Centre Wellington plans to use this year’s International Plowing Match to showcase exactly why the township is “The Centre of Something Grand.”
Tourism and destination coordinator Deb Dalziel spoke to councillors on Aug. 29 regarding the township’s plans to showcase the community.
“The IPM means an awful lot to our agricultural community here in Wellington,” said Dalziel.
She noted there were a few at the council table who were around in 2000 when the event was held in Centre Wellington and experienced attendance of 97,000.
Dalziel added this year the match is being hosted in Minto near Harriston.
She said the township has the opportunity to showcase Centre Wellington to IPM visitors as part of the County of Wellington Showcase.
The township booth will feature ziplining with One Axe Pursuits over top of a large sign reading “Wellington County” atop a bed of white chip rock.
“It ought to be quite stellar,” she said.
In addition, local entertainers will be featured, in addition to food and drink samples and a farmers’ market.
“It’s all going to be part of that showcase and many of the businesses involved are all part of our family here in Centre Wellington.”
Dalziel said there will be four stage areas within the county showcase tents with entertainment and demos scheduled from 9am to 5pm daily.
The township booth will operate for the same hours, manned by staff and councillors. With the potential of 15,000 visitors daily (75,000 throughout the event), Dalziel said the township has a new audience in which to share information about the business community and the township’s economic and tourism platforms.
“Our booth space will give us the opportunity to really showcase why Centre Wellington really is the ‘grandest’ place to be,” she said.
Dalziel added Wellington County has worked with township staff to produce postcards that will be handed out at the booth. These postcards feature iconic Centre Wellington images.
Dalziel said the goal is for visitors to pick up the postcards and mail them directly from the county showcase. In doing so, the county can track analytics and cover the cost of postage.
She indicated each municipality in the county is utilizing this opportunity.
“Our booth layout is designed in a footprint of about 1,225 square feet,” she said.
Dalziel said the booth will highlight entrepreneurs through the centuries.
The centre of the booth includes a storyboard to depict video footage of the area as well as the story of Centre Wellington.
An engagement portion of the booth includes an opportunity for the public to wear costumes and position themselves for a “selfie” with costumed ladies enjoying the waters of the Irvine Gorge circa 1897.
“It provides an opportunity for a bit of fun and tie back in with the heritage of the river, how important it is … and to remind people we have been a tourism hub since the mid-1800s,” Dalziel said.
The remaining portion will be utilized by Tivoli Films to provide an example of entrepreneurship in the 21st century. Staff will be creating a stop-start animation, which will depict Centre Wellington activities through the eyes of a nine-year-old girl.
Dalziel was also pleased that in reviewing the list of entertainers and demonstrators, about 75 per cent are from Centre Wellington.
She concluded, “We look forward to seeing everyone and showcasing Centre Wellington at this year’s international Plowing Match.”
