The Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Committee (EDTAC) contributes strategic input and advice to City Council and City staff on matters pertaining to economic development and tourism strategic priorities in the City of Guelph and other corporate master and strategic plans, policies, initiatives or regulatory changes that may affect Guelph’s employers.
The EDTAC champions and promotes economic and tourism development in the City of Guelph. Their mandate includes:
- Advise City Council and staff on the Economic Development and Tourism Strategy, monitoring progress, and providing professional insights.
- Contribute to the development of programming and initiatives that grow Guelph’s reputation as the place to do business, invest, and visit.
- Provide a platform for feedback on City initiatives put forward by staff that may have identified impact to Guelph’s competitiveness in attracting investment, growing local businesses and attracting visitors.
- Advocate for policies and programs to sustain, grow and nurture a thriving downtown core that attracts investment and visitors.
- Connect with a network of businesses and not-for-profit organizations to leverage community expertise and facilitate strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors.
Board Information
The EDTAC will meet monthly, as required, on the second Tuesday of the month, at 3:00 p.m., excluding August.
The length of meetings will typically not exceed two hours.
All meetings will be conducted in a hybrid format, where possible.
Strategic Plan Alignment
People and Economy – 11. Grow Guelph’s Economy
11.1 - Support businesses, tourism and investment attraction to Guelph by implementing the Economic Development and Tourism Strategy.
People and Economy – 12. Make downtown a vibrant place for everyone
12.2 - Foster a thriving, competitive and safe downtown through collaboration with our community partners.
All ACOCs also align with the Foundations pillar of the Future Guelph Strategic Plan:
Foundations – 5. Provide excellent service
5.3 - Remove barriers by integrating Guelph’s Equity Lens into everything we do.
50 per cent + 1 of the currently appointed members, to a minimum of three.
The EDTAC shall consist of eleven members appointed by Guelph City Council as per the Public Appointment Policy.
Committee members will bring a mix of lived and professional expertise, knowledge and interest related to:
- manufacturing, agri-innovation, and/or cleantech (and other sectors identified in the Economic Development and Tourism Strategy)
- tourism, including accommodations, food & beverage, attractions and events, and specialty retail
- freight rail, especially as a customer of Guelph Junction Railroad
- operating a business or non-profit in the downtown
- operating small to medium sized and/or large enterprises
- operating a local business with a provincial/national/international market
- Arts, culture, heritage
- Marketing, media, or communications
Members will ideally have leadership experience, including but not limited to owning a business, management, business development and/or human resources.
To ensure the committee can provide advice about the full range of topics discussed by the EDTAC, efforts will be made to include three committee members with experience in not-for-profit organizations, two with experience in tourism related industries, and one with experience operating a business or non-profit in the downtown. Additionally, efforts will be made to recruit members from businesses and non-profits across Guelph’s six wards.
The EDTAC's composition should also reflect demographic diversity, including ethnicity, gender, disability, etc., to ensure that the committee's advice to City Council reflects Guelph's diverse community, with a focus on engaging those who are underrepresented in local policy making.
City Clerk's Office
519-822-1260 ext. 5603
advisorycommittees@guelph.ca
Christine Chapman
Manager, Economic Development
519-822-1260 ext. 2823
christine.chapman@guelph.ca
Alex Jaworiwsky
Manager, Tourism & Destination Development
519-822-1260 ext. 2533
alex.jaworiwsky@guelph.ca
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