Tamworth’s Main Street Businesses Opened Its Doors to Host Material Experiences

THIS LAND: A Material Experience received My Main Street support to draw visitors and increase vibrancy in Tamworth.

OCTOBER 23, 2024 – Tamworth, ON – On September 14, 2024, Tamworth businesses and studios opened their doors and invited visitors to come enjoy an event for the senses,  THIS LAND: A Material Experience. With support from the My Main Street Community Activator initiative, the event welcomed approximately 400 people to reconnect with natural materials through seeing, touching, tasting, hearing and smelling.

The event brought together businesses, artists, designers, and the Indigenous community, to foster collaboration and deepen our understanding of the materials we use in our daily lives, tracing their origins back to the land and promoting knowledge and respect for our environment.

This experience demonstrated:

•          The creative process with hands on workshops and activities involving natural raw materials such as stone, clay, fur, wood, fibres and food by skilled professionals, artists and artisans working in their field of expertise. 
•           What the Tamworth main street, and community, have to offer by providing visitors the opportunity to enter participating businesses, studios and spaces. In turn, local businesses identified their shared material connection and respect for nature providing possibilities of business collaborations and a desire to grow this event further into the surrounding Municipality/County.
•        The relationship between the Municipality of Stone Mills in support of local grassroots initiatives that bring activities to the main streets, activating the vibrancy of our community’s businesses and stimulating growth.  

The Township of Stone Mills and event organizers would like to thank the local businesses for opening their doors, and sharing their love for the community as well as demonstrating the economic potential for future growth.

My Main Street is built on the principle of supporting community economic development and creating vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods which will enhance the overall quality of life for residents while also promoting sustainable and inclusive community development. My Main Street is delivered by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), and supported by a Government of Canada investment through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). Learn more about the My Main Street program at mymainstreet.ca.

Quotes

“Thanks to My Main Street our little town was buzzing with people this September 14^th. This demonstrates its potential and what’s possible.”

-       Chantal Leblanc, Co-organizer,      

“A material existence is something we all share and bringing our awareness back to the source is how we reconnect to this planet. Offering visitors, especially children, the opportunity to experience materials in their hands has the potential to spark creative ideas and build confidence. I am encouraged by participating businesses and visitors to continue to grow THIS LAND: A Material Experience into an annual event to make this area known for it’s respect for the land.”

-       Carolyn Butts, Co-organizer THIS LAND: A Material Experience and Owner, Tamworth Central

“Main streets are at the social and economic heart of community life in cities and towns across southern Ontario. They mobilize social capital to generate economic development opportunities. The “THIS LAND: A Material Experience” project helped to attract more foot traffic to the main street, contributing to the economic vitality of the community.”

-       Mary W. Rowe, CEO and President, Canadian Urban Institute

“The Canadian Urban Institute, with support from the Government of Canada, is investing in community projects, such as THIS LAND: A Material Experience. These projects attract visitors to our main streets, support local businesses, and revitalize our communities – helping shops, restaurants and local economies thrive. Together, we’re building stronger, more vibrant communities.”

-       The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

Associated Links

·       THIS LAND: A Material Experience

·       My Main Street

·       Canadian Urban Institute

·       FedDev Ontario

Media Contacts

Carolyn Butts

Co-Organizer
THIS LAND: A Material Experience
cbutts@bell.net

Samantha Staresincic

Communications Manager

My Main Street

Media@mymainstreet.ca

Edward Hutchinson

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca

Background:

About My Main Street: The My Main Street program has returned with an additional Government of Canada investment, building on an initial investment in 2021, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to spur local economic recovery. To date, the initial investment has supported nearly 4,500 businesses and organizations, nearly 7,500 jobs and leveraged nearly $19 million in additional investment. The funding aims to revitalize neighbourhood main streets with a healthy retail mix while generating inclusive economic opportunities. The program now features two streams – Business Sustainability and the Community Activator. My Main Street is delivered by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI).

About Canadian Urban Institute (CUI): The Canadian Urban Institute is a leading organization dedicated to advancing urban solutions. CUI collaborates with city builders, researchers, and community leaders to create thriving, equitable, and sustainable urban spaces across Canada.

About FedDev Ontario: For 15 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our investment profiles, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.