Year End Blog 2011

As I reach the end of my summer term working as a Summer Student for the year 2011, I thought why not blog about it?

To start off I just want to thank the Tourism department of Sudbury for giving me this opportunity, to work as a summer student and experience a new type of work atmosphere. One that is positive and hard working and makes sure that this city keeps on smiling.

With all honesty I had never worked in an office before, it was something completely different and unique to me. But I loved the experience and the new skills I have acquired. It helped me develop further communication skills and learn to work in a team, which to me are very valuable skills to have.

Office work was a third of the story, on weekends we would be at Market Square, managing the tourist information booth and making sure that all the tourists would have all the proper information needed. There I met multiple vendors, and had the opportunity to learn who they are, and how proud they are of what they do. Visual artists have a passion for what they sell, because it is who they are and what they love. Others sell pottery but the passion is still there and that passion and pride is what makes the atmosphere in our market vibrant and alive.

Finally the last part of the job, for me this was probably the most interesting part of the job, the people you get to meet. Now let me explain what I mean, when you work an information booth in the middle of the downtown core you expect typical Canadian tourists, WRONG, the amount of international tourists I have talked to is phenomenal and the stories they tell are simply fascinating. Just hearing there accents and asking them where they are from gets me every single time. You never know what to expect, I’ve talked with people from, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Greece, etc…

With all of this being said, I cannot exclude all of the festivals and events that I had the opportunity to visit. I had the opportunity to see cultural festivals, music festivals, festivals that celebrate food and many many more.

This city has lots to offer to all of us from museums to go-karting, paintballing and even sitting down and enjoying a nice cup of coffee in the downtown area. We’ve come a long way from just being a mining town and the future can only get brighter from here on now.


Pat :)



Don't forget if you want to view our videos visit www.youtube.com/SudburyTourism

Unfortunately, Summer Does Come to an End...

Sadly, my time with Sudbury Tourism has come to an end. I have had an amazing three summers here. I have learnt so much about myself and this beautiful city.

On weekends, I worked at Market Square at the visitor information desk. I enjoyed meeting visitors visiting our city and telling them about all the great things Sudbury has to offer. I had a number of interesting conversations with visitors about their experiences in Sudbury. I had the opportunity to do things I wouldn't normally do. I was able to visit all our great attractions and attend all the events that take place during the summer.

Sudbury is truly a beautiful place. Citizens of Sudbury should be very proud with what Sudbury has to offer. Both Science North and Dynamic Earth are great attractions, we have over 330 lakes and the Big Nickel is a huge attraction (literally!).

I had a great time creating blogs and video blogs about my experiences this summer.

Click here to view the videos the summer students created while out at events and various other locations around Greater Sudbury. Thank you for reading my blogs and going on this adventure with me.

I have grown to love my city and I am happy to be a citizen of Greater Sudbury!

Continue to stay updated with events happening around Greater Sudbury all year long: www.sudburytourism.ca

Sincerely,

A Sudbury Tourist
Shanna

Summerfest 2011

This year I had the opportunity to visit Summerfest and catch a glimpse of the entertainment happening over there. This year, Summerfest was held at beautiful Bell Park with a weekend full of nice, warm weather.

Katherine and I started off by touring the concerts and listening to some live music, watching the public dancing and singing and simply enjoying a good time. I was doing the same thing, sitting back and enjoying the tunes. After listening to some live entertainment, I noticed people that were bouncing around on these special shoes. Me being a curious person I went to see if I could test them out. After chatting for a bit with the owner of Zen fitness, next thing I know I was wearing the Kangoo (the special bouncy shoes). I had a blast! One of the instructors was putting me through a quick lesson and I was bouncing around while I had them on. We went for a little jog, did some jumping jacks, etc…

Once my kangoo adventure was done we went to see what we could have for a snack. There was a variety of food vendors all along the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre. There was food for people with an appetite for salty and sweet foods. With a variety such as Jamaican to Canadian foods, who can deny that!

We finished it off by visiting the kid’s area. As we were browsing throughout the area we noticed a ventriloquist was holding a show, and multiple bouncing castles were all set up, topping it all off there were vendors selling hair clips, tutus, t-shirts, etc..

Who can forget about the midway that was happening across the street with rides, food, and entertainment happening all around you.

Over all it was an action packed weekend for all ages, and I recommend anyone to go and visit the event next year and listen to all the bands and enjoy the attractions.


