Opportunity knocks

Oct 26, 2007

Back on his premier’s chair, immediately after the recent election, Dalton McGuinty made good on one of his campaign promises.

“There is nothing more valuable to families than time together. And yet, it seems tougher than ever to find, with so many of us living such busy lives,” he said. “That’s why, on the third Monday of this coming February — and every February from now on — Ontarians deserve a new statutory holiday: Family Day.”

Here in Almaguin we should call it Opportunity Day.

McGuinty has truly given the Highlands a present.

But the area, and, more precisely, its tourism and service-based businesses must act when opportunity knocks.

One only has to look at the seemingly endless strings of vehicles, packed with tourists and travellers, parading down Hwy. 11 on any summer long weekend to understand how an extra day off work can persuade folks to travel.

While summer in Almaguin brings cottaging, fishing, boating and all that water-related jazz, winter in the Highlands presents equal opportunity — ice-fishing, skiing, and of course, snowmobiling.

We’re already capitalizing on this snowy fun, but Family Day could prove to provide heightened opportunity.

Unfortunately, before McGuinty’s announcement, the stretch between New Year’s and Easter (save for the special situation of March Break) was long weekend-free.

Family Day will now mark the only true long weekend of the winter season.
It’s a perfect opportunity.

What better time, considering the new holiday’s purpose, than to market Almaguin’s winter activities to families looking for an opportunity to spend time together?

Whether it’s promotion of snowmobiling packages for the weekend, resort stays, ice fishing trips or anything else under the winter sun, it’s time to prepare now to best capitalize on what could very well be the busiest weekend of the winter.

Some nay-sayers are griping that the addition of another statutory holiday, bringing the province’s total to nine, only adds to the burden of Ontario’s industries.

A stat holiday means employers are left to foot the bill of paying their workers for a day they aren’t on the job.

The costs, of course, run high.

But in this neck of the woods, it could be safe to say that the harm could outweigh the good.

Northern Ontario, and Almaguin, have a high percentage of its work force in tourism and service-related businesses.

If you were to record their business records in a line graph, you can be sure long weekends show a dramatic spike.

And, as any owners or employees of these businesses know, business can be fickle.

Especially in the winter. Expecially coming off a winter season like the too-brief one that hit so many businesses’ wallets last year.

On that note, McGuinty planned Family Day at just the right time. As last year proved, snow in January is no longer a sure bet. But the third week in February?

You can bet there will be snowmobile, ski, snowshoe and boot tracks all over the Highlands.

KG