Parks Canada is currently in the planning stages of a new multi-million dollar Visitor Center to be located within walking distance of town. At first this was welcome news, giving tourists another attraction to go to while on their visit to the area. However later it was learned that Parks Canada is also planning some of their own retail space in the Visitor Center. Following is some correspondence between the Blue Heron Company and Parks Canada.
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A copy of our original letter sent to Parks Canada, Tobermory on December 1, 2000 -
It has come to our attention that you are planning to locate a retail outlet selling books, related theme materials and souvenirs in the new visitor's center. This comes as quite a surprise and a disappointment to us.
We too are looking forward to the opening of the new visitor center, as it will no doubt be a great attraction to the area. Not only will it enhance the visitor's visit to our two beautiful National Parks but we have always hoped that it will provide an economic boost to the businesses in Tobermory, particularly in the off-season.
Upon hearing that you will open a store in the center you have taken some of the wind out of our sales (not a spelling mistake).
We would not have any problem with the Friends of Fathom Five having a small outlet selling their own products and publications. But for you to compete with the very products already sold in the shops around Tobermory would be unfair. Any dollar spent in your retail outlet is a dollar that the retail community in Tobermory will not receive. A seasonal business is tough enough to run without the added competition from our own National Parks.
We ask you to seriously reconsider this part of your plan. Thank you
Sincerely,
Rick Salen
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Here is a copy of Parks Canada response -
December 18, 2000
Mr. Rick Salen
Blue Heron Company
Box 9, Tobermory
Ontario, N0H 2R0
Dear Rick:
Thank you for your recent letter, in which you expressed concern regarding the possibility of a retail outlet in the Visitor Centre. I have taken the liberty of passing on a copy of it to the Steering Committee for the project and also to the Friends.
We are proposing a small sales area (something in the area of 35 square meters) for the Bruce Peninsula/Fathom Five Visitor Centre. Most modern visitor centres have sales outlets associated with them. Such stores, even with a limited and site specific merchandise selection are an expectation of visitors.
We have invited the Friends organization to become involved in operating such a store so they can strengthen and expand their organization through direct contact with park visitors and increased revenue. Stable revenue will mean they can support their present programs and take on others. As an example, one suggestion that came forward recently was that the Friends might be interested in funding some ongoing exhibit improvements within the Visitor Centre. That would enhance the experience of the facility for all visitors. The Friends have expressed initial interest in the idea, but will need some time to confirm sufficient support among their membership and prepare a business plan, before committing to their participation.
If the Friends are successful in advancing their plans and committing to this opportunity, we expect the primary focus of their business would be, as you suggest, their own products and publications. To make the operation viable, however, there would probably be some overlap in products sold elsewhere in Tobermory. Parks Canada would have some contol on the quality and type of products sold, but would not be prepared to limit the product line so strictly as to totally avoid any overlap. Our intention is that the Friends store would complement, rather than compete with, other local shopping opportunities.
We will keep you informed as plans develop. I would be happy to discuss this with you at any time.
Yours truly;
Ivan Smith
Visitor Centre Project Manager
cc Visitor Centre Steering Committee: Milt McIver, Helen McFarlane, Nathan Keeshig, Hermann Roote, Ross Thompson, and Friends of Bruce District Parks: Garry Keast
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Blue Heron Company response:
January 4, 2001
Canadian Heritage Parks Canada
P.O. Box 189, Tobermory, Ontario
N0H 2R0
Dear Ivan:
Thank you for your response to our letter of December 1, 2000.
We have reviewed your letter of December 18, 2000 and still have concerns about retail space in the Visitor Center. Commercial retail stores in Tobermory are also in need of stable revenue to remain viable, some of the smaller ones are not much larger than 35 square meters themselves. Any overlap is unacceptable in our opinion, it is hard to compete with a prime location such as the Visitor Center. This is especially true when the competition is sponsored by our own taxes, and therefore have none of those little inconveniences like capital costs, rent or property tax to deal with. Also this Visitor Center is quite close to the retail section of town, we feel the space could be better utilized for more 'pure' Park associated activities. We also understand there is a provision in management plan to expand the retail space if necessary.
Thank you,
Jack Salen
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