Show Us What You’ve Got
Development Program
In 2025 The Great Lakes Cruise Association is seeking qualified candidates or organizations
which can provide a number of unique and tourism-worthy experiences.
Deadline for applications is February 28, 2025
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Impress

The Great Lakes Cruise Association is embarking upon a development program to enhance its position in the cruise industry. The following projects represent some of these initiatives and interested applicants are asked to contact the Executive Director. Contact information is located at the foot of this page.
SHORE EXCURSION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
This initiative will cover all Great Lakes ports between Parry Sound and Thunder Bay. More specifically, ports of call and their respective surrounding regions will include Parry Sound, Killarney, Little Current and Manitoulin Island, the North Channel, Sault Saint Marie (Ontario), the Slate Islands in Lake Superior, Terrace Bay, Rossport, Red Rock, Thunder Bay, Silver Islet and the Sibley Peninsula. Successful candidates will be expected to conduct an inventory of all current shore excursions, develop a gap analysis and provide additional creative and innovative shore excursions, which will be attractive to visiting cruise lines. In the execution of this work, successful candidates will be expected to create, design and demonstrate the feasibility of these new shore excursions and to provide supporting list of suppliers which are required to operate them.
PAN-GREAT LAKES MUSIC PROGRAM
This project will identify suitable entertainers in each of the port communities where the current fleet of cruise ships call. The research does not entail traveling to each community, nor does it involve auditions. What is needed is a list of competent entertainers who are currently practicing in their communities. Types of entertainment would include single singers, music groups offering various genres, comedians, storytellers etc. A list of entertainers should include their prime contact coordinates and their postal address.
PORT BRANDING
This component will coordinate how each port in the defined area will brand itself as a cruise destination. This will cover all Great Lakes ports between Parry Sound and Thunder Bay as indicated above in the shore excursion section.
ENGINEERING STUDY
An engineering study is required to identify what would be necessary for each port in the defined area for it to offer shore based electrical connections to visiting cruise ships. This project does not include a physical visitation to each port, but it may require telephone or video conference discussions with the municipality or whomever controls the port.
GALLEY SUPPLY PROGRAM COORDINATOR
The Great Lakes Cruise Association is seeking either an organization or an individual with experience in the wholesale food supply business. This initiative will include embracing and refining the existing inventory of growers and producers which are currently featured on the GLCA website under Galley Supply. The successful candidate will offer locally grown products in the Great Lakes region which includes the port communities of Parry Sound, Killarney, Little Current and Manitoulin Island, Sault Saint Marie (Ontario), the North Channel region, Terrace Bay, Rossport, Red Rock and Thunder Bay. Applications and expressions of interest should be sent to the contact below.
Stephen Burnett
Executive Director
The Great Lakes Cruise Association
613 331 4027
sburnett934@gmail.com