Pat

To view some of the tourism videos visit
http://www.youtube.com/SudburyTourism

Downtown Adventure: Respect is Burning Supperclub

As part of our downtown adventure, Rob Gregorini, owner of Respect is Burning Supperclub, was kind enough to invite us to his restaurant to taste some of his delicious dishes.
As we walked through the RiB doors, we were instantly greeted by the hostess and escorted to our table. The ambiance in RiB is exquisite. It is like nothing I have ever experienced before. They have a number of different unique art pieces and red lighting throughout the restaurant, which makes for a perfect dining atmosphere.
Shortly after we arrived, Rob greeted us at our table and explained some of the dishes he would like to bring out for us. They all sounded amazing and we couldn't decide which one we wanted. We told him to surprise us with whatever he would like to serve.
Now let's talk about the food; absolutely delicious! I am starting to drool just thinking about everything we ate.

First we were served some real fruit daiquiris and three appetizers. The first appetizer was Carpaccio (citrus cured sirloin with arugula), the second was RiB homemade charcuterie and the third was flatbread with fresh sliced procuttio, tomatoes and pesto. Each of them was delicious and I didn't want to stop eating.
Next up: the main dish. Rob and his staff brought out a delicious looking pasta dish that consisted of clams, scallops and shrimp. It was mouth-watering! We stuffed ourselves with so much pasta we didn't have room for anything else …except for dessert of course!
We decided to go with the ultra berry cream trifle, a RiB favourite. Instantly it was our favourite too.
We had a great time at RiB and we are so grateful to have had the opportunity to enjoy such an amazing dinner. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. You can see the love and passion for RiB in Rob and his staff. I can't wait to go back in the near future. Personally, this is one of my favourite restaurants in Greater Sudbury. I will never go hungry when I am at RiB and there is always something on the menu that catches my eye. I recommend Respect is Burning Supperclub to anyone who is looking for great- tasting, quality food and an amazing dining experience.

Check out our RiB experience here

Downtown Adventure: La Boulangerie du Village

It was not too long ago that Shanna and I stopped in at La Boulangerie while out and about Downtown Sudbury. We each ordered our food and took it outside to one of their cafe style tables. I have never experienced the European Cafe myself; however, I imagine the La Boulangerie is a similar experience. I have heard from others who have been to Europe that it has the same feel.

I had the Bou Box which consisted of garlic hummus, red pepper hummus, Greek tzaziki and feisty feta with an assortment of bread pita, pita chips, taco chips and veggies. Shanna had the Roasted Porketta Sandwich which she enjoyed as much as I enjoyed my Bou Box. I also indulged in a wonder full tiger brownie baked on site. It has such a wonderful flavour I have to stop myself from returning to get another. There is just something about a chocolate/vanilla brownie with a hint of coconut that makes one want to eat more.

I do suggest to all those people looking to experience a European style cafe without the expense of heading to Europe to head over to the La Boulangerie du Village for lunch or just to pick up some freshly made bread.

Check out the video at: http://www.youtube.com/sudburytourism#p/u/3/CJrTkR6xBW0

Katherine

Garlic Festival 2011

Katherine and I had the opportunity to attend the Garlic Festival this past Sunday (August 28th). I have never been to this event before so I wasn't sure what to expect. I have always heard really good things about it, so I was very excited to see what this event was all about.
When we first arrived we were blown away by the amount of people. There were people everywhere!! They had two very large tents set up with different types of foods. All these foods incorporated garlic somehow. They had a number of vendors selling garlic products, crafts and jewelery. They had a main entertainment stage with performers keeping the crowd on their feet all afternoon.
They had some very unique food with garlic incorporated into it. Katherine and I decided it would be fun to try the most unique items they offered with garlic. The first item we decided to try was the garlic chocolate icecream. Surprisingly, it was quite good.
Then we tried garlic chocolate cookies and garlic fudge. Both were very good and the garlic wasn't overwhelming.
I was very impressed with this event. The festival itself is one day and only takes place for a couple hours. If you plan on attending, it's good to get there right away so you don't miss out on any of the action.

