Kawartha Lakes’ Welcome Home Video Series wins Award of Excellence for Investment Attraction

Kawartha Lakes – On February 8, the Kawartha Lakes Economic Development team received a 2023 Award of Excellence from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO).

Welcome Home – Signature Videos

The Welcome Home campaign received the Investment Attraction (Rural - population under 100,000) award.  

As part of this campaign, a series of three brand videos were unveiled on January 19, 2023. All three videos are available on our YouTube channel.

“Kawartha Lakes Welcome Home signature videos showcase our vibrant business ecosystem and community spirit, while incorporating our brand promise: Opportunity, Community and Naturally,” shared Lindsey Schoenmakers, Economic Development Officer for Business. “Featuring local ambassadors, these videos highlight our supportive business infrastructure, abundant natural resources, and unique lifestyle. From entrepreneurs to families, our series speaks to a diverse audience. With over 1.3 million views and a surge in community pride, these videos have not just met, but exceeded our goals.”

We would like to take a moment to thank and recognize partners and community ambassadors who contributed to this project.

Matt Geraghty told his story of finding the ultimate work-life balance with his family in Kawartha Lakes. In the Kawartha Lakes Opportunity video, he shared why he Jumped In to Kawartha Lakes and hasn’t looked back.

Tim Wisener and his husband and business partner, Chris Van Lierop, talked about the three questions they had about whether they'd fit into the community. In the Kawartha Lakes Community video, they shared those answers and the way they feel about their life in Kawartha Lakes.

Julia Taylor shared her family's connection to nature and how people across Kawartha Lakes are Jumping In to support the environment in the Kawartha Lakes Naturally video.

The project benefited from a mixture of local talent, including videographer Shayne Pasquino and Toronto-based Writer/Director Catherine Rix. Warren Frank composed the soundtrack for two of the videos, and music by Adam Crossman was used for the third.

The project was supported by the Kawartha Lakes Communications, Advertising and Marketing Division, which includes Cheri Davidson, Bryan Reid and Kirsten Meehan. This division helped create the videos and share them through digital and print channels.

For more information about the Welcome Home campaign, read our news release or visit the Welcome Home webpage. These videos were made possible through Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) funding.

Photo one caption: Left to right, Kirsten Meehan (Kawartha Lakes), Bryan Reid (Kawartha Lakes), Rebecca Mustard (Kawartha Lakes), Tim Wisener, Matt Geraghty, Julia Taylor, Shayne Pasquino, Lindsey Schoenmakers (Kawartha Lakes), Cheri Davidson (Kawartha Lakes).

Photo two caption: Left to right, Matt Geraghty, Tim Wisener, Julia Taylor

Community Concierge

The Community Concierge program was an award finalist under the Workforce Development & Resident Attraction (Urban - population over 100,000) category and received an honourable mention.

The Community Concierge program is an innovative, cross-municipality program that connects Trent graduates with career opportunities throughout the City of Kawartha Lakes and the City and County of Peterborough. Through a partnership between the City of Kawartha Lakes, Trent University and Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, the project team worked to bridge the gap between graduates and regional employers. Operating through Trent's Careerspace, the program provides a seamless transition for new graduates heading into the workforce, and highly skilled, job-ready talent for local employers.

“This pilot project was a huge success in its first year,” shared Rebecca Mustard, Manager of Economic Development. “Seventy graduates were employed locally, 70 partnership agreements were signed with local employers from various high-demand sectors, including manufacturing, health care, supply chain logistics, technology, and the public sector. Most importantly, 3,700 work integrated learning opportunities were identified over the next five years. We are proud to say that this project is now an integral part of Trent University Careerspace department.”

Photo Caption: From left to right Kelly Maloney (Kawartha Lakes Economic Development Officer), Lisa Handley (Kawartha Dairy), Laurie Scott, MPP (Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock), Dr. Leo Groarke (President and Vice Chancellor Trent University), Mayor Doug Elmslie (Kawartha Lakes), Rebecca Mustard (Kawartha Lakes Manager of Economic Development