Finding success

The drama unfolding in downtown Elora is a phenomenon playing out in tourist hot spots around the globe.

While the village proper may not rival Venice, Amsterdam or Barcelona in size, nor the volume of visitors attending those well-travelled destinations, the influx of tourists is being felt by locals. It should come as little surprise that reactions to this success are mixed, ranging from viewing visitors with open arms to great disdain at all the commotion. For many others not directly impacted, there is indifference.

Last week, businesses in the downtown core signaled their support in an open letter to the community for initiatives designed to make Elora a hot spot for tourists. The second phase of that plan was stalled at the mayor’s request so the township could come to terms with numerous challenges that became evident with substantive crowds. Concerns about traffic flow, overcrowding, both on the streets and in select businesses, and what would happen if tragedy struck are all legitimate worries.

We have watched with great interest as the village core has renewed itself. This has been many years in development.

First, Pearle Hospitality re-developed the old Mill and adjacent properties. Lands across from that location are now home to high end condominiums and other works in progress. The walking bridge and Badley bridge were replaced by their respective municipal owners with structures that complement tourism initiatives. Centre Wellington and the County of Wellington also worked with the developer by granting tax incentives and the township gave up limited parking space across the way to facilitate development. 

The second entrant to the equation has been Kat Florence Canada, a husband-and-wife team with roots in the community. Along with acquiring several properties, they have been incredible ambassadors for tourism, recognizing that successful tenants make for a successful investment going forward. That’s just good business. To their credit, they have brought an unrivaled sense of energy to the project. In a few short months their efforts brought crowds to Elora – manna for small business owners dependent on customers. At personal expense, they brought Christmas home which hadn’t been the experience previously under taxpayer-funded programs.

January, February and March have always been difficult months for small business, particularly in the tourism sector. Customer traffic typically slows to a crawl, staff counts dwindle due to inactivity, while expenses and overhead continue. No one should casually dismiss the angst most small business owners have this time of year. It can be a perilous time. Plans to make the first quarter of the year better for local business are now back on track.

Whether that translates into the size of crowds witnessed during the Christmas stretch is anyone’s guess. A promotion will inevitably draw more visitors than doing nothing at all, so in the interest of the very local economy, these campaigns need to move forward.

Anecdotally, not all merchants experienced this past season with the same satisfaction. As with most things retail, price and product impact the chance of selling said good. Seeking out the masses, as influencers did, welcomed visitors to have an “experience,” without a disclaimer that only the idle rich need attend. This was very much an activity for any outsider to get pleasure from the charming buildings, décor and a fantastic display of lights.

Other BIA members not driven by tourist activity face a longer-term question: to stay or go. It was actually heartening to see the old Dalby House reclaimed by The Lobby as a spot to enjoy a fine cocktail for example. Readers will recall that site was renovated into doctor’s offices a few years back which seemed a fool’s errand at the time considering it was a cornerstone of hospitality in the past.  Other spots in the core may turn to tourism-related offerings as owners retire from mainstream businesses or seek new locations that offer better parking options for customers. Time will tell that tale.

With certainty, Elora will continue to evolve. After over a decade of direct taxpayer assistance and significant capital investments the hands of time won’t be turning back.

We would suggest a facilitator of sorts host an opportunity for all parties to discuss a unified path forward. The gaps between private enterprise, community and the township need to be better understood and heard to breach this impasse.

Some conversation points might well include the following …

Is there a way for the arts community to factor into these promotional weekends?

Can the litter and refuse issues be solved by simply telling merchants to pay the tab and quit insisting on a benefactor to look after an obvious business expense?

Is there a way to find some peace for interests that feel natural elements like the Tooth of Time have become privatized in a sense?

Can the township explain having funds to buy farmland whereas parking opportunities in its downtown cores, which would greatly enhance downtown businesses, have been ignored due to lack of funds?

Why has so much parking been alleviated and streets been reconfigured to make it more difficult for traffic to flow?

In keeping with the preceding and more specifically for the recent experience in Elora, have definitive emergency plans been solicited from fire and police? Residents may find some satisfaction about their legitimate safety concerns in those reports.

With integrity and honesty, solutions can be found.

Centre Wellington has something great in Elora – let’s work to make it better.

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