The Kawarthas Northumberland Visitor Centre is now open at Lock 18 along the Trent-Severn Waterway, in the old Lock-Master’s house behind McGillicafey’s Pub and Eatery.
Opened by the Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8), this new seasonal visitor centre is a great asset for the Town of Hastings in Trent Hills.
RTO8 is a not-for-profit organization funded by the Ontario government to market the Kawarthas Northumberland region as a tourism destination to bring visitors to Kawartha Lakes, the City and County of Peterborough, and Northumberland County.
Through the support of the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, RTO8 is pleased to open Ontario’s first-ever Regional Tourism Organization (RTO) operated Visitor Information Centre.
“There are colourful murals that adorn the visitor centre walls,” said Brenda Wood – Executive Driector of RT08. “Local Indigenous artist Tia Cavanagh created “Giigoonh”, and she chose fish species local to the waters that surround us. Caitlin Taguibao, an Indigenous illustrator and mural painter was inspired by the movement of water and of wanting to get outside and explore. Caitlin’s mural includes a hand offering up a butter tart, representing the popular Kawarthas Northumberland Butter Tart Tour.”
Positioned along the historic Trent-Severn Waterway, the visitor centre offers information on the entire region and features a new state-of-the art digital kiosk.
“The goal is to encourage longer stays and increased tourism dollars spent within the region and for visitors to explore further within the Kawarthas Northumberland region, which encompasses Northumberland County, the City and County of Peterborough, and the City of Kawartha Lakes,” added Wood.
The property was formerly vacant but has new life as a visitor’s centre.
“This initiative brings both a Federal and Provincial partnership together. Parks Canada and the Province of Ontario. The support from them both over the past three years to make today happen has been amazing. We’ve taken a vacant asset of Parks Canada and turned it into a showpiece to service the region” said Wood.
RTO8 is encouraging local residents and businesses to discover the new visitor centre. For more information visit https://rto8.com/?doing_wp_cron=1653769774.4162170886993408203125
(Written by: Alicia Vandine)
