THE LEADERS' CORNER

From Your Co-Leads Laurie Harley & Vlad Haltigin

GET READY TO LAUNCH THE 2025 SEASON

The countdown to launch is underway!

Our 28 new recruits have finished their orientation and technical training and they’ll be working with their mentors over the next few weeks to gain “street smarts”. The first edition of the Ambassador Handbook has been distributed to everyone. Like all information resources, keeping it current is always a challenge. You can help us by sharing new information, particularly, new visitor questions to the FAQ list. You’ll always find the most current version posted in the files section in MAP.

The Kickoff meeting on April 29 set the stage for an amazing season. 75 Ambassadors and guests were treated to a fabulous event hosted by Inniskillin Winery. The venue, the bingo “ice-breaker”, the food and especially the signature wines, all made for a very special experience. We not only toasted the Ambassadors’ return to Queen Street, we raised a glass to Inniskillin as they celebrate their 50th anniversary year. And to top it off, it was National Volunteer Week and another reason to salute our wonderful volunteers.

If you were unable to attend, please check out the “What’s new in 2025” write-up in this issue. This information was presented at Kickoff and will help you prepare for your shifts.

While the official launch is on May 16, there will be a “soft launch” for the opening of the Court House from Friday May 9 to Monday May 12 to coincide with the Niagara-on-the-Lake in Bloom initiative. It will be an opportunity to “test” the procedures for the new Court House shifts. A draft Information Package will be finalized and distributed to all Ambassadors once we’ve worked out any “kinks” during the soft launch.

And speaking of Niagara-on-the-Lake in Bloom, Vintage Hotels have extended a invitation to the Ambassadors to attend the event on Monday May 12 free of charge in the Gardens from 10 am to 4 pm. Just show your Ambassador badge at the registration desk. For more details on the event visit https://www.vintage-hotels.com/promotion/niagara-on-the-lake-in-bloom/

As we think about the upcoming season, we’re reminded of the many people who make this continuing journey possible. A huge shout out to all of our partners who open their doors for our site visits, to the Town of Niagara-on-the Lake for their ongoing support, especially in the Seasonal Kiosk project (read more in this issue), to the staff of Tourism Niagara-on-the-lake who always find time to help with last-minute requests, to Rosemarie Hobson and the 15 experienced Ambassadors who raised their hands to mentor new recruits (there will be more about the Mentorship Program in future issues), and finally to the entire Leadership Team whose level of commitment to the NOTL Ambassadors is nothing short of remarkable.

See you soon “on the street”!

Laurie and Vlad

What's New in 2025

Ambassador Team

We’re growing! Believe it or not, our Team has just reached 100!
Join us in welcoming Peter Blanchet to the Leadership Team as Orientation & Training Lead

Shift Schedule

Shifts for the entire season are now available for sign-up in MAP
You will still receive periodic signup reminders
New Court House shifts
From May 16 to October 13, the main floor of the Court House will be open to the public during Ambassador scheduled hours (12 to 4:00 pm)
On Fridays, weekends and holiday Mondays, two shifts per day with two Ambassadors on each shift
An Information Package will be available before the launch on May 16 with details on new procedures
To ensure everyone who is interested can experience a Court House shift, please limit signups to one per person for the period May 16 to July 1
New Walking Shifts
To accommodate training, many of the early Walking and Kiosk shifts in May and June have been pre-assigned to mentors and their mentees
To ensure everyone has an opportunity to participate in early shifts, a new Walking shift has been added from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm on our scheduled days
New Language Buttons
If your MAP Profile indicates you are fluent in a language other than English, you will receive a “Language Button” to encourage visitor interaction
New Post-Shift Report
Based on your feedback in last season’s Ambassador Survey, the post-shift report has been simplified
You will now be able to complete it on your phone or paper copies will be available in the Ambassador alcove at the Tourism Office
Please remember to return and sign-out at the Tourism Office even if you complete the report online
Click here to access the new online Post-shift report and remember to save the link in your favorites or bookmark, so that you can easily access after each shift. If you have any questions, you can refer to the brief Guide that has been posted in MAP.

Join us to celebrate the arrival of the NOTL Ambassador Seasonal Kiosk

The day we’ve been waiting for is just about here. On Friday, May 16 the new Ambassador Seasonal Kiosk will be a reality! After over two years of planning and collaboration, there will be a prominent structure between the LCBO and the historic Court House where Ambassadors will welcome visitors and offer information on everything our Town has to offer. No longer will we have to set up and take down our display materials each day. And even when we’re not on duty, Town maps will be on display to help visitors navigate the streets of Old Town and the Villages of NOTL.

Please join us at the Court House on Friday, May 16 at 11:30 am to celebrate the official unveiling of the Kiosk and the opening of the historic Court House. The Lord Mayor will host a gathering of key stakeholders, including our own Vlad Haltigin, who will share remarks and perform the official ribbon cutting ceremony.

Everyone is welcome! We’d love to have a “sea of blue Ambassador vests” visible in the audience to show our appreciation for the Kiosk project partners, our passion for Niagara-on-the-Lake, and our pride in being NOTL Ambassadors.

Experience NOTL

Community Site Visits

Shaw Festival – Monday March 31

The site visits got off to a great start with a trip to the Shaw Festival on March 31. Sandy Henderson, Shaw Guild President, welcomed us and shared information on the upcoming season, including new start times for performances at 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Then the amazing docents took over - including two of our own Ambassadors: Joy Lambert and Peter Blanchet – guiding us on a fascinating backstage tour. Each year the plays change and so does the tour. From the magic of the trap room, to the puppetry in The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, to a relaxing visit to the Green Room, we now have our own stories about the 2025 season to share with visitors.

Pumphouse Arts Centre – Tuesday April 22

We continued our creative journey at the next stop on the site visit agenda – the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre. Jodi Eppler, Engagement Coordinator, hosted the visit and her passion for “Art for All” was contagious! We learned that whether you’re older or younger, new or experienced, the Pumphouse offers a program that will spark your creative talents.

And the fun happens outdoors as well as in the galleries. The Pumphouse is a heritage building, situated on the banks of the Niagara River, and home to two signature events that visitors won’t want to miss: Art at the Pumphouse, August 2 and 3, and the Moonlight Picnic on September 5. It’s also a great spot for visitors to relax by the water and take in the scenic Light House that still operates, in conjunction with a second nearby light, to make a shipping course for boats at the mouth of the Niagara River.

Upcoming Community Site Visits

Details and signup times, for the following upcoming site visits are now available in MAP.