People can now download the Driftscape mobile app to find out all of the things the Town of Hanover has to offer.
Economic Development Manager April Marshall is thrilled they were able to launch the app just in time for Culture Days.
"Basically there are listings for each event. But what is especially unique about Driftscape is that you can have established tours on the app," she exclaimed. "So we're excited that we are launching this as part of Culture Days, because a lot of the tours that we have featured on Driftscape are our Heritage Tours."
Marshall said people will be able to take various tours on their own schedule.
"So we've been able to literally map out our Hanover Cemetery Tour, we have a Heritage Story Map, our Heritage Square Tour and the Historical Walking Tour of the Hanover trail system," she continued. "So when you're on your app, it actually picks up your GPS coordinates and or the point of interest that you are near, and it advances through the tour, and it shows you pictures, and it has audio to accompany it as well, and then it advances as you progress through the tour. So it's a really neat way for people to have a self guided tour of our area and hear those stories from our past."
She shared that the app also offers access to detailed information about historical landmarks, local businesses, events, and outdoor activities.
"We're also able to promote business listings," she revealed. "So if you go to downtown Hanover, we're able to associate some of our primary retailers and restaurants and accommodations within the app, so that it's very accessible for people when they get here to see what we have to offer."
Marshall pointed out that the app brings all of the information together for easy reference.
"The biggest thing for us is that we were seeing we had all of this information spread across various outlets, right, like on different links, on different pages of our websites, and wherever it was kind of applicable," she added. "But Driftscape has given us the opportunity to put this all in one place or all one home, so that it's really user friendly and people can access the information quickly."
Marshall said the new app will feature Culture Days which will offer various events this fall, starting with the Fall Market in the Square and a Cultural Showcase at the Civic Centre Saturday September 21.
The Cultural Showcase will feature the Saugeen Artist Guild Show and Sale, a Heritage Archive Display, Hanover Public Library Around The World featuring displays from five countries, a scavenger hunt with prizes, and access to behind the scenes of a Grey Bruce Singers rehearsal.
Attendees of the Cultural Showcase will also be entered into a draw for their chance to win one of ten pairs of available tickets for The Sound of Hanover Reading Concert with Larry Mercey, Jamie Warren, John Gardiner & Richard Knechtel, presented by the Hanover Public Library on September 28th at the Hanover Civic Theatre.
Other Culture Days events include the Eat Well Farmers’ Market, a free public skate, the Saugeen Artists Guild Fall Studio Tour and the Autumn Leaves Studio Tour.
The Driftscape app is available for free download on both iOS and Android devices.
Hanover partnered with some neighbouring municipalities back in March to seek funding for the program.