New Tourism Officer hired

The city’s new tourism effort, Tourism North Bay, has been in search for a full-time tourism officer since before it was incorporated early this year. In an effort to rebrand North Bay as a tourism destination, local community shareholders have banded together under this new tourism banner.

Since its inception, Tourism North Bay has sought a face and a name to take on the mantle of reforming local tourism and as of Monday this week, she has officially started.

This is Trista Verbiwski.

Born and raised in French River, Verbiwski was not always involved in tourism. After leaving her hometown from high school, she pursued post-secondary studies to work as a paramedic before later studying at Laurentian University for a bachelor’s in commerce.

Once she finished her studies, she returned to her hometown of French River to work in tourism and economic development.

“It was a great experience to work with members of the community and to bring them all together, Verbiwski said. “However, unfortunately, the Municipality of French River, under a new council and CAO, decided to dismantle our economic development department.”

Soon after, she found the local ad for a Tourism Officer and said she was ecstatic to be back in North Bay.

“I’ve worked here before in the past for a bit,” Verbiwski explained, “and it’s a great place for family to be able to bring up their children as well as a place to invite people from out of town.”

She noted how North Bay is a city ripe with opportunity and even though she’s just started working as the Tourism Officer, her mind is already spinning with strategies to market North Bay’s attractions and bring in more tourism.

“I’m looking forward to being the face of tourism and being the ambassador for Tourism North Bay and seeing an increase in tourism, marketing development and some really good opportunities for us,” Verbiwski said. “The people are very friendly, which is very inviting for North Bay, along with the beauty, the lakeshore, the ski hills, there is always something to do for families here.”

“I’m not even a day in and I’ll be sitting down with our community shareholders to situate myself. I want to make people aware that there is a Tourism North Bay and really get focus on the brand to begin and from there to be able to incorporate all our marketing strategies.”

The Tourism Officer works for Tourism North Bay on behalf of its members, including local hotel operators, restaurants, events, attractions and other partners. Since the chamber’s recent move to the downtown area and the decision to no longer operate the tourist information centre, the strategy was taken to incorporate Tourism North Bay as a standalone, self-funded entity.

Verbiwski said she knew a lot of challenges would be ahead with this new position, but her past experience in French River has taught her much on dealing with challenges.

“Challenges are always bringing people together and working in collaborations,” she said. “In the past, those are some of the roadblocks I’ve experienced, so I’m looking forward to bringing my experience bringing people together for North Bay.”