Tourism picking up in North Bay due to different activities
To put it simply, Bryce Gartner loves to be on the water. He’s been operating two to three hour paddle tours, through Shockwaves Paddle Adventures and Lifesaving, of lakes and rivers within a 20 minute drive from North Bay since 2017.
“We’ve got the big open water on Lake Nipissing; we’ve got the rivers, and we have Trout Lake,” Gartner said.
“There are lots of variety for paddlers.”
If Gartner can host between eight and 10 water tours a summer, he’s happy. Just last week, he took a family visiting the Gateway City from Thunder Bay for a sunset adventure.
“Most people I get are from other places in Ontario and occasionally outside of Ontario,” he adds.
“They’re people coming to North Bay for other activities and looking for something to do in in the evening or the weekend.”
Nature is one of the city’s biggest draws, with the Lake Nipissing waterfront overlooking the city and 16 surrounding conservation areas.
“You’re able to come and stay in a beautiful urban hotel with all of the modern amenities and within five minutes you can be out in nature as if you’re out in the middle of nowhere,” said Steve Dreany, Tourism North Bay’s executive director.
Tourism levels in North Bay haven’t reached the levels they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, but a steady uptick in intraprovincial travel has given tourism officials a sense of hope.
“The occupancy in hotels is very, very strong,” Dreany explained.
“Restaurants are getting back to business.”
A big draw is the city’s new Cascades Casino. Built over the course of a few years and just opened in the spring, high rollers and card dealers have been travelling from as far as Sudbury, north of Toronto and even from the U.S., for a chance to win big money.
“We have been so excited to see this vibrant city support us,” said Mo Shulu, the casino’s general manager.
“We’ve watched all of our patrons become excited for launch and we’ve seen sustained success. We are an entertainment destination.”
For those who enjoy the arts, the Capitol Centre is the place to go. For 35 years, the performing arts theatre hosts live performances, shows, and concerts. Next on the plate is the planning of Blues Fest in September.
“September 1st to the 4th we have events happening in the WKP Kennedy Gallery and then concerts and programs on the Chief Commanda cruise and concerts in the back parking lot here," said Katina Connolly, executive director of Capitol.
With summer still in full swing, the hope is people will take a trip here, enjoy the scenic view, catch a show or spend money in the city and then come back again.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.