsinki

 Often referred to as the pearl of the Baltic, Helsinki is one of the finest centers of Jugend architecture in Europe. The city is home to around 600 Art Nouveau buildings, the largest concentration of the architectural style in the region. Art Nouveau, or Jugend, as it also became known in Scandinavia and Germany originated at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries as an approach to design where art permeates everyday life. Characterised by highly stylised, flowing, curvilinear forms and organic, plant-based motifs, Art Nouveau influenced the decorative arts in everything from architecture to fashion, furniture, graphic and product design.Jugend architecture flourished in Helsinki, where it was strongly influenced by the Finnish national epic, Kalevala, a major theme in the national romantic movement of that era. With an exterior that displays the national romantic style and an interior that is primarily Jugend, the Kansallismuseo or National Museum is a fine example of the two styles combined.To take in some of Helsinki’s best examples of Jugend architecture a walking tour can be taken through the city center. Within a short distance of each other are the Central Railway Station, the Finnish National Theater and Pohjola House. Visitors can also admire the remarkable interiors of many buildings. A few steps from the Esplanade Park, Jugendsali or Jugendhall was originally built as a private residence. The magnificent hall on the ground floor has also been used as a banking hall. Today it is open to the public as a café, and is conveniently located next door to Helsinki City Tourist Information Office…Jugend gems can be spotted throughout the city, with some districts built almost entirely in the Jugend style. Adjacent to the downtown area, the neighbouring districts of Kruununhaka and Katajanokka make for easy exploration on foot. The Ullanlinna district is only a short tram ride away.   Olofsborg on Kauppiaankatu 7 in Katajanokka is among the most loved Jugend-style buildings in Helsinki. Built in 1903 its towers are inspired by those of the medieval Olavinlinna Castle in Savo. Behind Olofsborg’s design was the famous trio of architects Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren & Eliel Saarinen who also designed the National Museum.  For solo travellers

To help visitors find the best examples of Helsinki’s Jugend buildings, Helsinki City Museum has published a new brochure with walking and tram routes marked on the map. The tour maps can be found at online at

www.hel2.fi/kaumuseo/jugend/jugend_kavely_en_ve.pdf (Walking tour)

www.hel2.fi/kaumuseo/jugend/jugend_ratikka_en_ve.pdf (Tram tour)

 For groups

Guided tours for groups with a specific interest in architecture can be arranged by Archtours Ltd., a travel agency that offers both tailored programs and ready-made tour packages open to all. Find out more at their website www.archtours.fi

For more information on tourism in Finland see Visit Finland at www.visitfinland.com

A PUB ON THE MOVE Who said drinking on public transport is forbidden? SpåraKOFF, the world’s only pub tram, has been offering Helsinki sightseeing rides to thirsty customers every summer since 1995. Starting in May, you can again hop on, sit back, enjoy a cold drink and take in the highlights of the Finnish capital. What better way to get the feel of the city than sitting in this moving pub with a cold beer in front of you?

A tram converted into a classical style pub with interior decor of mahogany, brass and velvet, SpåraKOFF is truly one of a kind. The tram carried regular public passengers for 35 years, without a liquor license, before starting a new life as a pub tram in the spring of 1995. The name SpåraKOFF is coined from a Helsinki slang word for tram, “spåra”, and from the name of the oldest industrially operating brewery in the Nordic countries, Sinebrychoff.

The whole tour around the city takes about an hour. SpåraKOFF is an excellent way for summer visitors to experience Helsinki since the route passes many of Helsinki’s main sights: the Central Railway Station, Linnanmäki Amusement Park, the Olympic Stadium, Finlandia Hall, the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, the Market Square and Helsinki Cathedral. The video screens inside show you how the sights look from the driver’s perspective.

You can hop on and off without a reservation at five different tram stops in the center of Helsinki. Your on board crew consists of the driver, as well as a waiter or waitress serving you beer, cider and soft drinks. There are approximately 30 seats.

Regular traffic in 2010 begins in early May and runs until the end of August. The pub tram is on the move five days a week, Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 2pm to 9pm. The fare at the present exchange  rate is $ 10.80 (8 euros) for adults and $ 5.40 (4 euros) for children under 12 years old. Drinks are charged separately.

