Being in the thick of things is not always the best spot when it comes to tourism.
Late last month, as Erin councillors discussed the minutes of the Hills of the Headwaters Tourism Association, questions were raised about Erin’s place in all of that.
Councillor Josie Wintersinger said the group has produced a magazine in which it mentions Caledon, Dufferin, Erin, Mono, Orangeville and Shelburne.
Wintersigner requested the local Regional Tourism Association representative come to Erin council to clear up the matter of Hills of the Headwaters and Wellington County in terms of tourism.
“We have to look at what is best for the town and its people, as compared to where we need to be,” Wintersigner said.
Currently, Hills of the Headwaters, which includes Erin, lies within a regional tourism block that stretches from Dufferin County to east of Oshawa. Another online map of the districts includes Erin with the rest of Wellington County, the Region of Waterloo and Perth and Huron Counties.
Town Manager Lisa Hass said she spoke to representatives of the Wellington area where Erin is located. She said they had just hired a new director and she hopes that person could attend a council meeting in July. The intent is to also get in touch with the Headwaters group and get communication going there as well. Wintersinger currently sits as a member of the Hills of the Headwaters committee.
“Should I be sitting on this committee or not?” she asked.
Mayor Lou Maieron said as he understood it, Erin “is geographically in RTO4 (Wellington’s group)and historically in RTO6 (Hills of the Headwaters) – and we can only be in one [district].”
Councillor Barb Tocher said Wintersinger was getting to the point that has been brought up several times. “We need clarification from the province,” Tocher said.
Wintersinger said if she participates in the Hills of the Headwaters committee and has no commitment from the town, “Very quickly they may not want to have us on that committee.”
Tocher said if the province states “if we are not part of them, you won’t be there.”
Wintersinger said it would only be fair to get that clarification.
Maieron said Hass has said that a representative will be coming to council.
Hass said the representative from RTO4 would be speaking to council first, but added that she is still getting different information from each district.
“We all are, that is why we need the information from the province,” Tocher said.
Hass added her understanding is that any area that has applied to be in a different district has not been successful.
“You can’t be both?” Maieron asked.
“No,” responded Hass.
Maieron said he appreciated Wintersinger’s question and said if the various districts cannot sort it out, then the municipality will have to ask the province for clarification.
“It does not mean we can’t be part of the Hills of the Headwaters,” Wintersinger said.
But she remains concerned over the commitment Erin could provide to that organization.
