| Community partners in Renfrew County work hard to entice newcomers to settle in the area and their hard work certainly does not go unrecognized.
At the 2007 Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC) Annual Awards Conference, Renfrew County was recognized with a 2007 Marketing Canada Award for the production of “Your Guide to Exceptional Living” a.k.a. the Ottawa Valley “Z-Card.”
With financial assistance from the Eastern Ontario Development Program, administered by Renfrew County Community Futures Development Corporation (RCCFDC), the Town of Deep River and various partners developed a six-panel jumbo promotional brochure. Referred to as the “Z-Card” because of the z-shaped manner in which the brochure folds, it presents a quick reference to a variety of settlement information on ALL municipalities in Renfrew County.
The project is a significant step forward in efforts to attract newcomers to the Ottawa Valley and brings with it additional benefits for each municipality and the county as a whole. The tool provides a competitive advantage over other areas that are still using a more fragmented approach (every community for itself), which can result in bulky, incomplete community information. The unity and professionalism presented in the Z-Card are extremely welcoming to potential residents and employees, while offering additional opportunities for partner projects throughout the Ottawa Valley.
The EDAC Marketing Canada Awards are open to those organizations which undertake to promote and market Canadian provinces, territories, regions, cities, towns and areas with a view to improving the economic well-being of Canadians.
Congratulations to everyone who helped make Ottawa Valley’s “Z-Card” a true success. | 
