Brussels - Audio Walking Tours

While the Brussels Walking Tours were developed several years ago, new life has been breathed into them as they are set to receive audio tour complements courtesy of Dr. Chris Cooper and local historian Paul Nichol.

Huron East Economic Development Officer Jan Hawley says the project was made possible through funding from Community Futures Huron and a partnership with Cooper of Rediscovering Canada Television, with whom Hawley has collaborated on many projects. 

The walking tours date back to 2012 and a special project courtesy of Dr. Robert Shipley and his students at the University of Waterloo’s Heritage Resource Centre. However, the audio portions of the tour will take them to a new level, according to Hawley.

As opposed to straightforward facts about attractions throughout the village, Hawley said the hope is that Cooper and Nichol will treat the audio tours like a kind of fireside chat, casual and full of humour and interesting stories about the community that will appeal not only to visitors, but to locals as well, seeking to learn more about Brussels.

The points of interest on the maps, which had been posted in Brussels for years, will be updated soon before the audio tours are released. However, they highlight numerous locations throughout the village, including historical buildings, local landmarks and natural beauty in Brussels. Hawley said the updates will include the Four Winds Barn and others. She also said they will be updated with QR codes to be used with smartphones.

Hawley says her hope is that the tours will serve as an attraction for the community, bringing people, along with their spending money, to Brussels, Seaforth and Vanastra in the years to come.