TechAlliance of Southwestern Ontario, in partnership with the Municipality of Bluewater, Bayfield and Area Chamber of Commerce, Downtown London, Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, Middlesex County Tourism, and St. Thomas Downtown Development Board, is launching The Most Local Time of the Year, a Community Collaboration Project with London technology company EXAR Studios as part of the Digital Main Street Future Proof Program in Southwestern Ontario.

Leveraging EXAR Studios’ innovative tourism experiences through the Engage app, The Most Local Time of the Year breathes new life into main streets, bringing a festive AR experience to Bayfield, London, Strathroy and St. Thomas, beginning on December 10, 2020 and running through to the New Year.

The Digital Main Street Community Collaboration Program focuses on bringing together community members to collaboratively identify and solve one or more local main street challenges. The goal is to add resources to ongoing conversations across multiple sectors and assist with piloting solutions. This campaign will help main street retailers recuperate lost foot traffic and revenue as a result of COVID-19. This program is made possible through financial support of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) and the Government of Ontario.

Through disruption, technology innovators have shown a profound dedication to the recovery of our region’s entrepreneurs and main street businesses, Hosting The Most Local Time of The Year in multiple communities — London, Strathroy, St. Thomas and Bayfield — will support the attraction of customers back to businesses affected by the impacts of COVID-19. We are inspired by EXAR Studios’ rapid mobilization of family-friendly, holiday-themed AR experiences and hopeful that with continued support from collaborators and all levels of government, our main streets will prosper beyond this pandemic.

Christina Fox, Chief Executive Officer at TechAlliance

The Most Local Time of the Year experience will showcase the magic within these municipalities, while providing Elgin, Huron and Middlesex County families the opportunity to engage in a holiday experience at their own leisure, in a safe and responsible way.

The Most Local Time of the Year kicks off on December 10, 2020. Interested participants are welcome to download the Engage app for free through the App Store or Google Play.

Words from Partners

Routes

Where will your augmented reality adventure take you? Head down these regional routes to explore Southwestern Ontario like never before! ⤵ 

Bayfield

Hosted in partnership with the Municipality of Bluewater and Bayfield and Area Chamber of Commerce

Strathroy:

Hosted in partnership with the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc and Middlesex County Tourism

St. Thomas:

Hosted in partnership with the St. Thomas Downtown Development Board

London:

Hosted in partnership with Downtown London

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