 For more information about tourism in Finland, visit www.visitfinland.com 

MONKEY JUNGLE CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH RAINFOREST ADVENTURE TOUR: Monkey Jungle is celebrating the 50th anniversary of their Amazonian Rainforest with a new behind the scenes “Rainforest Adventure Tour.”  Since Hurricane Andrew, public access to the Rainforest has been limited.  Explorers on this adventure are immersed in a five acre natural habitat filled with South American monkeys.  As you cross a slow running stream, to a bridge over a large natural sinkhole, this living laboratory seems to come alive and enables you to experience the unique thrill of the touch of the squirrel monkeys hand or the greeting from a capuchin monkey.  During the tour you will learn about the monkey’s adaptations to an arboreal lifestyle.  Guided encounters are available at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.  Reservations are required and space is limited. Encounters are $89.95 + tax per person and include admission into Monkey Jungle. For more information, call (305) 235-1611 or visit www.Monkeyjungle.com.          

CHEF JONATHAN EISMANN OPENS Q AND FIN RESTAURANTS IN THE DESIGN DISTRICT: Q, an American barbecue smokehouse, combines dry rubs, light sauces, classic brines, and cures to deliver authentic Southern flavors in a ‘down-home’ and fun atmosphere. You’re going to want to go with a meat lover or three and order up something from the 6,000-pound, 9-foot-tall custom Bewley barbecue pit (it’s the Hummer of BBQ pits)— the Q-Zillah, a pile of dry-rubbed spare ribs, slow-roasted baby back ribs, pulled pork, pit beans and house made pickles is highly recommended. Fin, a local and sustainable seafood eatery features simple yet vibrant preparations in a setting evoking the casual elegance of Nantucket. The two venues are located side by side in the former Sheba restaurant space. For more information visit http://www.qamericanbarbeque.com and http://finrestaurantmiami.net. 

THE PALMS HOTEL & SPA COMPLETES $20 MILLION RENOVATION PROJECT “INSPIRED BY NATURE”, EARNS AAA 4 DIAMOND AWARD AND BECOMES MEMBER OF PREFERRED HOTELS & RESORTS: Reintroducing itself as one of South Florida’s most exclusive independently owned hotels, where wellness and environmental awareness are at the center of each guest experience, The Palms announced the project’s completion with a private Reinvention Celebration on January 15, 2010.  The extensive 16-month enhancement project, which includes a 5,000 square-foot flagship AVEDA destination spa and salon, The Palms Spa, a new signature restaurant and lounge, Essensia, beautification of the pool and garden facilities, renovated meeting and event facilities and upgrades to the lobby areas, further the hotel’s long-term commitment to providing guests with an overall sense of well-being, while highlighting the hotel’s inspiring natural surroundings with botanical and coastal design elements. For more information, visit www.thepalmshotel.com.

THE STRIP TAKES THE LEAD IN SHOWCASING AVANT-GARDE PERFORMANCE ART: In the heart of South Beach, The Strip, a new exclusive nightclub, taking over the former Rumi space, is setting a new bar for nightlife entertainment. The Strip’s a nightclub/sultry burlesque soiree that keeps you on your toes with randomly occurring naughty acts; you never know who’s going to bust out and perform where or when, including the 20-odd lingerie-clad cocktail waitresses and bus girls. Though there’s a main stage, the spectacle occurs throughout the two-level space, which boasts 30-foot ceilings in the middle, old-time Hollywood-esque tasseled velvet seating, suspended swings, walls covered with leather and feathers, three bars, a peep show booth for one-on-ones, and a private VIP space complete with a dance pole and one-way mirror. Acts consist of aerial-ists dangling overhead from silks plus the aforementioned burlesque girls clad in minimal amounts of boy shorts, bloomers, bustiers, pasties, and sometimes nothing but a g-string and body paint, each with a different persona, like a glammed-out disco girl, a busty anime-ish chick with elf ears, and a saloon gal from a western, who’s sure to leave every night with a fistful of dollars. Strip’s also boasting spooky, naughty contortionism by WildChild, and music stylings from Blade Runner-esque songstress Tokyo Diiva and NYC’s Box veteran DJ Jeffrey Tonnesen, who promises a range of house, rock, hip-hop. The Strip will leave you breathless with its raw sex appeal.  For more information call 646.723.4338 or visit www.thestripmiami.com.

