Embedded Files
July 2026
July 2026
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In this issue
Ambassador Parking @ Fort George
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The Leaders Corner
The Leaders Corner
From Your Co-Leads Laurie Harley & Vlad Haltigin
From Your Co-Leads Laurie Harley & Vlad Haltigin
It’s hard to believe we’ve already completed a third of the 2026 season!
Visitor traffic is increasing, the summer temperatures are returning, and we’re saying “goodbye” to rainy days (we hope!).
From the NOTL In Bloom weekend in May until the end of June, you engaged with over 21,500 people. That’s an increase of 17% compared to the same period last year. While the numbers are impressive, it’s the quality of those connections that matter the most in creating lasting memories and extraordinary experiences for visitors.
Thanks to the Mentorship Team, our new cohort of Ambassadors is fully trained and “on the street”. Ongoing learning continues at a record pace with 18 sites visited by the end of June, and more planned over the summer. We’ve experienced everything from historic walks, to wineries, to Niagara Takes Flight, to a lavender farm and introductions to the story of honey bees. The line-up of things to learn about in NOTL never ceases to amaze us!
Speaking of learning, it’s time for us to gather feedback on how we’re doing, share our experiences, and talk about what’s planned for the remainder of the season.
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, August 5, from 2 until 3:30 pm for the mid-season Ambassador Checkpoint meeting. You told us after last year’s meeting it was good to share experiences during the season and we valued the feedback we received. The meeting will be virtual so you can join in from wherever you are. Watch for an email with an invitation and link closer to the event.
As we head into the busy summer season, it’s also time to say “thank you” for the 1,500 volunteer hours you’ve already donated to the Ambassador Team. To recognize your contributions, we’re introducing a new initiative - the “Stars on the Street” Draw. If you volunteered for a shift between May 8 and June 28, your name was entered into the Draw. Our new “Wheel of Names” declared our first winner: Congratulations Joan Coyne! You’ll be receiving a gift bottle from Konzelmann’s Estate Winery plus some fun “swag”.
It’s also time for us to recognize our first “Ambassador of the Month”. Congratulations go to Lin Slee whose contributions since the launch of the season have been exceptional. Read more about Lin’s story later in this edition.
And a final word of thanks to Josh Lennox. Last month we welcomed him to the Tourism NOTL Team for the summer. Since then, he’s been busy helping Ambassadors during shifts and filling cancellations and openings. From all of us, Josh, thank you for your support.
As always, we look forward to seeing you on the street!
Laurie laurieharley24@gmail.com
Vlad vhalt@cogeco.ca
Ambassador Team
Ambassador Awards
Ambassador Awards
Congratulations, Lin!
If you’ve been on a Court House shift this season, chances are you’ve volunteered alongside Lin. The historic building is certainly her favourite spot but she’s also at home at the kiosk. In total she’s found time to volunteer for 17 shifts – absolutely amazing!
Here’s what Lin had to say about the time she spends as an Ambassador: “This is a great group of volunteers to work with. And learning more about the history of NOTL is a bonus” .
In addition to her time volunteering on shifts, Lin was also instrumental in doing a “deep dive” into the history of the Court House to help us develop the training video and host special site visits.
Thanks to our generous partner, Arterra and Jackson-Triggs Estate Winery, Lin and a guest are invited to dine at the Entourage Room and create their own exceptional experience.
Reminder about Ambassador Parking at Fort George
What happens when you have a problem finding parking ……
A very busy season, means finding parking for your shift may be a challenge. We have Town stickers or permits we can use but what happens when we just can’t find a place to park?
Thanks to our partner, Parks Canada, we now have a solution. Ambassadors will be able to park at Fort George and then hop on the free shuttle to arrive at the Court House for our shifts,
Here's how the process works:
Park your vehicle in the Fort George visitor parking lot
Go to the Visitor Centre located in the bus lot at Fort George where you will complete a form and sign for a parking pass
Passes are kept in an Ambassador binder under the counter at the front desk; Tourism staff can show you where to find it
Return to your vehicle and leave the pass where it is visible on your dashboard
Take the shuttle to the Court House; on weekends there will be 3 buses operating so wait times should be short (15 minutes or less)
After your shift, return on the shuttle; return the pass to the Visitor Centre at Fort George and sign the form to acknowledge its return
There are 7 passes available for each shift - enough to cover all volunteers each day. The passes are only valid on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm.
If you use the Fort George parking option, please tell us about your experience. You can send a note to info@notl-ambassadors.ca or just share your comments with Josh. It’s a new process and we value your feedback.
Happy Parking!
Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Niagara-on-the-Lake transition
Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Niagara-on-the-Lake transition
Congratulations to Kathy Weiss who has been named CEO Tourism Niagara-on-the-Lake and Terry Dow, now interim Executive Director of the NOTL Chamber of Commerce. Click here to read the recent announcement and leadership update regarding Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Experience NOTL
Experience NOTL
Shifts & Site Visits
Thank you to everyone who has signed up for shifts and community site visits so far this season. Your participation has made a huge difference to the experiences and memories you have created for visitors, as well as for our team’s success. There are still some shifts available in July and particularly in August. Please take a glance at your personal calendars and sign up if you have availability. At the same time, please check your committed upcoming shifts and Community Site Visits. If anything changes for you, please do NOT wait till the last minute to advise.
“A commitment made is a commitment kept!”
The shifts for September through to Thanksgiving in October will be released on August 3rd, so mark your calendars.
Also, you recently received an email about a new community site visit opportunity to visit the Niagara District Airport on August 27th. Join us to learn about the recently launched Air Canada shuttle to YYZ, and about the airport’s future role in NOTL.
Here's what a few of our Partners have to say, following recent Site Visits...
"The Ambassadors play an important role in promoting our community, and we greatly appreciate your partnership. We look forward to welcoming you back to the Craft Beverage Centre in the future and keeping you informed about new products, experiences, and events. With sincere appreciation." Amanda Baldinelli, NC Craft
"As an Old Towner I see the Ambassadors everyday helping visitors to our town. It's a great service. Best regards."
Paul Newman, Strewn Winery
Here are a few pictures from recent site visits (more pictures are available on our Private Facebook group).
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