The co-chairs of the Northern Ontario Border Working Group, as well as three Northern Ontario tourism operators (Bob Garson of Garson's Fly-in Outposts, Bob Extance of Rainbow Point Lodge, and Frank Daoust of Memquisit Lodge) share their stories about the on-going challenges the tourism industry continues to face in Northern Ontario as a result of on-going border restrictions, pre-entry requirements, increased operating costs and more.
Northern Ontario Border Working Group Co-Chairs:
Laurie Marcil - Executive Director of Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario (NOTO)
Chris Bloore - CEO & President of Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO)
David MacLachlan - Executive Director of Destination Northern Ontario (DNO)
About the Northern Ontario Border Working Group:
In December 2020, Destination Northern Ontario (DNO), Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario (NOTO), the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) and other stakeholder organizations, formed the Northern Ontario Border Working Group (NOBWG) to represent the tourism industry to work with the
public and private sector to address the issues of a restricted border due to the pandemic.
The NOBWG continues to meet and liaise with government officials and tourism stakeholders providing advice, offering solutions, and supplying market data to assist in the evolution to an unrestricted border for tourists.
