Belt Drive Betty's Blog

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<br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;">There’s a buzz going on about the History Check Heritage & Tourism Mobile App. 
We recently caught wind that this northern Alberta app is set to expand Alberta
wide in the summer of 2019.</span></span></div>
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We caught up with Sheila Willis, the concept person behind the app to
confirm.  Its been a busy year for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> 
</span>In addition to adding a 1000 sites and sourcing marketing partnerships,
she <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt;">has been recognized for her work on
this project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sheila was one three recipients of
the 2018 Outstanding Achievement Awards for Heritage Awareness by Alberta
Historic Resources Foundation, and recently nominated for an Alberta Women’s
Entrepreneur (AWE) award.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here’s what we asked her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Q - First, what is History Check and
why is it different? <o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt;">A - History Check covers a lot of
ground - literally.  It is a map-based app that covers the entire northern
half of Alberta.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>It will include
everything a traveller might need, or want, using site listings or Points of Interest.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sites are placed by community, and a
guide is created for each as we add content.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Q - When you say guide, can you
define that more?</u></b><br />
A - All site listings are assigned to a community or region in one of 5
categories.  When the user opens a community menu, they can choose one, or
all, of these categories.  <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt;">The graphic icons for the sites are
displayed and the user can see anything from boat launches, campgrounds, to gas
stations and grocery stores – and of course learn more about the history. 
 It’s unlimited.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Q - So once the sites are on History
Check how does the app user find them?<br />
</u></b>A - There are multiple options.  Communities can be found through
the Home Map, which is an overall view, or Near Me which recognizes your
location and sites around you.   We also have search functions that
rely on keywords to connect the user to what they are searching for.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Q - Are the rumours true that you are
going province wide with the history Check app?</u></b><br />
A - They are.  The data entry for community locations has already begun
and we have started the process of contacting municipalities and local
governance for their participation, which includes financial contribution and
content information for municipal run attractions and services.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Q - How will you market to the end
user?<br />
</u></b>A- In addition to our own social media feeds, there is a lot of cross
marketing going on.  The download link is already on a variety of
websites, Kalyna Country has added it to their attractions map, and it’s also
on Mackenzie County’s Historical signage.  We will start distributing hard
copy marketing materials this summer and putting out overpass banners and hay
bale wrappers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Q - If industry operators would like
to be listed how do they go about that?<br />
</u></b>A - We have an online form currently at </span><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-field-code: " HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/www\.fhnas\.ca\/getlisted\0022 \\t \0022_blank\0022 ";"><u><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.fhnas.ca/getlisted">www.fhnas.ca/getlisted</a></span></u></span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt;"> or they can email me to ask questions or send in their information.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Q - What kind of information do you
need?</u></b><br />
A - A good written description of products and services, up to 3 images, and
the GPS coordinates.  We like to take the consumer right to the gates or
the door.  Also any links they’d like to include such as social media
pages, or articles that have been written about them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Online listings in regional DMO’s or ATIS are
also welcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>They all drive the user
forward for more information and interaction.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Q - So how do people get a hold of
you?</u></b><br />
A - They can call or text 780-805-1390 or shoot me an email at </span><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-field-code: " HYPERLINK \0022mailto\:sheila\.willis\@impacttourism\.ca\0022 \\t \0022_blank\0022 ";"><u><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12.0pt;">sheila.willis@impacttourism.ca</span></u></span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt;">.  I’m on the road a lot so email is best.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Q - Any other comments?<br />
</u></b>A – I’d like to thank the groups and municipalities that have come on
board.  The project is orientated around everyone working together and we
appreciate those who got involved early on in the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></div>
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