DEEERING ESTATE AT CUTLER KICKS-OFF SPRING CABARET SERIES: The Deering Estate kicked off the 2010 Spring Cabaret Concert Series on Thursday, February 25th. The Deering Estate’s Spring and Summer Cabaret Concert Series features eclectic and world music artists in an intimate setting. The concerts are held on Thursday evenings in the Spring (February, March and April) and on Saturday evenings in the Summer (June, July and August). All concerts begin at 8 pm; the main gate opens at 7 pm. It is recommended to arrive early for preferred seating. Guests are welcome to bring refreshments and snacks to enjoy during the show. Single tickets are $20; the three-concert series is $55. Limited seating is available. Advance tickets are recommended. To purchase tickets, please call the Deering Estate Ticket Office at 305-235-1668 ext. 233, www.deeringestate.org.  

CULINARY BOOT CAMPS TAUGHT BY SIMPLY MEXICAN COOKBOOK AUTHOR AT THE BILTMORE HOTEL:  As the only hotel with a recreational cooking school operating in North America, The Biltmore Hotel’s culinary academy is pleased to offer culinary boot camps taught by Lourdes Castro, an instructor at New York University’s prestigious Food Studies department and author of the best-selling cookbook, Simply Mexican this Spring. The boot camps offer up to 37 hours of culinary instruction with a curriculum that includes basic training in knife skills, pantry, herbs & spices, Italian technique, cold kitchen, meats, seafood and poultry & grains. Two culinary boot camps are scheduled:  March 15th to 19th and an abbreviated version on the weekend of April 16th to 18th. The program is priced at $1500 for the week-long camp and $900 for the weekend camp. An all-inclusive package that includes deluxe accommodations, daily meals at the Biltmore’s restaurants, beverages, tax and gratuities is available upon request and priced at $3,750 for the week-long camp and $2,175 for the weekend camp. To register, call 305.913.3131 or e-mail CulinaryAcademy@BiltmoreHotel.com.

Calendar of Events:

• MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Mar. 5-14, www.miamifilmfestival.com
• 2010 WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS AT DORAL, Mar. 9-14, www.worldgolfchampionships.com
• CALLE OCHO FESTIVAL, Mar. 14, www.carnavalmiami.com
• MIAMI INTERNATIONAL TRIATHLON, Mar. 14, www.mitriathlon.com
• MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FASHION WEEK, Mar. 18-21, www.miamifashionweek.com
• JAZZ IN THE GARDENS MUSIC FESTIVAL, Mar.20-21, www.jazzinthegardens.com
• SONY ERICSSON OPEN, Mar. 24–Apr. 4, www.sonyericssonopen.com
• ARTEAMERICAS – THE LATIN AMERICAN ART FAIR, Mar. 26-29,www.artamericas.com
• WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL FILM & ARTS FESTIVAL, Mar. 26-Apr. 2, www.wiffonline.org

Experience March Break in

March Break

• The Art Gallery of Ontario welcomes back the young King Tut: The Golden King and The Great Pharaohs. Introducing a larger exhibition, with more than twice the number of artifacts, featuring over 100 pieces from King Tut’s tomb and ancient sites related to some of the most important rulers throughout 2,000 years of Ancient history, all families are encouraged to see this exhibit before it departs for Egypt this April 18.

