Something for Everyone Year Round

As Niagara Parks CEO David Adames explains, there’s always plenty to do in Niagara.

“Niagara Falls is the #1 leisure destination in the country. We are thrilled to welcome guests from around the world all year round”, says David Adames, Niagara Parks’ CEO [Chief Executive Officer]. While many associate Niagara with summer family fun, Adames is quick to point out that there is plenty to do in fall and winter too.

Joining Niagara Parks in March of 2013 as Senior Director of Business Development, Adames was charged with overseeing all revenue-producing operations. This included all attractions, retail, heritage, culinary and golf locations, as well as having sales, marketing, events and communications as part of his vast portfolio.

He no doubt was doing something well, as Adames was named COO [Chief Operating Officer] in the fall of 2016. With his star continuing to climb, he was named Acting CEO in November of 2018, with the title becoming permanent in March of the following year.

Niagara Parks, established in 1885, is an agency of the Government of Ontario which maintains the shoreline of the Niagara River. “Essentially, we manage 56km of the Niagara River corridor from Lake Erie in Fort Erie, all the way to Lake Ontario in Niagara-on-the-Lake,” says Adames. “There is so much unique geography within the Parks and there are so many ecologically sensitive areas –for example, the Niagara Glen.” He goes on to say, “We want to encourage people to explore our amazing natural experiences, because they are like no other you can find anywhere else in the world [Niagara Glen], but at the same time, we want to respect the environment”. Part of Niagara Parks’ core mandate is being the environmental and cultural stewards of the Niagara River corridor, and it is a responsibility they don’t take lightly.

When asked for some final thoughts, David is pensive for a moment, then says, “There is so much that Niagara Parks has to offer throughout all four seasons – the colours of the fall foliage, the beauty of the ice forming in the winter, the Festival of Lights… we want people to come see us and share in everything Niagara has to offer.”