World's Largest Rubber Duck Tour Waddles Away with Tourism Event of the Year at Ontario Tourism Awards

TORONTO, Oct. 26, 2018 /CNW/ - Water's Edge Festivals & Events is pleased to announce that the ONTARIO 150 Tour was named Tourism Event of the Year at the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario Awards in Windsor on Wednesday night. During the summer of 2017, Water's Edge Festivals & Events brought the ONTARIO 150 Tour to six ports throughout the province including Toronto, Owen Sound, Sault Ste. Marie, Midland, Amherstburg and Brockville. The tour consisted of the much loved 61-foot-tall, 30,000-pound World's Largest Rubber Duck; Rhythm of the Nation, a unique interactive multicultural music and dance show; and an axe throwing and tree climbing event from the West Coast Lumber Jack Show.

More than 1 million visitors attended the ONTARIO 150 Tour and it generated an economic impact of $11.2 million. The tour made stops in Toronto, Owen Sound, Sault Ste. Marie, Midland, Amherstburg and Brockville. (CNW Group/Water's Edge Festivals & Events)

The ONTARIO 150 Tour, which brought the World’s Largest Rubber Duck to Canada for the first time, was named Tourism Event of the Year at the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario Awards on Oct. 24th, 2018. (CNW Group/Water's Edge Festivals & Events)

"It was phenomenal to be a part of a tour that captivated so many people and that had such a positive impact on the cities and towns throughout Ontario that it visited. Our fellow businesses along Toronto's waterfront still talk about that Canada Day weekend where they had record business, including line ups out the door and many of them running out of supplies," says Nancy Gavin, Manager of Brand Development at Redpath Sugar.

Water's Edge Festivals & Events had Enigma Research conduct an Economic Impact Study for the tour. Overall, the pan-provincial event generated an economic impact of $11.2 million and had an attendance of over 1 million visitors.

ABOUT WATER'S EDGE FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
Water's Edge Festivals and Events is an Ontario not-for-profit corporation created in 2011 with a mandate to become the driving force behind the continuation of the successful Redpath Waterfront Festival. Its objectives are to produce an exceptional annual family festival; provide a strong economic impact for Toronto and Ontario; build strategic partnerships locally, regionally and nationally, including significant stakeholders Redpath Sugar, PortsToronto and The Waterfront BIA.

SOURCE Water's Edge Festivals & Events

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