• CN Tower is offering a whole lot of fun for with a special Total Tower admission of only $25 per person (including taxes)* - save up to 30%.  Families can explore the world’s #1 elevator ride, three observation levels including the Look Out, Glass Floor, Sky Pod, The Height of Excellence Movie and Himalamazon Motion Theatre Ride**. Week-long CN Tower March Break activities include meet and greets with Nickelodeon’s most popular characters, Dora and Spongebob SquarePants, as well as a Battle Strikers tournament for chances to win great prizes. *Offer valid March 13-21, 2010 and tickets must be purchased onsite. **must be minimum 107cm to ride.  www.cntower.ca

• Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art helps keep the kids busy during March Break. Everyday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. kids can make crafts, take part in scavenger hunts, make a family tree and find the hidden rabbit when visiting. All March Break activities are free with general admission. 
• Harbourfront Centre’s beautiful 10-acre waterfront site is providing fun opportunities for skill development and personal growth by offering 14 arts-based programs. Whether a child is keenly interested in problem-solving and design or craves the spotlight to showcase singing and dancing talents, diverse programs maximize learning and fun.

• The Hockey Hall of Fame is offering visitors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view entire Olympic Medals Collection from each and every Winter and Summer Games dating back to their inaugural events in 1920 and 1896 respectively. Forty-six Winter and Summer Olympic Medals are on display now along with the illustrious and not to be missed, Stanley Cup.

• Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People is offering a variety of fun and educational half and full-day sessions, themed to The Monster Under the Bed and created to engage young people in Grades JK to 6.  Everyone registered receives a free ticket to the performance.

• At the Ontario Science Centre families can explore nine exhibition halls including the new Weston Family Innovation Centre and the IMAX® Dome theatre.  Special exhibitions happening through the month of March are The Universe with Hubble, Grand Canyon Adventure and Under the Sea.

• The Royal
  Ontario Museum tests kids’ wits this March Break while they explore an eerie re-vamped bat cave, meet a Samurai and suit-up for war in Medieval armour. The adventures never stop at the museum with new discoveries, hidden treasures and natural wonders awaiting families. Half-priced admission available daily after 4:30 p.m.

• The free Riverdale Farm lets kids who have never seen a working farm in action feed animals, collect eggs, groom horses, milk cows and goats right in the heart of downtown Toronto. Children can interact with farmers and spend time wandering the grounds while preschoolers can socialize and play with books, puzzles and games in the meeting house playroom.

• St. Patrick’s Parade Society of Toronto (SPPS) is hosting its 23rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 14, 2010 from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. celebrating the Irish heritage lead by this year’s Grand Marshall – Mayor Hazel McCallion, Mississauga’s mayor of 32 years! Starting at St. George and
  
  Bloor St.

  , the parade continues down
  

  Yonge St.

  to
  

  Queen St.

  and finishes at
  

  University Ave.

• The Toronto Zoo’s tropical pavilions are the perfect place to warm-up this March Break. Kids can get up close and personal to all kinds of exotic animals including new baby gorilla Nassir. Spring weather brings kids face-to-face with their favourite animals as they all come out to play. The new award-winning Tundra Trek Exhibit with three returning polar bears, Arctic wolves, reindeer and more is also open.

• Free outdoor skating at Toronto’s City Hall and Harbourfront Centre complete with music and rink-side hot chocolate continues throughout the end of March. Both rinks have on-site skate rentals.

Getting the family to

• Toronto CityPass - At $58 per adult and $38 per child the Toronto CityPass provides admission into five top attractions including the CN Tower, Casa Loma, Ontario Science Centre, Royal Ontario Museum and the Toronto Zoo.
• Via Rail Canada – Children aged 2-11 travel for half price and infants aged 0-24 months travel free. Kids will love watching the countryside rolling by as they make their way to
  Toronto. Ticket information available at www.viarail.ca.
• Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) - Get a TTC Family pass that offers families unlimited travel for an entire day on Toronto’s local transit system. Information on family passes available at www.ttc.ca.

For further information on March Break in Toronto or to plan and book a

About Tourism

Montreal, March 8, 2010 – The twenty necklaces of precious stones of the Inspiria collection, each one based on a Cirque du Soleil show and executed by the craftsmen of the French jewellers Boucheron, will feature in an exclusive presentation at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts from April 1 to August 29, 2010. Nathalie Bondil, the Museum’s Director, explains: “As in the case of high fashion, so often seen in the media but rarely accessible, the world of fine jewellery is still a mystery. Here we go backstage into the creative sphere in which craftsmen and women work on projects like this one, continuing a centuries-old skill that is here, for once, made public.” This exhibition, the first devoted to fine French jewellery at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, echoes the Museum’s own impressive holdings in modern and contemporary jewellery, much of it forming part of the Liliane and David M. Stewart Collection. Admission to this show is free of charge.

