If you’re one of many outsiders flocking from near and far to see what Niagara-on-the-Lake’s all about, look out for the friendly folks walking on Queen Street wearing blue vests: they’re here to help you out.

Tourism Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Ambassadors program is back this year, designed by volunteers and tourism officials to welcome visitors to town and help give them a great visiting experience.

The ambassadors are out on Queen Street in downtown NOTL starting this week and will be on-site on Fridays, Saturdays, Sunday and holiday Mondays from May 17, Victoria Day weekend through to Thanksgiving, Oct. 14.

Ambassadors stroll the streets of Old Town and staff a pop-up kiosk by the Court House on Queen Street.

These trained volunteers connect with visitors, answer questions, and provide current information on what’s happening every day in NOTL. 

This year, the program has expanded from 50 to almost 80 volunteers — they’ll be out and about for 22 weeks during peak visitor season.

This group of ambassadors have already been out pounding the pavement and helping out, supporting the Icewine Festival in the winter and solar eclipse festivities in April.

Last year, ambassadors engaged with over 9,200 people from across Canada, the United States and more than 60 countries. 

“This amazing group of volunteers has been making a huge impact on how our visitors experience Niagara-on-the-Lake,” said Andrew Niven, interim president and CEO of Tourism NOTL. “As a local resident, I love their energy, passion and enthusiasm for our town and all it has to offer.”

Laurie Harley, the program’s co-lead, said its efforts wouldn’t be possible without the support of Tourism NOTL, the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and its tourism partners. 

“They are our champions,” she said. “They host site visits, provide in-kind support, keep us  informed and most importantly encourage us to keep sharing the unique NOTL story and create unforgettable memories for our visitors.”