RTO7 Welcomes Minerva Ward as Executive Director
RTO7 is pleased to welcome Minerva Ward as Executive Director, effective June 1. Minerva brings nearly two decades of experience in tourism, destination development, marketing, stakeholder engagement, and economic development, with work spanning the Caribbean and communities across Canada, including British Columbia, the Arctic, Niagara, and most recently the Yukon. Minerva is passionate about building partnerships, supporting communities, and strengthening destinations through collaboration and innovation. She can be reached at mward@rto7.ca.
Did you miss our June tourism industry updates?
Read the recent newsletter release here.
T3 Accelerator Program Accepting New Applications
Now is a great time to access one-on-one coaching to help your tourism business plan, adapt, and grow. The T3 Accelerator Program, administered by RTO7 and Community Futures South Georgian Bay, connects established tourism businesses in Bruce, Grey and Simcoe counties with industry experts for practical support in areas such as marketing, AI, experience development, financial management, HR, sales, strategic planning, technology, and more.
Learn more, meet the coaches, and see if the T3 Accelerator Program is the right fit for your business by visiting the T3 Accelerator Program page.
Forward Motion: Ontario's Tourism Strategy
The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) has released Forward Motion: A Strategic Playbook for Ontario's Tourism Industry 2025–2030, a sector-led strategy designed to align, energize, and grow Ontario's visitor economy over the next five years. Click here to learn what this strategy means for RTO7 and tourism stakeholders in BruceGreySimcoe.
Plan Ahead for 2027/28 Program Applications
Each year, RTO7 works with tourism stakeholders in a variety of ways, including through our Partnership Program, one of our key industry support initiatives. Applications typically open in January, with funding awarded by April.
Explore our programs and book a call to discuss how RTO7 may be able to support your tourism products, experiences, and initiatives. Visit the
Partnership Program page for details.