The Annapolis-Digby Economic Development Agency has placed a priority on strengthening local business.  Important new goals include increasing visitor attraction and expenditures, through new product offerings.  With the growing trend towards experiential tourism, this workshop provided participants with an opportunity to take part in four signature experiences unique to the Bay of Fundy-Annapolis region. 

These experiences included Fundy Gems with a dulser and long-time naturalist along the shoreline “winkling and dulsing”, Art Senses with award-winning Nova Scotia artist Wayne Boucher, Valley Detectives with new-age GPS-armed teachers and detectives from the Annapolis campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, and a celebratory dinner at the historic Hillsdale House, with two amazing chefs.  Topping this off was an opportunity to learn from and experience the wonderful award-winning Acadian music of Jeanne (Doucet) and Wayne Currie.

The intent of the workshop was to provide local area tourism owners and operators, tourism facilitators and enablers and local residents the opportunity to learn more about experiential tourism and how they could apply it to their communities.

With local coordinator Lillian Stewart and a host of community supports, the workshop took place at the Legion in Annapolis Royal, with a variety of offsite and onsite learning activities.

The workshop facilitator

Facilitated by Celes Davar, president of Earth Rhythms,Inc., a Manitoba-based learning adventure company, the workshop was the first of its kind in Nova Scotia.  Celes is passionate about rural tourism.  He believes that rural communities across Canada are in an excellent position to develop micro-enterprises or experiential packages with which to provide unique learning experiences for today’s visitors seeking more “off the beaten track” adventures.  Based on the edge of Riding Mountain National Park between Dauphin and Brandon, Celes has developed a unique partnership with over 50 local partners, providing small group programs that are customized, experiential and educational.