InFrontenac – brand ambassadors meet and greet

Jeff Green | Apr 06, 2017

Alison Vandervelde and Richard Allen of the Frontenac County Economic Development department thought that fifteen or twenty of the 68 Frontenac County brand ambassadors would accept their invitation to hold an informal social gathering at the Sharbot Lake County Inn last Thursday (March 30).

“When over 50 said they were coming we were pretty surprised,” said Vandervelde “but then again I knew that businesses who have taken on the role of brand ambassador are an enthusiastic bunch.”

Vandervelde made a short presentation at the gathering, which included business owners from all four townships, and the staff of the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation. She talked about plans to use the brand and the InFrontenac tagline to promote unique adventures in Frontenac County this summer.

“Mostly what people wanted to do was meet each other and have a good time and maybe talk about business a little bit. There was a lot of energy in the room,” she said.

Sandra White of the Sharbot Lake Country Inn hosted the event and provided appetizers, offerings that were augmented by a large meat board that Mike Mckenzie from Seed to Sausage brought along.  White talked about the journey she has gone through as owner of the Country Inn and Crossings Pub over 7 years. Along with her husband Frank and their three daughters they have renovated the entire building, creating a dining room/performance space that hosts east coast and other musical acts from across Canada. The rooms at the Inn are now mostly renovated as well. She also works at the local branch of RBC and invited representatives from the branch to the event to mingle with the ambassadors.

“You have to take every opportunity to promote what you do,” she said afterwards.

“We are enthusiastic that this summer will be a good one for businesses in Frontenac County,” said Vandervelde, “and as we hope that as we pick up more ambassadors they will continue to promote each other, making Frontenac a more attractive destination. It is easier to talk up other businesses when you know the people who run them.”

Later this spring, meetings are being organized to take a broad look at accommodations in Frontenac.

For more information or to become a brand ambassador, go to Infrontenac.ca and follow the links.

(The Frontenac News is an InFrontenac brand ambassador)