Downtown Adventure: Frank's Delicatessen

As part of our Downtown Adventure we ventured over to Frank’s Delicatessen to test out their menu. Katherine ate at Frank’s when she was child (when it was under a different owner) and Shanna has never eaten there before. We were both very pleased with the food and service. When we first walked into the restaurant, a female waitress, who was working closer to the back yelled “Hello!!” to us. She was very welcoming. From the second we walked in, we knew we were going to have a great experience at Frank’s Delicatessen.
Frank’s is well known for its hot pastrami sandwich and 2-foot long hot dog. Although we weren’t up for the hot dog challenges (eat the 2-foot long hot dog in 2 minutes or less and get it for free), Katherine indulged in the pastrami sandwich and absolutely loved it. She said, “the sandwich was bursting with flavour yet not overly salty.”
We spoke to Mark, owner of Frank’s Delicatessen, earlier that morning and told him we were coming in for lunch and would like to take some videos and pictures of our experience. We both felt like we have been friends with Mark for a while. He was extremely friendly on the phone and that shows individuals just how much Frank's appreciates their customers and their restaurant.
The staff was friendly and the service was fast. Frank’s Delicatessen is the perfect place to stop in for a quick, tasty bite.

Shanna

Downtown Adventure: Laughing Buddha

We had the opportunity to eat at the Laughing Buddha as part of our “Downtown Adventure.” This is one of our favourite places to eat in Downtown Sudbury. The Laughing Buddha has one of the greatest patios in Greater Sudbury. It is a very relaxing environment and it is a great place to hang out with some friends for drinks and great food.
Now let’s talk about the food -AMAZING! The Laughing Buddha has a large menu of very unique appetizers, sandwiches, pizzas and salads. It is difficult to pick one item off the menu because they all sound and look so delicious. Each of us tried something different and we were all very pleased with our choices. They have a wide variety of international beers and cocktails. The staff is very friendly and caters to your every need.
In the mood for something different? Check out the Laughing Buddha and satisfy your needs with some unique food. We would definitely recommend this restaurant as a great place to have lunch or a late night snack with your friends.
Shanna’s Favourite:
Avebury Sandwich and Deep Fried Pickles (Yum)

Katherine’s Favourite:
Chicken Nova Sandwich

Patrique’s Favourite:
Llama Rama Pizza

Our Downtown Adventure

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen!

Katherine and Shanna here on this beautiful Sudbury, sunny afternoon. We have just returned from our downtown adventure and what an adventure it was! We toured all the main streets of Downtown Sudbury including Durham, Larch, Cedar, Elm and Elgin Street. We stopped into some of our favourite places along the way. Downtown Sudbury is continuing to develop with new restaurants and stores. With this continued growth, our downtown is becoming a new hotspot in Sudbury.

During our adventure we took the time to enjoy lunch at some of Downtown Sudbury's premier dining hotspots.


Click on the link below to watch our downtown adventure: http://www.youtube.com/sudburytourism#p/u/6/gGKud4wnpmw

Gold Pannning At the NORM

This past Saturday I experienced Gold Panning for the first time and I had a really great time. The gold panning event took place on the Vermillion River. Fun fact… the Vermillion River was said to have gold scattered throughout the river. In 1901 the government of Ontario created a list with all the rivers in Ontario that had gold scattered around it, and Vermillion river was on that list!


The day started off with a quick lesson about the proper techniques and instruments used for gold panning. After the lesson, our gold panning adventure on the Vermillion river began.


We had the opportunity to see how prospectors lived while on their gold panning adventures which was very interesting to see. Their tents could actually have a wood stove in it (watch the video on the Sudbury Tourism page to see how the prospector’s tent looks like). The tents would usually be situated in between trees to create a barricade from the wind.


It was all very interesting and great seeing how prospectors survived in the past. To this day, the same tactics are used to go gold panning. Hope to see you Gold Panning next year and don’t forget to check out the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum and Heritage Center’s website for more events happening in the future.

Pat




Here's the link to the Gold Panning Video http://www.youtube.com/sudburytourism

Y.E.S Theatre Presents: Rent

I am not one for musicals but I love the movie Rent. The songs are incredible and so catchy. So when I heard Y.E.S Theatre was performing Rent, I instantly got excited. I knew I wanted to see it. A date night was planned and I was off to dinner followed by the show- a perfect evening!

The doors opened at 7:30pm and the show started at 8:00pm. I am glad we got there early because the theatre filled up very fast.

The play exceeded my expectations. The youth performers are all very talented and they did an excellent job at portraying the characters. Every singing voice was incredible, I was left with goosebumps and each song.

Rent runs until August 27th. Come out and support Greater Sudbury's youth local talent. You will not be disappointed.

