Innisfil, ON – The Town of Innisfil Economic Development Office is celebrating three award recognitions for its innovative marketing initiatives, including a finalist distinction at the 2026 Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence and two Gold Awards at the international MarCom Awards.
The recognitions highlight the team’s commitment to creative, strategic marketing that showcases Innisfil as a destination for visitors while helping local entrepreneurs access the resources they need to start and grow their businesses.
The team was named a finalist in the Tourism Marketing Campaign Award (Under $50,000) category at the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario’s (TIAO) 2026 Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence for its Discover Lakeside Dining campaign. The awards recognize excellence, creativity, and innovation across Ontario’s tourism industry. The 2026 awards were presented on October 22 in Ottawa as part of the Ontario Tourism Summit.
The Discover Lakeside Dining campaign was developed to encourage visitors to explore Innisfil’s lakeside dining experiences and discover local businesses. Through coordinated promotional efforts, the campaign showcased the community’s unique waterfront offerings while encouraging residents and visitors to support local restaurants.
“Being named a finalist for the Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence is a wonderful recognition of the work happening to showcase Innisfil’s unique lakeside dining experiences,” says Wendy Timpano, Economic Development Manager. “We’re proud to see this initiative recognized among tourism leaders across Ontario.”
In addition to the TIAO finalist recognition, the team received two Gold Awards at the 2026 MarCom Awards for the Entrepreneurial Journey Map. The international competition recognizes outstanding achievement in marketing and communications.
The Entrepreneurial Journey Map received Gold in the Guide category and Gold in the Informational category. Developed by the Town’s Economic Development Office in partnership with regional business-support organizations, the interactive resource helps entrepreneurs navigate the business lifecycle, connecting them with relevant programs, funding opportunities, workshops, networking opportunities and other support services across Simcoe County.
Designed from the entrepreneur’s perspective, the map guides users through five stages of business development: Dream, Launch, Grow, Scale, and Exit. By bringing regional resources together in one accessible tool, the initiative helps business owners identify their next steps and connect with organizations that can support their goals.
“Effective economic development marketing is about more than visibility; it’s about creating meaningful connections and making it easier for people to take action,” says Laura Thompson, Director of Strategic Initiatives. “With the Entrepreneurial Journey Map, we took a collaborative, user-focused approach to making business resources easier to navigate. These awards are a wonderful recognition of the creativity, collaboration and strategic thinking behind both initiatives.”
Together, the three recognitions demonstrate the team’s approach to economic development through practical, audience-focused marketing that delivers value for local businesses, entrepreneurs, and visitors.
The Town of Innisfil’s Economic Development team will continue to build on this work by promoting the community’s tourism experiences, strengthening connections with local businesses and improving access to resources that support economic growth.
To learn more about economic development in Innisfil, entrepreneurial supports and to stay up to date on news and events, visit InvestInnisfil.ca.