Meet the Board: Shannon MacLaggan, Anupaya Cabin Co.

An entrepreneur at heart, Shannon MacLaggan has had a hand in several different businesses. Beginning with a yoga studio she co-owned for eight years before selling to launch the trendy and popular Anupaya Quality Goods, in 2021 Shannon and her partner purchased an old hunting and fishing lodge, renamed Anupaya Cabin Co., a popular destination for overnight stays.

After 14 years in the tourism industry, Shannon explained that one of the best parts of working in tourism is the ability to share Anupaya Cabin Co with her guests.

"I believe that access to quiet, wild spaces has never been more needed in the world than now," Shannon said. "and I am so honoured to be able to offer a place for folks to slow down and settle into nature's pace."

Shannon believes that tourism is key to contributing to a community's growth and prosperity, and she is excited to be taking on a new role, as an OHTO Board Member. Shannon’s advancement to board member was a logical next step given her strong affinity for, and success, in the tourism sector.

Joining the Ontario’s Highlands' Tourism Team as an OHTO Board Member was an easy choice for Shannon as she believes that putting yourself out there, being a part of your community is invaluable. By sitting on the board, Shannon will be able to listen to different perspectives

"It's listening to other voices that unites all of us towards a common goal and reminds us that we are more alike than we are different," Shannon said.

Shannon encourages everyone to consider joining the OHTO Board.

“A rising tide lifts all boats...everyone is so unique. Each one of us is precious and rare. YOU are needed, and wanted. Showing up imperfectly is better than not showing up at all,” Shannon said. “Don’t think you are good enough? Well, join the club. Do it anyways. Be brave. Shoulders back. You can sit beside me.”

Meet the Board: Melissa Marquardt, Ottawa Valley Tourist Association, Renfrew County

Melissa Marquardt is an Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization (OHTO) board member who has stood the test of time. Melissa was not only one of the first directors for the OHTO board and served three full terms, but after taking a short break she is back again.

One might wonder what keeps bringing Melissa back to this role with OHTO? The answer is: Lots.

“I’m very passionate about tourism and passionate about promoting Ontario’s Highlands as a place to play, live and work,” explained Melissa. “Being around a table of like-minded individuals who want to see the success of our operators and communities is very exciting and something I want to be a part of.”

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Melissa is someone who lives and breathes tourism. As the Tourism Development Officer for the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association for the past 15 years, tourism is Melissa’s focus professionally, but she also lives and is part of the community in an area renowned for its tourism offerings.

From whitewater to camping, food and drink, and more, the Ottawa Valley is a tourism centrepiece, which gives Melissa plenty of inspiration for her professional and personal life. The best part about tourism, from her perspective, is that it’s always evolving and changing, which keeps it exciting.

Her position on OHTO’s board has given her the tools to use in her day job, but it’s also inspired conversation and thinking on bigger-picture ideas relating to tourism and how they can apply in her region.

“In tourism, we tend to be in a reactionary state, and it’s nice to be in a proactive state and thinking about the future and where want to go and who we want to be,” said Melissa. “Those are the bigger picture conversations we have at the OHTO table.”

This term in her role with the OHTO board, Melissa is taking on the role of Chief Governing Officer (CGO). In essence, this means that Melissa will serve as the chair of the board, but it’s also much more than that.

“It’s ensuring we have an ear to the ground for industry needs, wants, and wishes, while also ensuring we have the finances, skill sets, and resources to meet those needs,” said Melissa.

From a CGO perspective, the focus for OHTO moving forward is to continue down the journey of responsible tourism and the impact that will inevitably have on the region. The board will be addressing issues like sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion and what that looks like from a tourism perspective.

While Melissa is excited about her next term on the OHTO board and particularly in her role as CGO, she’s also looking forward to welcoming new board members to the table and inviting new perspectives for the conversations about sustainable tourism and what tourism will look like in the future in Ontario’s Highlands.

“If anyone has an interest in tourism and wants to have a stake in the future of Ontario’s Highlands, then I would suggest they consider joining the board. It’s not an onerous time commitment and the conversations we have are important.”

Joining the OHTO Board

OHTO is currently seeking new board members to join the team and make changes in the tourism world in Ontario’s Highlands. Anyone who is passionate about tourism and can dedicate a few hours each month, please consider submitting an application. For more information about how to apply and to read more about current board members’ thoughts on what being a board member means to them, please click here.

About OHTO

Meet the Board: Corina Mansfield, Deep Roots Adventure, Harcourt

If there’s a common theme to those who come to the Ontario’s Highlands region, it’s a desire to get closer to nature, and Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization (OHTO) Board Member and Secretary, Corina Mansfield’s story is no different.

After a decade spent working in the city of Toronto as a Law Clerk, Corina was ready for a change, and a chance to get back to where her heart has always been, the outdoors. She may have launched a career in Toronto, but her heart has always been in Ontario’s Highlands.

“I think that my formative years were spent in Haliburton Highlands…I loved the outdoors, I just feel like when you leave the city and drive up to the Highlands, there’s this point along the way that your shoulders start to go down and the stress leaves your body…I just love it.” said Corina.

Corina explained that growing up she always had this dream of owning an adventure company, but that back then it didn’t feel like a “real job,” there weren’t as many university or college programs she could take, and finding role models of women running adventure companies, or representing adventure sports, was challenging.

Corina made the move back to Ontario’s Highlands in 2018 with the goal of starting an adventure company. After working hard for many years to make the move to full-time entrepreneurship while raising two little girls, she finally launched Deep Roots Adventure in 2017.

“For me there are a lot of industries that we have here, but tourism is the heartbeat of the Highlands,” said Corina. “I love it when people leave a class and they are empowered and excited, they have this glow about them, that’s why I do this, I love seeing how people are in the outdoors, how they feel empowered, how they learn, how they let go of their comfort zone.”

Once Corina began working in the tourism realm, she saw more and more opportunities to connect and network with others in the industry. She took part in Ignite Haliburton, hosted by OHTO, and was excited at the collaboration she saw taking place there. She then joined the OHTO governance committee before deciding to take the plunge and join the OHTO board, a natural next step.

For Corina, being a director has been empowering, both professionally and personally.

“Getting to interact with other people and see their perspectives has really helped me to grow and given me an appreciation for the different tourism sectors,” Corina said. “I get a bit of a buzz from connecting with others who are so passionate about tourism and the community.

Her favourite part of being a board member is seeing the energy that the board brings to the table and the impacts that energy has on policy and the direction of tourism in the region.

She would recommend any tourism operator take the plunge and volunteer for the board, but does have some tips and suggestions, particularly when it comes to overcommitting.

Corina suggests being honest with yourself and how much you can give to the board, or any volunteer endeavour. She acknowledges that entrepreneurs are often the types of people who have big hearts and want to help a lot in the community, so end up volunteering a lot. These people in particular have to be careful to have a realistic view of time commitments.

“I have a mug that stays ‘Stop me before I volunteer again’ because I love to take on new projects,’” Corina laughed. “I think all entrepreneurs have to say ‘what’s my realistic opportunity to contribute’ and then put that energy where they can, without burning out.”

Joining the OHTO Board

About OHTO