Shanna

New Exhibit at the NORM

On Friday, August 5th, the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum and Heritage Center unveiled their newest addition the Mining Exhibit. With multiple new cars on display and a history behind them all it is something you do not want to miss out on.

I found it really interesting how local engineers created some of the instruments that were used in the mining industry. At the media launch, some of the engineers were there explaining the system giving the public an idea of how it worked.

The museum also has a hot metal car in addition to their exhibit. This hot metal car is massive and something that everyone must see!

The Railroad Museum is also starting to develop a “Garden of Life”. The purpose of this garden is to promote organ and tissue donations. The garden will have a grand opening September 10th at 1pm. When I went the pond was nicely settled in and it was beautiful to see.

For me the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum and Heritage Center is something that tourists must see. It is beautiful and has so much history captured into it.

Pat

Going Greek!

The Greek Festival which is held every year at the Hellenic Centre on beautiful St. Charles Lake is a real treat. Not only can you experience the taste of Greece through the amazing foods offered, but also the culture as well.

The weekend of this years festival was the perfect weekend to have such an event. I ordered my food and headed down to a seat by the water to enjoy the majestic view. The food was extraordinary with many different food choices. I had a meal consisting of a little bit of everything. There was lemon chicken, pork souvlaki, potatoes, rice, salad and mousaka. It was my first time trying mousaka and though the texture was strange to my pallet I found it delicious regardless. You may be wondering what mousaka is so I shall tell you; it consisted of eggplant, potatoes, ground meat and topped with bechamel sauce. There of course was pastries to finish off your meal which I refrained from eating, though have heard they are just as wonderful.

I missed seeing the dancers this year, but I did take a peek at the church. There was church tours available for those wishing the know the history. The church's beautiful interior outshines the exterior by far. I highly advise checking it out.

Katherine

Cortina Cruise Ship

This past Monday, I paid a visit to Rob Osborne the captain of the Cortina boat. We started off the afternoon with a boat cruise along Ramsey Lake. I forgot how beautiful Lake Ramsey truly is, with all of the sites to see; houses on little islands, sail boats going around and people tubing. Seeing how happy people are on the Lake, as they wave to the boat and the kids on the boat love every moment of it.


The Cortina boat cruise has a little bar inside that is run by the captain and his first mate. There is also a sound system in the boat that plays the history of the Cortina, followed by some music to give it an elegant atmosphere of relaxation. One of the things that everyone loves about the Cortina is that you get to go up and drive the boat with the Captain beside you. Kids especially love this, and get excited about being able to drive the boat.


Over all it is an excellent experience for anyone, it’s an hour of fun on Ramsey Lake, and if you want to book your own private chartered cruise don’t worry, he also does that.

Pat

For additional information on Sudbury Tourism visit www.sudburytourism.ca

Canoe Polo Tournament

This past Saturday (July 23rd) was jam packed with events. I had the opportunity to visit the Canoe Polo Tournament. This tournament was situated in Bell Park at the Sudbury Canoe Club.

When I was making my way into the event grounds I could hear the loud cheers, music and kayaks in the water. It sounded like everyone was having fun. Shortly after I arrived, I discovered a canoe polo match taking place. For those who don’t know what canoe polo is, I will give you a little run down. Canoe polo consists of two teams of kayakers, one ball and two floating nets. The players must kayak around the water and try to get the ball in the other teams net.


These polo matches were very intense and the crowd was well involved, cheering every step of the way. I had a blast watching them attempt to kayak while trying to throw the ball in the opposite net. If you ever get the opportunity to watch these games, take it! It is definitely something you should see!

Pat

To see sudbury tourism videos visit www.youtube.com/SudburyTourism

Francophone Games 2011

This weekend I spent some time at the Francophone Games which took place at Bell Park and Laurentian University. It was very nice to see the Francophone community coming together and participate in such a great event.

I started at Bell Park with the Great Urban Canoe Adventure. It was really nice to see the participants all lined up and ready to go. The main race was at 9 am with a canoe trip across 5 lakes, starting from the beautiful Ramsey lake beach. Other participants in various categories were ready to race and enjoy the thrill of such a great adventure.

Later on during the day, I visited Laurentian University where more games were set up. There was basketball, live music, art demonstrations, food, and much more activities for all age groups. I had a blast, as I listened to some of the music. I wanted to play some basketball but my skills are not the greatest.

Over all it was a good day with a lot of positive energy in the air. The weather was perfect!

