By Shelly Sanders Greer Special to the Beaver "Oakville has always had a tremendous amount to offer visiâ€" tors," says Michael Caine, past so apparent romoting tourism has P always been an important part of the Chamber‘s role, but it wasn‘t until 1988, when the Chamber moved to its present location and began operâ€" ating a tourism information booth, that the emphasis became CC6 Chamber plays key role in promoting Oakville The Oakuville Chamber of Commerce is a nonâ€"profit organization that assists its members gy providing a service of fostering businessaflrortunities; promoting trade; addressing business, education and community concerns; and encouraging sound government policy. #4 CONGRATULATIONS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE On Its 40th Anniversary from THE TOWN OF OAKVILLE Promoting Economic Development in Partnership with The Chamber of Commerce it‘s easy to see why | The Oakville Chamber of Commerce is an important part of our community Lobbying and _ > working with all Government levels on behalf of Business C‘ " WwWao ;( t When you put it all together, A message from your Oakville Chamber of Commerce. president. "It‘s not a primary desâ€" tination but it does offer beauty, wonderful harbors and excellent entertainment." One of Caine‘s fondest memoâ€" ries is of an event he organized to coincide with the Canadian Open. "When Glen Abbey became the home of the Canadian Open, the Chamber wanted to capitalize on this event. I was given the task of creating Putterfest. This was a twoâ€"day event held at the main library on the river. My vision EDl Promoting interaction between Business and Education through numerous programs AL 19 was that it would develop into a very serious largeâ€"scale festival, much like today‘s Waterfront Festival. We developed this festiâ€" val to draw people into our downtown, but nobody came south of the QEW. The beer tent was the only thing that made money. We had several thousand people the first year, and even more people the second, but we lost money both years. That was the end of Putterfest, but I did have the honor of receiving the first and only Putterfest Award!" THE OAKVILLE BEAVER For more igï¬lrmation on how the Oakville Chamber of Commerce can benefit your business call 845â€"6613 or visit us (north of the QEW at the Kerr or Dorval Exits). 170 Country Squire Lane, Oakuille, Ontario L6] 423. T; £8* s Working on behalf of business and promoting tourism Caine‘s vision of a large festiâ€" val did eventually arrive, as the Waterfront Festival two years ago. ‘"The seed for this event was planted by the Tourism Committee," says Andres Paara, the chairman of this committee for two years. "But when we realized it was too large a project for the Chamber to handle, it became a separate entity. Already, it is ranked as one of the top four festivals in Ontario." The Tourism Committee, with a small operating budget of $20,000, spends most of its money operating the tourism information centre in the Chamber building. In the sumâ€" mer, this booth operates seven days a week, and this past sumâ€" mer, there were 13,602 tourists who stopped by for information between Victoria Day Weekend and Labor Day. "We had visitors from as far away as Germany, Australia, China, Japan, England, as well as from other parts of Ontario and the United States," says Karen _ Board, Tourism Coordinator. "This number was HALTON ROMAN CATHOLIC HALTON BOARD OF SCHOOL BOARD EDUCATION Irene McCauley _ Cliff G. Byrnes Dave Coons Bob Williams ‘m fa/g//‘a talations Chamber af Conmerce on 40 7 ears 4 Dedeated gamw(/?% Service/ Chair Director or Education up 2,000 from last summer." In addition to the Tourism centre, the Tourism Committee produces the day tours pamphlet, and the Oakville Visitor Guide, which has been published for two years. Advertising pays for the cost of this publication and it goes to all Ontario tourism inforâ€" mation centres, including Niagara and Stratford. It is also given out at the centre and at various trade shows, including the Ontario Motor Coach Operator‘s Show in November, uh: Congratulates the Oakville Chamber of Commerce on it‘s 40th Anniversary Royal Life Building 277 Lakeshore Rd. East Oakville, Ontario L6J 1KH9 CONGRATULATIONS "Oakville has always had a tremendous amount to offer visitors. It‘s not a primary destination, but it does offer beauty, wonderful harbors and excellent entertainment." â€"#4 a = Royal Life TO A GREAT COâ€"FOUNDER Polestar Human Resource Consultants Inc. JjUNE 26, 27, 28, 1994 Granary Commercial Centre 114 Lakeshore Rd. E. Oakville Coronation Park + Lakeside Park & Harbour Downtown Oakville +« Downtown Bronte & Harbour 845â€"5585 #5900 Waterfront Hotline A Three Day Celebration of Qakyville‘s Harbours and Heritage The Oakville Waterfront FESTIVAL 842â€"9041 Chair Raleigh Bicycles the Great Maturity Show i1 September and Canadia Consulate Tours in New Yori State. . "This year we will be placin more emphasis on arts, culturg sports and leisure," says Hele Barnes, Tourism Committe chairperson for the year. "Grez fishing charters are one of ou best kept secrets and we‘re als pushing the sports dome and th many golf courses we have. Ou goal is to get more people to sto or come back." Visit your authorized Raleigh Dealers to see our fine selection of Junior, Touring, Hybrid and Mountain Bikes today! Tel: (905) 842â€"6202, Ext: 209 Fax: (905) 842â€"6294 Toll Free: 1â€"800â€"263â€"1747 40th. Anniversary congratulates The Oakville Chamber of Commerce on it‘s Michael Caine Director of Education Oct, 20 )