Tourism Sudbury wants you to think 'big' this tourist season
With news that the city will soon be going into Stage 3, attractions in Greater Sudbury have high hopes for the summer ahead.
Whether it's the 'big entertainment', the 'big' ideas or just the 'Big Nickel,' Tourism Sudbury says there will be lots to see and do this summer.
"I think overall we have a sector of people who are willing to give it their best shot, willing to share resources and get ready for the summer, whatever it holds," said Meredith Armstrong, Manager of Tourism and Culture with the city. "We have been working hard to help our residents discover what they have in their own backyard so we hope we have a community full of ambassadors who will be willing to welcome their friends and family back this summer."
Armstrong says there is a general sense of hope or a 'light at the end of the tunnel' when it comes to the summer ahead. She says more people are getting their first and second doses and that is giving them hope.
"We're thrilled to see so many of our small businesses use new ways to reach their customers, engaging and providing wonderful ideas. We have lot of businesses who are doing really great things online, using social media, Instagram has a whole new meaning and importance," said Armstrong.
The city says it's extremely proud of how some of those restaurants have turned to patios in order to keep their patrons safe while carrying on, as best they can, with normal business.
One of those shops that's been enticing Sudburians with new ideas or things they just haven't seen before has been Wander Food and Wine.
Owner Stephanie Piche has been busy teaching online courses while putting together takeout favourites like their picnic baskets and take home kits.
"I think there's a lot more planning of road trips as opposed to people going to far away destinations," said Piche. " I think with COVID many are trying to stay close to home or planning to go visit family so I'm already hearing about people going to visit family for the first time this summer ... making plans so I'm thinking this (Sudbury) could be like a hub, especially for Northern Ontario."
While the patio has helped many businesses survive these warmer months ... Piche has had many turning heads with things like the picnic basket.
"I was trying to think of a way to have what we do here and have people experience it at home. I didn't want to do standard takeout, that's not really what we do here, it's more about the tasting and the pairing and the wine education side of things," she explained.
According to Piche, it's been going really well. There's still many who are hesitant about going out but they are still travelling to places like cottages and hoping to have a nice evening out.
She's also anxious and ready to get in-person wine classes started again once their allowed under the COVID-19 framework. They've always been popular and they book up fast. As much as she likes making up the kits, she says there's something special about an in-person class.
"We get to have great conversation, I get to feed them as opposed to just having little nibbles or something," she laughed.
"I think for the most part - people are waiting for that time where they can just get up from one table and go visit another and it's sounds not quite cliche but I can't wait to have bar seats again where people can come and sit down at a bar - that's what we intended and built this place for," she said.
But big experiences when it comes to dining isn't the only thing downtown Sudbury is boasting this summer, there's also the entertainment.
Yes Theatre is taking it's show on the road to do live performances at the Grotto in late August and early September.
"We really wanted to find a way to bring people together, to celebrate congregation after this very tiring and tumultuous year we've had over the last year and a half. So we wanted to bring music back to the community," said Artistic and Managing Director Alessandro Costantini.
As a result, they're bringing their repertory of three concerts to the Sudbury attraction with 12 vocalists and a live band of six.
It's being billed as a high-energy, passion-filled concert outdoors.
Audience members are being encouraged to think of it as a live theatre experience, something like you'd see in Ancient Greece.
"It's been profoundly exciting in a way that I haven't felt this energy or excitement for a project in a very long time. We're all very much looking forward to being together and singing together," said Costantini.
This summer marks the first time the group has been able to get together for sometime and it's something they really cherish.
Costantini says they're all really grateful about being given the opportunity to do what they do with an audience.
"People have really turned to arts and culture in a way that's really helped us right? So being able to actually assemble together as a team, with the people that we love, with the artists that Sudbury loves, knows and recognizes - it's going to be really remarkable," he said.
Not only bigger, but also better, attractions here in Sudbury say they're ready for a banner year.
Visitors have already started arriving and whether it's tourists or residents staying close to home, they're hoping you'll get a chance to take in the fun.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.