Community Involvement
Over the years, Robert and Peggy have both used their research and organizational skills to help community organizations clarify and achieve their goals.
Robert Wong
Robert contributes to his broader community through his work with on association committees:
Marketing Research & Intelligence Association (MRIA)
- Village at Blue Mountain, Ontario National Conference Chair 2006-2007
Robert orchestrated a most successful conference, "Our Changing Communities", ($350,000 budget) and exceeded past records for attendance, sponsorship, speaker quality and profitability. - MRIA education subcommittee 2007-present
He is working to heighten the credibility of the national marketing research accreditation (CMRE) and build strong standards within the professional. He was the Workshop Facilitator for the CMRE "Prep" Workshop. Robert is a frequent contributor to MRIA's national magazine, VUE.
Professional Marketing Research Society (PMRS)
- Publications Portfolio, National Board of Directors 2002-2003
He was responsible for the Publications portfolio which included Imprints, Canadian Journal of Marketing Research and PMRS Press with an annual budget of $250,000.
Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) - Canada
- Executive as Chairman of the Board, President, Vice President, Student Liaison 1987-1994
During his Presidency TTRA-Canada won the Chapter of the year for two consecutive years. - Kempenfelt Centre, Ontario National Conference Chair 1989
This conference brought an international flavor to the national conference.
Regional Tourism Destination Area Boards
- Robert has been an active board member on the following regional tourism organizations: Tourism Barrie, Midland & Penetanguishene Tourism Consortium and Ontario's Lake Country.
A few of Robert's community research projects include:
- Canadian Index of Well-being, Simcoe County
- End of Life Care, Hospice Simcoe
- Food for Thought, Simcoe County School Board
- Play Golf Summit, National Golf Course Owners Association
- Thanksgiving Studio Tour
During his 2000 Professional Development Leave, Robert traveled with his family for four months in Hawaii, Australia and Hong Kong as a visiting professor at four universities demonstrating the mobilecomputer technology for survey research. During his fall 2008 Professional Development Leave, he and Peggy are training and practicing research globally in four countries (Thailand, Australia, South Africa & Germany).
Peggy Staite-Wong
Peggy combines her interest in the environment with her passion for gardening:
Barrie Arboretum
Peggy co-ordinated Barrie Garden Club's involvement in managing and developing a 14-acre Arboretum for over 10 years. She facilitated preparation of a Master Plan that ended pesticide use, reduced water use and encouraged planting of native plant material. Then, she has gone on to implement key components of the plan, including sponsorships, fundraising and engaging community volunteers:
- Trans Canada Trail
- Butterfly Garden
- Xeriscaping Garden
- Tall Grass Prairie Demonstration
- Tranquility (Memorial Garden)
- Meditative Labyrinths
- Barrie Metals Pavilion (City of Barrie Sesquicentennial Signature Project)
Master Gardeners of Ontario
Peggy attained her Master Gardener designation in 1999 and was awarded Emeritus status in 2005.
- Has served as chair and on numerous committees of Simcoe County Master Gardeners
- Speaks to outside organizations about pesticide reduction, herb gardening, xeriscaping and the importance of native plants
- Helped organize a very successful technical update focused on gardening with native plants for Ontario-wide Master Gardeners
- Contributor to the New Canadian Gardener and The Blazing Star, Newsletter of the North American Native Plant Society
A-Channel Television
Peggy was the noon-time gardening expert for three seasons, sharing her knowledge of environmentally sound gardening practices with viewers across Simcoe County and Muskoka.
In addition, she has served on several City of Barrie Committees that have benefitted from her expertise in both tourism and the environment: Ontario Winter Games, Gypsy Moth Committee, Sunnidale Park Master Plan and Doors Open Barrie. In 2007, Peggy worked with Robert as he organized Canadian Marketing Research and Intelligence Association Annual Conference, serving as Program Chair.
During the fall of 2008, Peggy is gaining new, global experience as she accompanies Robert on his professional development leave to Thailand, Australia, South Africa & Germany.