Local Businesses Compete for the $25,000 Tourism Innovation Challenge Grand Prize

February 4, 2026

Cornwall, ON – The Top 5 Finalists have been selected for the inaugural Tourism Innovation Challenge and will be competing for the $25,000 grand prize at a public Pitch Competition taking place live on Thursday, February 12^th at the Dev Centre in Cornwall, ON.

The Tourism Innovation Challenge is an exciting new initiative that is sparking bold, creative solutions which will drive tourism growth and showcase Cornwall as a premier destination in Ontario. The program kicked off in early January with 10 Semi-Finalists taking part in exclusive coaching seminars, hosted in partnership with the Cornwall SDG Business Enterprise Centre (CBEC).

After a full day of Semi-Finals pitching on January 28^th, the Top 5 Finalists were selected and are currently receiving personalized one-on-one mentorship from accomplished business professionals. The competition will culminate in a live Pitch Finale where one standout idea will be crowned the winner and awarded the grand prize to bring their tourism innovation to life.

The five businesses selected to pitch include: Sip & Scoop Canada (Jehan Shorish), Big Ben Ski Centre (Sylvia McDonald & Jack Arnold), Drone Sport by Aero Concept Systems (Paul St. Onge), Fin & Flow Cornwall (Annette Labonte) and Cornwall Downtown BIA (Debbie Burns).

“We are so happy to have had such a strong pool of candidates take part in this program. Choosing the Top 5 Finalists was such a hard decision because each of the businesses brought so much to the table and truly show the incredible tourism landscape that Cornwall offers” said Cornwall Tourism Development Fund Acting Chair, Karen Torrie-Racine.

The public event kicks off at 6:30pm on February 12^th and is free to attend. Along with the Pitch Competition there will be opportunities to network, hors d’oeuvres, and the crowing of the first ever winner of the Tourism Innovation Challenge. If you wish to attend, you can get your ticket here.

About the Cornwall Tourism Development Fund

The Tourism Development Fund is a key player in enhancing the tourism landscape of Cornwall, Ontario. It provides funding to support various initiatives aimed at attracting visitors and boosting the local economy.

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