Presentation delivered by Cheryl Kelley, Director of Economic Development, Town of Bracebridge.

1. BRACEBRIDGE’S
CONVERGENCE:
THE 4TH PILLAR
Economies in Transition, The Ontario Rural
Council
MARCH 26, 2009

2. 2002
MANUFACTURING
Economic
Attract and retain manufacturing
Development
and new economy jobs.
Strategic Plan
RETAIL/COMMERCIAL
Become the retail hub for all of the
greater Muskoka District.
TOURISM
Increase investment in tourism
products, services, packaging and
marketing

3. The branding strategy
GOAL:
Develop a graphic that can
be easily used by anyone
from the public or
business sectors

4. Branding
• Heart of Muskoka Branding
Strategy
• Drive traffic to website to
promote lifestyle, provide
information for residents, etc.
• Business Directory
• Community Partnership –
businesses & community
partners can utilize

5. Marketing & Promotion

7. Public Input Process
―Launch May 2008
―Focus Groups June 2008
―Group Submissions, On-line/Paper Surveys, Discussion
Forum on-line, letters
―Interviews with key stakeholders – developer, government,
business, non-profit, education, etc.
―Draft Plan (1) – July 2008
―Final Draft Received by Council in October 2008
―Public Open House November 2008
―Adopted by Council in December 2008

8. Community Input
726 people participated in CONVERGENCE.
• The consultation plan included:
– On-line and hard copy surveys (417 public and 95
business owner surveys were completed);
– public open house (45 attendees);
– focus groups (126 attendees);
– Council/staff vision session (25 attendees); and
– submission of written briefs (13 submissions by
organizations with hundreds of members).

9. “4 Pillars”
IMPLEMENTATIO
N AND
MONITORING
CRITICAL PATH AND ACTIVITIES
MISSION AND VISION
ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
CULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY
SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
PUBLIC INPUT
GLOBAL AWARENESS
LOCAL SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS

10. Objectives
1. A Vibrant, Prosperous and Economically Sustainable
Community.
2. A Green, Mindful and Environmentally Sustainable
Community.
3. An Engaged, Healthy and Socially Sustainable Community.
4. A Creative and Culturally Sustainable Community.

11. n
Pla
t
en
Official tm
jus
Plan d
Human
yA
it
Resources Plan un
Communications
m
om
Plan Cultural Master Community C
Plan Adjustment Plan
Performance Municipal
Management Plan Corporate and Servicing By-law
Customer
Departmental
Environmental Service Plan Investment and
Business Plans
Protection Attraction Strategy
Policies Recreation
Zoning Operating and
Master Plan
Annual By-law Capital Budget
Achievement Community Events
Report And Festival Strategy

12. Community Adjustment
Plan
New Targeted Investment Sectors include:
– Construction
– Green Technologies/Geo-tech
– Education Services
– Health Care Services
– Tourism & the Arts

13. Exciting Initiatives
• Ongoing growth of the Rene M. Caisse
Memorial Theatre through new
productions, e.g. Cottage Country
Comedy Festival
• Chapel Gallery/Muskoka Arts &
Crafts/Woodchester Villa
• Art in the Heart – arts “incubator” & new
attraction for Downtown Bracebridge
• Festival & Event Strategy / Downtown
Development Strategy
• Fibre Network
• Implementation of the CAP

15. THANK YOU