Media Release

EVENTS NOVA SCOTIA LAUNCHES WEBSITE

March 8, 2010
Halifax, NS—Events Nova Scotia has officially launched www.eventsnovascotia.com, at the start of a two-day event entitled Spotlighting Opportunities, being held at the Halifax Marriott Harbourtfront today and tomorrow. Approximately 40 participants from the sport, cultural and entertainment sectors from all areas of the province are participating in this gathering, signaling the start of Events Nova Scotia’s mandate to identify and attract new major events to the province of Nova Scotia.

“We wholeheartedly thank our two funding partners, ACOA and the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage,” said Grant MacDonald, Director of Trade Centre Limited (TCL) Major Events and Community Partnerships. “This heralds the start of a new, strategic approach to helping build an event economy within this beautiful stage we call home: Nova Scotia. We look forward to working with all communities who want to attract, bid for and host major events.”

TCL will lead the project, working in coordination with Nova Scotia Regional Development Authorities, provincial sport organizations, the tourism sector and cultural groups. Events Nova Scotia will focus on attracting new events in the sporting, cultural and entertainment sectors.

For more information, contact:

Fiona Kirkpatrick Parsons
Manager, Marketing & Communications
P. (902) 421-7002
M. (902) 440-5531
fiona@eventsnovascotia.com

Events Nova Scotia Backgrounder

Overview
• Events Nova Scotia was created in order to enhance Nova Scotia’s ability to successfully bid for and host major events. Through a coordinated approach, Events Nova Scotia has a mandate to identify and attract new major events to the province of Nova Scotia.
• Events Nova Scotia is jointly funded by the Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency ($300,000) and the Province of Nova Scotia through the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage ($300,000).
• An advisory council that represents all regions of the province will be established to provide input into the direction of Events Nova Scotia.
• The purpose of Events Nova Scotia is to:
  • Identify key event sectors to target and develop tactical plans to attract and host new major events business.
  • Establish standards and baseline measures to consistently evaluate the economic return generated by major events.
  • Facilitate the sharing of industry best practices to bid for and host major events.
  • Develop and implement a marketing strategy to uniquely position Nova Scotia as a major event destination.

Major Events

• While the term “major events” has broad meaning, the following criteria will be used by Events Nova Scotia to define major events:
• Audience reach significantly beyond the scope of the host market or community;
• The ability to attract participation from a wide area;
• A natural ability to attract media coverage;
• The ability to generate economic and other impacts that are greater than the initial investment;
• Serves as a catalyst for the development of additional spinoff activity;
• Requires the use of significant physical infrastructure;
• Has a measureable impact on the brand and reputation of the host community; and,
• Provides lasting legacies such as programming and infrastructure.
• Events Nova Scotia will focus on attracting new events in the sporting, cultural and entertainment sectors.

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