The Township of Rideau Lakes is delighted to share the October 1, 2024 announcement from the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC), naming Rideau Lakes as a winner of the 2024 EDAC Marketing Awards.

As part of the Investment Attraction Campaign, the Rideau Lakes Economic Development Committee listened to the business community to gain insight and ideas about what makes Rideau Lakes a great place to operate a business.

Creating the video, “The Rideau Lakes Advantage” showcases the Township’s stunning outdoor spaces and dynamic businesspeople to reveal a powerful message; that work-life balance is a reality in Rideau Lakes.

“It became clear in speaking with business owners that the outstanding support of the local community is a huge advantage,” says Councillor Marcia Maxwell, Economic Development Chairperson. “As we were filming our iconic Canadian landscapes, we saw that quality of life is a real selling point,” added Marie White, Economic Development and Cultural Heritage Coordinator.

Winning the National Award demonstrates that “placemaking” is a leading tool for Investment Attraction and is a creative and unique approach that provides Rideau Lakes with a competitive edge. A sense of place was achieved by conveying the strong emotional connection between the people and the landscape. The video features the following Rideau Lakes business owners, in order of appearance:

• Fiona McKeen, The Opinicon
• Elizabeth Murray, Ethereal Massage Therapy
• Timmy McNamee, Project Wakesurf
• Dylan Sliter and Stefano Ferrante, P3 Panels
• Dana McCulloch, Wolfe Springs Golf & Waterfront Resort
• Jim Summers, Rideau Lakes Building Centre
• Mark Hales, Hales Excavation & Trucking Ltd.
• Wendy Banks, Wendy’s Country Market

Beyond the development of an inspiring, place-specific promotional video to convey key advantages of operating a business in Rideau Lakes, the goal was to increase awareness (in order to attract, retain and expand the business economy) and to reach 100,000 people in the target audience, which was surpassed with a total reach of 381,272.

Mayor Arie Hoogenboom remarked, “The Township works diligently to create an environment for businesses to thrive. We want to see steady, sustainable growth for the benefit of our community. We will continue to make targeted investments that place Rideau Lakes at the forefront of Ontario’s progressive rural communities.”

The film can be seen on the Township’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKnKU3yuwP8&t=3s

Awards Link: https://edac.ca/conferences-awards/marketing-awards/gallery-of-entries/rideau-lakes-investment-attraction-video-the-rideau-lakes-advantage/