RTO7’s offer of the Partnership Program for 2025/26 is contingent upon the Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Gaming's approval of RTO7’s 2025/26 Business Plan.
If you are unfamiliar with the Partnership Program and applications, I highly recommend calling (Alex 705-441-2931 (ahogan@rto7.ca) to first talk through your proposed project and/or completing the application, as the process is greatly simplified with some direct explanation prior to completion of the application. RTO7 reserves the right to limit the number of programs/funds that one stakeholder may receive per year.
Please download the Partnership Program Guidelines for important background information before completing this application - once opened in Downloads, the links within the Guidelines should open in a new window in your browser when clicked on.
We highly recommend that you log into a Google account (directions in link) to access this form and know that your progress is automatically saved as a draft for 30 days so you can return to it. Please see our blog on why you should create a Google Account for your Business.
If you choose not to do this or to work offline, you will need to complete and submit the form all in one sitting and be sure to save a copy of your submitted application. If you choose not to log into a Google account, contact us to discuss how best to submit your application.
Note: We want to encourage stakeholders starting on a journey towards economic, social and environmental sustainability. Sustainability isn’t a requirement to get funding for 2025/26. However, projects that show they’re working to include or improve sustainable practices—using clear and measurable plans—may be prioritized in the application review process. The Partnership Program application process is competitive, and many people apply for the available funds. We welcome applications from all eligible businesses and organizations. No matter where you are in your sustainability efforts, we’re here to guide you through the process.
Video/Image Development Collaboration Details
● This application may be used for video and/or imagery (photography) production; if using it for both, please distinguish between the video and the imagery (photography) projects
● Note that this program uses RTO7's Videography & Photography suppliers as outlined in the respective sections below
● $1 partner contribution receives $1 Partnership funds
● Partners may be a single tourism entity or a tourism group/DMO/tourism organization/municipality
● The images and videos collected through the Partnership Program will be co-owned by the partner and RTO7. RTO7 reserves the right to use these assets for marketing purposes, including but not limited to the website, advertising campaigns, and YouTube, without needing further permission from the partner. This provides partners with valuable free exposure as their assets are showcased in BruceGreySimcoe's extensive advertising efforts. Additionally, these assets may be shared with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Gaming and Destination Ontario for similar promotional purposes, significantly broadening the reach and visibility of the partner’s offerings. If RTO7 intends to use the content for purposes beyond these platforms, the partner will be informed.
● Booking shoot dates for approved projects is first come/first served. For videos especially, there will be limited availability for shoots during June - August, so if you're interested in this timeframe, get your application in as soon as possible to increase chances of booking your desired shoot date(s). Brian and/or Andrea will give you available dates to choose from within your proposed window. You will then have 7 days to confirm your chosen date with all parties (i.e. to confirm models, shoot locations, etc.); after 7 days the date will again become available to others booking shoot dates.
● Shoot dates are all full days - we cannot accommodate half day shoots, so it will be important to plan accordingly to make the most of your available time
● Rescheduling of a shoot due to clearly inclement weather the morning of a shoot will be accommodated when agreed to by both parties; rescheduling as a result of models cancelling or fall colours not being at their absolute peak, etc. will be subject to a $300 fee, payable prior to release of imagery
● If planning a winter shoot (which we encourage), in light of recent winters, you may wish to consider a backup plan in the event that weather does not cooperate - are there non-weather dependent winter activities you might profile instead or in addition to those dependent on cold/wintery weather
● Once the project is approved, all communications regarding the project MUST be conducted in Basecamp (provided by RTO7)
● To ensure timely and constructive execution of the planning and actioning of the project, the person named below as the Individual Responsible for Day-to-Day Execution named below will act as the decision maker and liaison with Alex and Brian and/or Andrea
● Be sure to review the Best Practices documents linked in the Requirements below. Ensuring a successful end product depends as much on your planning/management efforts as on the videographer/photographer - for the best outcome, anticipate sufficient time for this role and please ensure
all shoot locations/activities are expecting the imagery team - your shoot should tell a cohesive story e.g. following someone through town vs. relying on the team to spontaneously shoot empty storefronts or trails (pre-planning with the team here is invaluable)
