This document summarizes information from a First Impressions Community Exchange program conducted in 2007 between Killaloe and Highlands East, Ontario. It outlines key details about Highlands East such as its location, population, and primary hamlets. It then discusses obstacles identified in 2007 like a slow economy and lack of accommodations and medical facilities. However, it also highlights opportunities in recreational geology, extensive trail systems, and Highlands East being named the "Geocaching Capital of Canada". The document concludes by outlining current economic development initiatives and Highlands East's vision to be an outdoor tourism destination that provides economic opportunities for residents.

1. Getting Mileage from First Impressions

2. Location
Haliburton County
758 Square Kilometres; 48% Crown Land
2001 Amalgamation of Bicroft, Cardiff, Glamorgan and Monmouth
3,285 Year Round Residents; 13,000 Seasonal Residents
58% of population age over 50
4,300 Households
Primary hamlets:
- Cardiff
- Gooderham
- Highland Grove
- Tory Hill
- Wilberforce
#MyHighlandsEast

3. First Impressions Community Exchange
- Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural
Affairs program
- Two communities sign up and visit each other
using a checklist to inform each other of strengths
and challenges identified
- Community residents with diverse backgrounds,
occupations, ages etc. to provide different
perspectives
- Important feedback received from visiting team
through report
- Allows your community gain an outside
perspective
#MyHighlandsEast

4. 2007 Killaloe - First Impressions Community Exchange
Obstacles / Challenges
Slow Economy
- The County has taken tourism as their focus for
Economic Development
- The Municipality is looking at all avenues for
economic development
Lack of overnight accommodation
- We’re hoping to create a demand that will increase
the number of accommodators in Highlands East
Lack of medical facilities
- Since 2007, a medical centre has opened up that
houses a pharmacy, dental office and now a satellite
clinic for the Bancroft Family Health Team
- Our Municipality looks beyond our borders and the
borders of the County for partnerships
#MyHighlandsEast

5. 2007 Killaloe - First Impressions Community Exchange
Opportunities
Recreational Geology:
- Greenmantle Farms - tours of undisturbed deposits to
learn how minerals and geology affect the landscape
and the environment
- Highlands East - Ontario’s first municipality to hold
mineral claims to ensure long lasting public access to
more great mineral collecting opportunities
- Hundreds of people explore Highlands East’s
mineral claims increasing tourism in the area
- Highlands East has partnered with OHTO
#MyHighlandsEast

6. 2007 Killaloe - First Impressions Community Exchange
Opportunities
Trails:
- 50km of signed, promoted, managed Municipal Trails
- Hundreds of kilometres of user group managed trails
- Trails Committee
- Jeep Badge of Honour Program
- User group collaboration
- Side-by-side bylaw
- Ontario Powersports Working Group
- Partnerships
- Greens Mountain Project
- Water Trails Project
#MyHighlandsEast

7. 2007 Killaloe - First Impressions Community Exchange
Opportunities
Geocaching:
- Definition: The recreational activity of hunting for and
finding a hidden object by means of GPS coordinates
posted on a website
- Geocaching Capital of Canada
- Geocaching Committee
- GeoTour
- GeoArt
- Water Trail Geocaches
- Highlands East Information &
Geocaching Centre
#MyHighlandsEast

8. Current Initiatives
- Advisory Committees
- Strategic Plan
- Cultural Plan
- Business Retention and Expansion Plan
- Marketing Plan
- Social media
- Second FICE in 2016
- Water Trails
- Trails
- Mineral Collection
- Geocaching
- Greens Mountain Project
#MyHighlandsEast

9. Vision
Mission
We will lead by being innovative in developing, promoting and protecting our community,
environment and heritage for future generations.
#MyHighlandsEast
Highlands East is a premier outdoor tourism destination that provides economic stability and
opportunities for its residents, now and in the future, through environmental sustainability.
Highlands East Council, Staff and Volunteers

10. Please Visit Us
www.HighlandsEast.ca
Municipality of Highlands East
@Highlands_East #MyHighlandsEast
Thank You!
Curtis Tighe
Economic Development and Business Coordinator
ctighe@highlandseast.ca
(705) 448-2981 x 226
#MyHighlandsEast