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OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, July 24, 2009 · 38 RBC Canadian Open a boon for local economy I weather is always the major factor in ticket sales for the tournament. Rain or shine, businesses in different parts t could be said that the timing and loca- of Oakville were experiencing increased voltion of this year's RBC Canadian Open is ume earlier this week thanks to spectators perfect for the local economy. coming to see pre-tournament events like While the country is in the throes of a Monday's Charity Classic and Wednesday's recession, having a nationally-acclaimed Pengrowth Championship Pro-Am. sporting event that draws tens of thousands of "Everyone does come downtown and we spectators to the community is giving the are certainly an attraction because we are Oakville economy a much-needed financial close to the Glen Abbey golf course, so our shot in the arm. businesses and restaurants are in full gear for Last year's Canadian Open injected the week and certainly benefit from all of the between $15 to $18 million into the town and people coming into Oakville for the event," surrounding area, with spinoffs in many dif- said Suzy Godefroy, manager of the ferent industries, according to Downtown Oakville Business John Sawyer, president of the "The economic Improvement Area (BIA). "Every Oakville Chamber of Commerce. spinoff of the year it gets a little bigger and "The economic spinoff of the Open is huge." there's some neat things happenOpen is huge," Sawyer said. ing with the concerts and charity "Money is going to places like John Sawyer, fundraiser. We think it is a fantashotels, transportation, hospitality president of the tic event for Oakville." industry, restaurants and all Oakville Chamber Many also stop to shop and those kind of things you would of Commerce dine in Kerr Village. expect, all the way down to hiring "We're a hop, skip and jump electricians to do wiring, so local trades are from the Canadian Open, so lots of people also benefiting." come down," said Richard Messer, executive Knowing that more spectators equals director of the Kerr Village BIA. "The more dollars, the Oakville Chamber of farmer's market was on Saturday and we saw Commerce paired up with the hosting Royal a lot of people already who were going to the Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) to cross- Open come and visit before the Monday propromote the event. am. I was also speaking with a couple of The local chamber president was able to merchants yesterday and they've seen some convince 27 other local chambers of com- new faces, all wearing golf shirts. We're defJON CURRIE / OAKVILLE BEAVER merce from across Ontario to promote the initely seeing an impact in Kerr Village, SHOT IN THE ARM: Canadian Nick Taylor, the top-ranked amateur in the world, follows event on their websites. specifically increased pedestrian traffic, through on a shot Tuesday during a practice round for this weekend's RBC Canadian Open at Glen "Through the chambers, we sold about which is awesome." Abbey Golf Club. The golf tournament is expected to give Oakville's economy a much-needed boost. $20,000 worth of tickets," said Sawyer. "I The Oakville Tourism Partnership hosted a thought that was a great number. We had special Tourism Day on Thursday at the Town and I think we are making a great impres- ernment officials," St. George said. "It is hosdone it just through the Oakville Chamber of Oakville's hospitality suite, situated along sion." pitality and networking with people in the before, but we opened it up to other cham- the 10th fairway, to further promote tourism The Town hosted an economic develop- community." bers, and that made a huge difference." opportunities. ment day today (Friday), where 60 industrial The RCGA provided the $25,000 suite for Sawyer said that everything is interconThe partnership invited its stakeholders, commercial realtors from across the GTA met the Canadian Open to the Town at no charge, nected when it comes to the Open. What such as local BIAs and the Oakville Chamber Mayor Rob Burton, were given a presentation but food and beverages had to be paid for by starts off as bringing tourists into the commu- of Commerce, to bring guests to the tent to on employment lands and the Town's eco- Oakville Tourism Partnership on Thursday, nity can lead to much more, he said. take in tournament play and experience com- nomic development strategy and official plan, and by the Town of Oakville the remaining munity. and taken around town. three days. Tournament creates awareness "People who may be able to help us with "We take them on a bus tour of new develSt. George said she didn't have an exact fig"We want to create awareness of Oakville as our tourism efforts are the kind of people opment areas and things we think they should ure of how much catering and drinks would a place to visit and it (tourism) is a very impor- we've invited to come to the tent on see from an employment, industrial commer- cost the Town. tant economic driver," Sawyer said. "What Thursday," said Sawyer. "I've invited my coun- cial development perspective," said Dorothy "I don't have an exact figure," she said. "It's happens is that if people visit a place, they terpart from the Mississauga Chamber (of St. George, director of Town of Oakville (the cost) distributed amongst the town. It's might say they want to live there. Then they Commerce) to get a feel for Oakville. We've Economic Development. "Then we take them dealt with at a corporate level." move here and then they bring their business- also asked some of our directors to invite to the Open. It's a really great day to engage She added that the cost of this hospitality, es here." clients, so they can use it to promote that realtor community who are out dealing especially in regards to the economic developAn RCGA spokesperson wasn't able to pro- Oakville." with all the clients." ment day, is a worthwhile investment. vide ticket tallies on Thursday, saying there Messer said that the Open is a great way of The Town's suite will be used the remain"I think it is a tremendous opportunity for are many walk-up sales that had yet to be giving Oakville the exposure it deserves. ing two days of the tournament by Burton, us," said St. George. "I have some of the feedaccounted for. He did say the RCGA is thrilled "I think we are probably one of the safest councilors and their guests. back last year from the realtors that it was a with the turnout for Monday's Mike Weir and cleanest communities in Canada," he "Saturday and Sunday, it's by invitation by fantastic opportunity to see what Oakville has Charity Classic, thanks to big-name celebrities said. "This is an international event, right now the mayor and members of council to compa- and to get together and get to know staff and and the warm, sunny weather. He added that all eyes and ears on are the town of Oakville, nies and community stakeholders and gov- meet councilors." OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF By Tina Depko