   ORCHESTRA LONDON, JEANS ‘N CLASSICS BAND CELEBRATE ICONIC FLEETWOOD MAC  LONDON –Orchestra London and the Jeans ‘n Classics Band offer up the best of iconic British rockers Fleetwood Mac May 7&8 at Centennial Hall at 8pm.  Starring popular vocalists Rique Franks, Kathryn Rose, & Neil Donell and conductor Mitch Tyler, The Music of Fleetwood Mac pays tribute to one of the most popular rock bands in history.   “Fleetwood Mac was a group that had a wonderfully distinct sound, with the three different vocalists, but in addition they could really write good pop songs,” says Peter Brennan, founder of Jeans ‘n Classics, arranger, & guitarist. “Their material combined really strong hooks, great melodies, and a very accessible style. I think they are one of the best examples I’ve seen of great songwriting.” The electrified evening includes Fleetwood Mac favourites Rhiannon, Go Your Own Way, Don’t Stop, Dreams, Sarah, Say You Love Me, Over My Head, The Chain, and many more.  Brennan’s lush orchestral arrangements combine with the vocal talents to bring out the band’s rich, poignant sound: “The orchestra will certainly have wonderful moments as an ensemble,” says Brennan.  “The vocal spotlight is on Kathryn Rose, Rique Franks, and Neil Donell. They create that awesome Fleetwood Mac blend and bring their own superb voices to the forefront,” he adds. Fleetwood Mac formed in 1967 in London, and has since sold more than 100 million albums, making it one of the most popular rock bands in history. Through the ’70s, the band’s personnel and style shifted with nearly every recording as Fleetwood Mac metamorphosed from a traditionalist British blues band to the maker of one of the best-selling pop albums ever, Rumours. From Rumours release in 1977 to the present, Fleetwood Mac has survived additional personnel changes and has remained through the mid-’90s a dominant commercial force. Tickets for The Music of Fleetwood Mac are available at the Orchestra London Box Office or at www.orchestralondon.ca About Orchestra LondonOrchestra London has been making music in the London Community since 1937. Officially incorporated in 1957, Orchestra London performs over 50 concerts each season across six different series. Education & Outreach programs have introduced the orchestra to more than 30,000 schoolchildren since 2000 and the community at-large. Orchestra London’s current conductor and Music Director, Timothy Vernon, has been with the ensemble since 2000. About Peter Brennan and Jeans ‘n Classics
Born in Huddersfield, England, Peter Brennan came to Canada in 1957. He has produced albums that have hit Top 10 charts as far away as the United Kingdom and has earned several Producer Grants and awards along with being a judge for Canada’s Juno Awards. He also has provided arrangements for several commercial ventures and for the 2002 World Youth Day - Pope John Paul II Celebrations.In the early 1990s, Brennan, a talented orchestral arranger, gathered a group of musicians from Southwestern Ontario to form a rock/symphonic ensemble, Jeans ‘n Classics, which slowly became known across the continent. The roots of his efforts grew deep and this group of rock musicians, many of whom are classically trained, became known for their ability to understand and respect orchestra culture and performance. Collectively they are committed to building a diverse, younger, sustainable audience in support of symphony orchestras across Canada, the United States, and Europe by performing rock music in combination with a full orchestra. Brennan has scored orchestral arrangements for over1500 rock/pop songs and the Jeans ‘n Classics organization offers a variety of 45 available shows. Currently more than 80 audiences and 120,000 people per year in North America and Europe enjoy the fruit of his labour. CONCERT SUMMARYWho:Orchestra LondonMitch Tyler, conductor
The Jeans ‘n Classics Band
Kathryn Rose, vocals
Rique Franks, vocals
Neil Donell, vocals

