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Sunset Country

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Show Us Your Northwestern Ontario!

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As winter in NWO edges toward its slow, beautiful fade, we’re taking a moment to reflect on something special… the way you see this place we all love.

Over the past season, fans of yoursunsetcountry.ca , yourborderland.ca and yourkenora.ca have shared so many of stunning photos, sun dogs glowing fiery sunsets stretching across lakes, quiet forests heavy with snow, and the wildlife that watches us from the treeline. Each image is a reminder that even at the tail end of winter, NWO has a magic that never really goes away.

This is beauty in cold weather. – Connie Calvert

Camouflage? – Connie Calvert

But what really makes this collection meaningful isn’t just the scenery, it’s the people behind the lens. And Connie, we see you… thanks for all the fantastic submissions.

It’s the way you bundle up, head out onto the ice, or pause on your morning or evening commute because the sky suddenly turned pink. It’s the way you notice the small things: the tracks on a frozen bay, the halo around the sun, the way the last light of day filters through snow‑covered pines. It’s the way you share those moments with all of us. Your photos let the whole region, and far beyond, see Northwestern Ontario through your eyes. They remind us why we love it here: not only for the landscape, but for the people who live close to it, look closely at it, and cherish it enough to capture it.

Sun Dogs captured by Government Dock – Janine Ahoff

Sunset Extraordinaire – Dana Leonzio

So as winter slowly loosens its grip and we begin to look toward longer days, we thank you…
Thank you for braving the cold, for stopping to notice beauty, and for showing us your Northwestern Ontario!
Reminder: Daylight saving time will begin this year on March 8, at 2 a.m so be ready to set your clocks forward! Hoo-rah to more sunshine!

Please keep the photos coming, we never get tired of seeing what you see! Snap away! 📸

Email in your photos:

Kenora – info@yourkenora.ca
Dryden – info@yoursunsetcountry.ca
Fort Frances/Rainy River – info@yourborderland.ca

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Audio: Urgent Call For Help For Local Outfitters

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Local tourist outfitters need help and they need it now!

That strong message is being delivered by Meagan Clark at Clarks Resorts and Outposts in Vermilion Bay.

She is hoping a Save Sunset Country Tourism Before It’s Too Late video and petition campaign catches the eye of elected officials.

Meagan says despite numerous attempts to get attention, both levels of government have ignored their plea for help.

She stresses the province and feds don’t realize how important fishing and hunting camps are to our economy.

“We generate billions in tax revenue. We contribute something like $450 million to Ontario’s GDP. 90% of the economic benefits, all this new money that we bring in, stays within the region.”

Meagan Clark says there’s a huge government misconception that local outfitters can run their business on Canadian traffic only.

“We have marketed to Canadians for years and they still only make up less than 5% of our clientele expect maybe a few place in Kenora because of the Manitoba traffic. Marketing to domestic tourism in Ontario. It might work for some of the southern parts of the province where they have more a population to draw from but it will never work around here. We still sit here empty.”

She notes 99.9% of their business comes from the United States and they don’t know when or if the border will reopen.

Meagan Clark says “We need larger loans. We need them to be forgivable. We need breaks on insurance. We’re paying full insurance for empty cabins and airplanes that are sitting on land not working.”

Clark adds “Our government fees like land use permits and licensing fees. I mean those should be forgiven at the very least for this year. And our fixed costs don’t go away. These camps have mortgages and these cabins and equipment. They don’t come for free.”

Click here to see the petition.

To hear the full interview and to view the emotional video on the importance of tourism to Sunset Country, visit the links below.

 

 

 

 

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Tourist Camps Ready For Saturday Rally

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Local camp owners, tourism officials and supporters will gather at Fort Vermilion in Vermilion Bay this weekend for a peaceful protest.

It starts Saturday at 10:00am.

Co-organizer Julian Kalka of Andy Myers Camp says they need more answers from both levels of government on how they plan to help those impacted by COVID-19 shutdowns and restrictions.

Kalka says tourism is vital to the success of the regional economy.

“There’s so many small businesses (impacted). It’s a ripple effect. It needs to be addressed and all we are asking from both levels of governments with this peaceful protest is that we need to be heard and we have to get a game plan to move forward.”

Kalka says “This rally, I think, benefits not only us local resort owners. It benefits all of northwestern Ontario for the amount of money that comes into this economy for small businesses.”

He notes multiple camp owners in the region have written and phoned various government officials with no answers or clarity.

(Photo: Andy Myers Camp Facebook)

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Regional Camps Need More Government Assistance

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More financial support is needed for area tourist camps and businesses in order to stay afloat.

That’s the message from Gerry Cariou, the Executive Director of Ontario’s Sunset Country Travel Association.

Camps are now open to Canadians and boat rentals, guiding services and patio food and beverage services will be allowed on Friday.

Cariou says they will be doing what they can to help outfitters.

“We are going to do a domestic marketing plan to address as much as we can. But that just doesn’t cut it. 100% of your visitation is American in a lot of cases for lodges. You can get some back but only a small amount.”

Cariou stresses many of these businesses will go bankrupt if nothing else is done.

Cariou has previously stated that some federal support has helped cushion the blow but has been critical of the provincial response to the crisis.

He is hoping for the reopening of the Canada/U.S. border with safe protocols in place to salvage the season.

Meantime, there will be a peaceful protest on Saturday morning at 10:00 at Fort Vermilion in Vermilion Bay in support of the industry and camp owners.

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Regional Bowling Team Impresses At Provincials

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The Sunset Country POA Bowling team is headed to the I.P. nationals later this spring in Winnipeg.

The team of Scooter Bowman, Mike Pavey, Kayla Gadd, June McNally and coach Tim Gadd finished the Northern Ontario championships in Timmins with all 14 of their possible final 14 points to grab the Silver medal.

Darryl Rollins, Michelle Riley and Sherry McCoy pulled off another golden trifecta for Sunset Country in the Executive portion of the tournament.

Sunset Country also won the aggregate banner which is given to the zone that had a best overall performance at the Provincial tournament.