Here is a list of the medal count for the Francophone Games.



Pat

Blueberry Festival

Greater Sudbury is known for its wild blueberries. What other way to celebrate this unique feature then holding a week- long Blueberry Festival?

I attended the 'Blueberry Bash' at Market Square and what a bash it was. Hundreds of people filled the Market Square grounds to participate in the festivities. The most popular part of the Blueberry Bash was the blueberry pancakes. I jumped in line to get my hands on some of those fabulous pancakes. They were absolutely delicious. They served the pancakes with this amazing blueberry syrup. A couple of us tried to get the recipe but we were told it was a secret.

The front stage at Market Square was filled with performers. They started the morning off with Sudbury Zumba Dance. The crowd was right into it, participating in this fitness craze. As the day went on more performers took the stage.

They had free wagon rides, face painting and a clown on sight for the children. The day was absolutely perfect and it looked like everyone had a great time.

Shanna

Excellent Ways to Beat The Heat

It's no secret that things are heating up around Greater Sudbury. The weather is continuing to get hotter and hotter. First we complain it's too cold then we complain it's too hot (at least I know I do). Well it's time to put the complaining to an end and have some summer fun!
What better way to 'beat the heat' then enjoy these "cool" places around Greater Sudbury.
Jump in and cool off in one of our fresh water lakes. There are so many different ones to choose from. Click here to view a full list of beaches around Greater Sudbury.
Science North and Dynamic Earth are great places to visit to escape the heat. Great attractions in a cool environment- you can't go wrong with either of them!
Nothing beats a cold treat on that hot day. Cool off with some ice cream from Bitter Bills Ice Cream Parlour. Open in three locations around Greater Sudbury (New Sudbury, Downtown Sudbury and Val Caron).
Shanna

Gem & Mineral Show

Who doesn't like to be surrounded by a bunch of beautiful gems and minerals? This event is absolutely spectatular. I always look forward to this event each year. As a child, my mom used to take my sister and I every summer and she would always let us purchase one item. My first ring was purchased at the Gem & Mineral Show and I still have it to this day.

There are so many unique gem and minerals that you would probably never see anywhere else. You look at some of them and wonder how the earth can make something so beautiful. The colours and shapes are so different it's hard to believe they are real. I had the opportunity to speak to one of the vendors and he went into great detail about one of the crystals he mines and the different features it has. It was facinating to hear about.

The Gem & Mineral Show has a section for children with different activities all pertaining to gem and minerals. You can see smiles on their faces as they participated in these different activities. They have a silent auction, door prize and BBQ outside. This event is fun for the whole family. We hope to see you next year at the 30th Annual Gem & Mineral Show on July 20,21 and 22.

Shanna

Events Happening in Sudbury

This week in Sudbury is a big one! We are hosting multiple events throughout the city which began on Friday. First, we began with the Gem and Mineral show that took place at the Carmichael Arena, July 15th to the 17th. Next, we had the Dragon Boat Festival which had everyone in competition mode. This event happened on the Saturday, July 16th on Ramsey Lake.



We now enter the busiest week of the season, by starting off with the Blueberry festival taking place July 17th to the 24th. It will be taking place at various locations across the city with blueberry filled activities. Don’t forget to try out the special blueberry pizza! This specialty pizza can only be purchased while the blueberry festivities are on. Simply call Toppers Pizza to try one out. Next we have the Sudbury Pride Festival happening all week with activities throughout the city. There is also a golf tournament on Friday the 22nd and face painting at the Tom Davies Square.




Next on our list is the 19th Annual Greek Festival being held at the Hellenic center from July 20th to the 24th with food that will satisfy your taste buds. There will also be cultural music and kid’s activities all through the festival so be sure to visit!



Now, for the first time in history, Sudbury welcomes the Francophone Games!! The games are sure to make you dance and have a blast with plenty of activities. They will all be taking place at Laurentian University and Collège Boréal. The games will be held from July the 20th to the 24th. From July 22nd to the 24th, the Panhellenic soccer tournament will be taking place and matches will be held at various fields across Sudbury. Come down and cheer the athletes in action!


To finish it all off, we have the Pow Wow in Whitefish with kid’s activities and events for all age groups.


As you can see, Sudbury is packed with events this upcoming week, with stuff to do for all age groups. The summer students will be visiting all these festivals and events. If you need any information on the events visit sudburytourism.ca.



Hope to see you there

Pat