By Hazel Smith, Bruce Peninsula Press
Two weeks after Thanksgiving when I expected the town to be rolled up tighter than a drum, a friend and I did a day of local recreational shopping. Prompted by the news of some businesses remaining open into late fall, our outing started at the newly “made over” Little Tub Bakery and ended at the Golden Gallery with stops enroute at Starry Nights, Reader’s Haven Bookstore, the Hummingbird House, and Verna’s.
Town was busy. Parking at the head of the harbour was full and Bay Street was lined with cars from Peninsula Supply to Lee’s dock. Lots of people were strolling around the village and the Princess and Tobermory Brewing Company appeared busy.
Kent Wilkens at the Golden Gallery was pleased to report that his wife Rachel had seen fit to open the ice cream shop (Peninsula Supply) given the number of visitors.
At each location my friend congratulated the business owner for extending their season and opined that the time has arrived for Tobermory to become a four season destination.
It’s a notion that has been kicked around from time to time for as long as I can remember but given how many people were around I wondered, has something changed? With the growth in summer visitation (Bruce Peninsula National Park counted almost half a million visitors in 2019/2020), if even a small fraction of those who visit in the summer want to come for a winter experience, that might make it viable for a few businesses to join Ransburys, Peacocks, The Princess and TBC.
The Kritikos family, owners of the Princess Hotel, have served a winter clientele for 22 years, keeping the hotel and dining room open for more than ten months a year, including in the most challenging months of deep winter. They close in late fall simply so they and their staff can take a well-deserved holiday. Looking to winter 2022 and hopefully beyond, Tessie Kritikos (joint General Manager with sister Anna Roussakis) is delighted to see Parks Canada once again open for winter visitors. Being a four season town, Kritikos says, becomes more of a possibility with an open Park.
However, both she and Roussakis point to the fact that it’s very weather dependent. We have to have snow to attract winter outdoor enthusiasts, the snowmobilers, cross country skiers and snowshoe-ers, but not so much snow that the roads are treacherous, or closed, and the power out.
Every year they hear, “but everything is closed” and feel that, yes, it would be helpful if there were a few shops open but recognize that it’s a catch 22, there has to be enough traffic to make it worth the business owner’s time.
Tessie says, “to be honest, it’s still marginal in the winter time for us. We’ve stayed open all these years for the community. If we get a wedding or two, and sadly a funeral or two, then it’s good for business. Groups are good too, because they are committed to coming. But with individuals, if it’s bad weather they just cancel”. She says the Open Mic events of winter before COVID were very well attended and lots of fun while also having a favourable impact on the bottom line. Plans are afoot to resume the Open Mic in January and February.
When asked what might make for true winter viability, in addition to a couple of stores being open, Tessie adds, “Spa activities would be a great addition. Then people could book for retreats.”
Roussakis says winter events are great for them, such as in the past when there was a winter scavenger hunt and Parks Canada interpretive programs, “It’s important that people have something to do. In the summertime it’s obvious. Winter visitors need direction.” This explains the multiple pairs of snowshoes that hang in their hallway in the winter months. Having the Visitor Centre open again in the winter is, “amazing,” she says. “It’s such a fabulous exhibit and people will really give it the time it deserves.”
New Chamber of Commerce President, Griffin Salen, sees it “as a gradual thing. Slowly but surely the season is getting pushed back a few weeks in the fall and picking up earlier in the spring.” He recognises the challenges for businesses that make 90% of their income in 3 to 4 months, to find the resources and energy to stay open an extra 8 or 9 months for very limited income. “Nothing goes for long without making money.” He also points out that in addition to dining and shopping options, public washroom facilities would need to be open.
Ashley Barker, real estate broker with the Tobermory Remax office, says demand for property remains high and she is showing properties all winter long. She definitely has to coach winter clients to come prepared. In other words, don’t forget your toothbrush. She says it’s a mixed bag, some people are drawn to the peace and quiet of the winter season and some are a bit daunted by just how very quiet it is.
Over breakfast at the Princess on the last day before shut-down, Katie and Marty Oblak, co-owners of the Tacomory food truck, were full of ideas for winter attractions. They flagged the new travel app GuidED developed by Amanda and Jose Andino Rodriguez, owners of And-Rod Construction. The app, in Amanda Rodriquez’ words, “works kind of like Airbnb, but for people to book adventures and outdoor tours such as fishing, hiking, paddling, and bird watching. Basically anything you can do outdoors. Anyone can go in the app and be a guide, create a profile, tour packages, take bookings, process payments, share your local knowledge all on one platform.”
The Oblaks also referred to the winter offerings of Eco Tours (for example, Snowshoe the Grotto! A Curated Trek on Snow and Ice to the Georgian Bay Coast). “But,” says Katie, “people also just want to disconnect. It may be that peace, quiet, tranquility is the best selling point.”
Meanwhile, Marty shared pictures of the ice trails at Blue Mountain and a circle gathered around our table brainstorming where a skating ice trail could be created in Tobermory.
Katie, a pragmatist, is aware that becoming a four season town must go hand in hand with infrastructure and services. “There has to be affordable, year round housing for workers.” Having just dropped their one year old son, Ashton, off for his first day ever at the newly reopened Primary Place Daycare she is quick to add, “and for working families, we absolutely need a stable daycare.”
Asked if the Tobermory Chamber of Commerce should host a round table on four season tourism, new Vice Chair, Lindsey Griffith demurs, “I’m too new to the role to say, but maybe we could canvass the members to see if there is interest.” As chamber members, Katie Oblak says she and Marty would be interested in joining the conversation and perhaps working on a 10 year strategic development plan.
