// ARCHIVED FOOTAGE: OUR LEGACY
THE TOM ZOMBIE HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS COMPRISED OF COMMUNITY-MINDED INTELLECTUALS WHO USE WHAT KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES THEY HAVE TO PROTECT MANKIND FROM UNNATURAL THREATS. WHAT BEGAN IN SHADOW HAS EMERGED INTO THE LIGHT—TO EDUCATE, TO PROTECT, AND TO REMEMBER.
OVER TWO YEARS, THE TOM ZOMBIE FESTIVAL BROUGHT OVER A MILLION TOURISM DOLLARS INTO SOUTH-WESTERN ONTARIO, SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, AND RETAIL OUTLETS WHILE ATTRACTING MEDIA ATTENTION FROM ACROSS CANADA AND BEYOND.
WE EDUCATED PEOPLE LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY ABOUT OUR HISTORY, SUPPORTED HERITAGE LANDMARKS BY HOSTING EVENTS IN THEM, AND ADVANCED DIVERSITY BY HIGHLIGHTING THE CENTRAL ROLES OF BLACK AND INDIGENOUS HISTORICAL FIGURES IN OUR LEGEND.
THE FESTIVAL ENRICHED LOCAL ARTS AND CULTURE BY HIRING LOCAL ACTORS, ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, AND VENUES—CREATING JOBS WHILE INSPIRING CREATIVITY AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERFORMERS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
— TOBY TEN, BANNED AFRICAN AMERICAN POET (DIED 1848)
// IMPACT METRICS: 2013-2014
THE ST. THOMAS TOM ZOMBIE FESTIVAL WAS MORE THAN ENTERTAINMENT—IT WAS A MECHANISM TO CONTROL AN ANCIENT CURSE WHILE CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY'S RESILIENCE, CREATIVITY, AND UNITY.
WHY IT MATTERS
SOME PEOPLE WANT TO EDUCATE ABOUT HISTORY OR ORGANIZE EVENTS TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE HERITAGE LANDMARKS. OTHERS HAVE AN INTEREST IN BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO THE ARTS SCENE, INSPIRING CREATIVITY, AND PROVIDING WORK FOR ACTORS, PAINTERS, WRITERS, AND MUSICIANS.
STILL OTHERS WANT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO BRING NEW MONEY, NEW ENERGY, AND NEW PEOPLE INTO OUR REGION. HOW CAN WE GET TOURISTS TO FILL HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, COFFEE SHOPS AND RETAIL OUTLETS?