Brief description of the organization
We are a Rural Municipality just outside of Winnipeg Manitoba and the geographical Centre of Canada with a population of about 13 thousand.
Problem area
The Centre of Canada Park has established itself as a unique tourism attraction; however, there is currently no comprehensive strategy to guide its long-term growth into a financially sustainable, year-round destination. While a Master Plan and Tourism Strategy have been completed, further research is needed to determine the most effective approach to expanding infrastructure, attracting investment, increasing visitor numbers, and identifying the most effective business model for the park.
This project will explore how the Centre of Canada Park can generate sustainable revenue, attract businesses and private investment, and become a year-round tourism destination while preserving its identity as a nationally recognized tourism attraction. Students will evaluate opportunities for commercial development, visitor services, event programming, sponsorships, partnerships, user fees, and other revenue-generating initiatives to determine the best long-term business strategy for the park. The project will also identify infrastructure priorities, funding opportunities, and implementation recommendations that support tourism, local businesses, community events, and regional economic development.
Main objectives
- Evaluate opportunities to transform the park into a year-round tourism destination.
- Identify infrastructure improvements required to support increased visitation and future growth.
- Develop strategies to achieve long-term financial sustainability through diversified revenue streams.
- Assess opportunities for private investment, business attraction, and public-private partnerships.
- Evaluate the feasibility of new visitor amenities, including expanded parking, permanent washrooms, market facilities, and event infrastructure.
- Identify businesses, attractions, and programming that complement the park while preserving its tourism-focused identity.
- Assess visitor demand, tourism trends, and market potential.
- Identify government funding opportunities, sponsorships, and investment partnerships.
- Develop a phased implementation plan that prioritizes projects, estimates costs, and identifies potential funding sources.
- Support local businesses, community events, and regional economic development while enhancing the Centre of Canada Park as a destination of provincial and national significance.
Scope of work
The student(s) will undertake a comprehensive research and strategic planning project to identify opportunities for the future development and long-term sustainability of the Centre of Canada Park. Key activities include:
- Conduct a literature review of successful tourism destinations, iconic roadside attractions, and destination parks across Canada and internationally.
- Complete an environmental scan and market analysis to identify tourism trends, visitor expectations, and best practices.
- Review the existing Centre of Canada Park Master Plan and Tourism Strategy and identify opportunities for implementation and enhancement.
- Evaluate current park infrastructure and identify improvements required to support increased visitation and year-round use.
- Assess opportunities for commercial development, private investment, and public-private partnerships.
- Research sustainable revenue-generating opportunities, including sponsorships, user fees, leases, event programming, concessions, and other business models.
- Identify businesses, attractions, and visitor amenities that would complement the park while maintaining its tourism-focused identity.
- Evaluate opportunities to increase visitation through new tourism experiences, programming, and marketing initiatives.
- Identify federal, provincial, and private-sector funding opportunities to support future development.
- Engage with key stakeholders, including municipal staff, community organizations, tourism partners, businesses, and potential investors, as appropriate.
- Prepare a business case outlining recommended development opportunities, projected economic impacts, revenue potential, and implementation considerations.
- Develop a phased implementation strategy that includes project priorities, estimated costs, timelines, funding sources, and recommendations for Council.
This scope will provide the RM of Taché with a practical roadmap for transforming the Centre of Canada Park into a financially sustainable, year-round tourism destination and regional economic development asset.
Deliverables
- Presentation
- Report
- Resources
Team meeting frequency
Weekly
Skills and training required
- Research and analytical skills
- Strategic planning and business case development
- Market research and feasibility analysis
- Stakeholder engagement and communication
- Presentation and professional report writing
Resources required
- Centre of Canada Park Master Plan and Tourism Strategy & Action Plan
- Municipal planning documents, reports, visitor statistics, and relevant GIS mapping and demographic data.
- Standard computing resources and software (Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint, and internet research tools).
- Access to market research databases, tourism publications, and academic literature.
- Opportunities to meet with municipal staff, community stakeholders, tourism organizations, and local businesses for interviews and consultation.
- Site visits to the Centre of Canada Park and, where appropriate, comparable tourism destinations for observational research.
NDA or a commercialization agreement for this project?
Yes