What:The Music of Fleetwood Mac When:Friday, May 7, 8 pmSaturday, May 8, 8 pm Where:Centennial Hall Single Ticket Prices:Adults: $39.95-$59Students: $15 For Tickets or More Information:Orchestra London Box Office (519) 679-8778609 Wellington St. (at Central)www.orchestralondon.ca Orchestra London’s 2009-2010 Season & The Red Hot Weekends Series are sponsored by: Pacific & Western Bank of Canada
 Also sponsored by: Stevens Exhibit Design Group, Oscar Taylor’s, The London Free Press, Delta Armouries Hotel, 97.5 London’s EZ Rock, Oldies 1410, 1290 CJBK, and BX93. For more information, please contact:Terri Anne Moses, Marketing and Communications Phone 519.679.8558 x 241 or email tmoses@orchestralondon.ca - 30 -

Second Annual Regional Food Summit in Stratford on March 22^nd 4 March 2010Stratford, ON 

The second annual Perth County Regional Food Summit takes place Monday, March 22 in Stratford.  Farmers and producers learn the importance of adding value to their business by becoming culinary tourism attractions. The latest culinary and agri-tourism trends and the power of social marketing are highlights at this year’s summit.  Farmers, producers, chefs, restaurateurs, retailers, distributors and accommodators from across the region are invited to participate in dynamic learning and networking forums presenting new business opportunities.  

Antony John, Organic Farmer and presenter at 2009 Food Summit comments, “The Stratford Food Summit comes along at a great time of year, when the farmers are starting to plan their crops, and chefs are thinking about the menus.  Both parties come to the summit filled with the optimism and ambition that each new season brings, and that energy is palpable in the room.  It’s therefore a great time to develop some very positive relationships between chefs and farmers, who can then have plenty of time to plan to maximize the tremendous food growing potential of Perth County.”The Regional Food Summit offers a full day of dynamic speakers, discussion forums and networking opportunities.·         Dr. Stephen Smith, Professor of Tourism at the University of Waterloo, sets the tone for the day with the keynote address on the latest Culinary Tourism Trends.  ·         Melissa Schenk, Executive Producer of MS2 Productions, will unleash the Power of Social Media demonstrating how small business owners can take advantage of this new tool.  ·         Suresh Doss, Producer of Spotlight Toronto, a dynamic culinary and cultural website, will take the discussion to the next level introducing Twittering Tips.  ·         A “Speed dating” session is planned creating an encouraging atmosphere for building new partnerships. Farmers and producers are stationed at tables featuring their products as chefs and buyers circulate and interact with the farmers.  ·         On the menu for lunch is the best of Perth County as round table discussions continue about local food.  ·         Afternoon break-out sessions encourage further dialogue  on important culinary topics and critical agri-toursim issues;  o   Local Abattoirs  and Local Foodo   Distribution- An answer for farmers and chefso    Marketing for Farmers- At the farm gate, farmers’ markets, events, on the internet and in printo   A Culinary Tourism Best Practices Panel.  

·         The Summit concludes with an outline of the next steps to be taken, and closing remarks by Eugene Zakreski, Executive Director of Stratford Tourism Alliance.  ·         A networking reception completes a full day of learning, networking and taking action.                                          The Regional Food Summit establishes Perth County as the place to be for sublime culinary experiences.  Local cuisine is a motivating factor when tourists choose a destination and nearly 100% of tourists dine out while on vacation. So it is only natural that culinary and agri-tourism is on the rise and that people will be interested in learning how to incorporate it into their business.  

Presenting sponsors of the Regional Food Summit are the Stratford Tourism Alliance and Savour Ontario, along with supporting sponsors Perth Community Futures Development Cooperation, Perth Oxford National Farmers Union and 100 Mile Market.  

Chefs, farmers, producers, food retailers and buyers in Perth County and surrounding areas are invited and encouraged to attend and must pre-register. The cost including lunch is $35. Registrations are welcome online at www.savourstratford.com/foodsummit  or by calling Stratford Tourism Alliance 519-271-5140 or 1-800-561-7926. The summit will be held in Stratford at the Arden Park Hotel.