dedicated models are lined up (and confirmed just prior to shoot day) - please don't rely on whoever happens to be in the area that day - arrange all models in advance, know what emotions you are trying to capture and do some research (review online profiles) to try to match the model's demographic to the audience you are trying to attract
● Partner is responsible for finding models and for collecting signed model and operator releases prior to the shoot using the release provided by H Visual Media/Andrea Hamlin Photography
● Click here for some suggestions if you are challenged finding models (occasionally finding models becomes very challenging - if this is the case, please reach out to us as we have developed a database of interested individuals and may be able to help)
● As appropriate, RTO7 encourages the use of a diversity of models, including those that self-identify as Indigenous, Visible Minorities, Persons with Disabilities, Women, 2SLGBTQ+
● RTO7 encourages depiction of assets that will result in revenue generation for tourism operators (i.e. we are more likely to approve/promote activities that are associated with businesses that stand to benefit e.g. a tour guide, an outfitter, etc. than simply beautiful vistas or free hiking trails) and in increased respect for the local environment and communities
● It is possible to be funded for both a video/image development and social media advertising project (using the video/images developed) in one Partnership year; however, this requires SIGNIFICANT lead time to ensure the collateral is edited and ready in time for the campaign
● IF the Partner intends in the future to conduct paid social media advertising through RTO7 with a video developed, the video developed must be 60 seconds or less, with 15 seconds preferred as best performing in most contexts in our experience (Social Media Advertising is another Partnership category and requires a Social Media Advertising application)
If this is feeling like a lot of information, please just give me a call and I can help distill it for you...705-441-2931. While it sounds like a lot, we hope you are aware of the significant time and effort you will be saving by working through our suppliers to produce a professional outcome rather than managing these processes entirely on your own.
Video:
● Video development to be managed by RTO7 and/or the RTO7 Agency of Record and executed by the RTO7 Agency of Record (Brian Hunt - H Visual Media)
Video packages include 3 price packages
Partner contribution of $1,350 including HST (leverages to $2,700)
Partner contribution of $2,350 (leverages to $4,700)
Partner contribution of $3,300 (leverages to $6,600)
● Video styles include four styles
● Video will be posted to the BGS website (video galleries as are appropriate to the video and to BGS YouTube channel)
● Partner is responsible to post video(s) to partner’s website and YouTube channel
● Video(s) will be delivered in square (e.g. for use in Facebook/Instagram social media advertising), landscape (e.g. for use on website, TV) formats, and vertical formats
● All video provided will be licensed to the relevant partner and Regional Tourism Organization 7 for a period of 3 years (thereafter, in order to minimize partner costs, H Visual Media will have access to the raw footage)
● Videos developed must highlight dynamic, appealing BruceGreySimcoe experiences/offerings and video must include a call to action
● In addition to promotional videos depicting your tourism assets, this program may be used to develop staff recruitment videos (mid-level package)
● Previous Partnership videos (amongst others) may be viewed on BruceGreySimcoe’s YouTube page
Imagery:
● Image development to be managed by RTO7 and/or the RTO7 Agency of Record and executed by the RTO7 Agency of Record (Andrea Hamlin Photography)
● High resolution images will be uploaded or provided on a stick to the partner (partner pays stick and shipping cost); provision of low resolution images may be arranged depending on usage)
● In consultation with Andrea, partner will provide direction as to the desired orientation of images (e.g. horizontal, vertical, banners, etc.)
● The photography shoot is one 8-hour day (no half days)
i.e. one 8-hour day is a $1,075 partner contribution including HST (leverages to $2,150/day)
$1 partner funds are matched by $1 partnership funds
Partner minimum contribution is $1,075, to a maximum partner contribution of $5,000
when required and appropriate (e.g. a shoot with significant travel time is consecutive days in a row and the shoot day runs late), the Partner is requested to provide paid accommodation for photographer if possible
The red asterisks below indicate required fields.
In a perfect world, you will be shooting a year out (for seasonality) i.e. shooting collateral this summer that won't be used until next summer.
Let us know the timeframe you require the completed collateral. If you are planning to use the collateral in an advertising campaign, let us know the dates of the campaign and we will put in significant effort to deliver the collateral in this time frame (that said we need you to do the same; we can't deliver a draft and then not hear from you for a week or two).
Partner Contribution
# of days required x $1,075 per 8 hour day - this represents 1/2 of the total project cost (including tax). You will need to send RTO7 this amount in the form of an EFT, e-transfer or cheque
This is the sum of the above video and image partner contributions (including tax)