Aboriginal Tourism
Oak Hammock Marsh was recognized as a finalist in this category for its Aboriginal Programming that incorporates Aboriginal philosophies, teachings and values. Developed in consultation and review with the Aboriginal community, Oak Hammock Marsh's Aboriginal Programming promotes awareness, understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal people. The interactive programs emphasize the cultural relationships to the landscape along with historical importance of Aboriginal people.
St. Malo Festival of Friends - Festival des Amis was recognized as a finalist in this category for celebrating the era of the voyageurs as well as Metis and Aboriginal cultures. Since its creation in 2008, the festival has been a showcase of Francophone and Metis artists while also highlighting bilingualism as an added value to the community. With its location along the historic Crow Wing Trail, the four-day festival features traditional music, food and activities.
Aspiring Youth
Jillian Cockbill was recognized as a finalist in this category for her contributions to tourism in Virden and beyond. In addition to her position as Director of Operations for Jay Motor Inns in Virden, Jillian was elected to the Manitoba Hotel Association Board of Directors. Jillian is also a member of the Virden & Area Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of advertising for the Virden Indoor Rodeo & Wild West Daze, Virden's largest event.
Monique Olivier was recognized as a finalist in this category for her desire to communicate shared human experiences and Manitoba's history with visitors. After beginning as a volunteer at the Manitoba Museum, Monique moved on to positions at Lower Fort Garry and The Forks. Working mainly within the areas of interpretation and program development, in her current positions with the Festival du Voyageur and Riel House, Monique has created and refined several interpretive programs, ensuring accuracy and authenticity.
Marketing Excellence Award
Manitoba Homecoming was recognized in this category for its marketing campaign that encouraged Manitobans to get involved. The campaign was based around a call to action for Manitobans to invite friends and family home and to take them to a great Manitoba festival, event or attraction. The campaign first created awareness and drove traffic to the website, then used conventional media and an intensive social media campaign to spread the message and promote Homecoming events.
Morden Tourism Marketing Team was recognized as a finalist in this category for its marketing campaign that featured the development of a new website promoting tourism in the Morden area. The site features action-packed promotional videos, stunning photos and vacation packages. Other aspects of the team's marketing campaign included television commercials on CitiTV and highway billboards. The Morden Tourism Marketing Team has also had proven success with its Pembina Valley Passport Adventure promotion.
Tourism Dauphin was recognized as a finalist in this category for the development of new marketing pieces that promote unique visitor experiences with a focus on the area's strengths (arts, festivals, culture and nature). A revamped website allows Tourism Dauphin to connect with visitors on a personal level through social media and opportunities to comment on blogs, videos and photos. All marketing pieces have the same look and feel, ensuring the delivery of a consistent and effective message.
Partnership Award
O Tours, VIA Rail & Tourism Winnipeg were recognized as finalists in this category for working together to turn a four-hour layover for VIA Rail passengers into an opportunity to showcase Winnipeg through a city tour delivered by O Tours. The creation of this new year-round city tour is also available to other visitors to Winnipeg, filling a void for a regularly scheduled city tour and providing a much needed service to visitors.
Pembina Valley Passport Adventure 2010 was recognized as a finalist in this category for bringing together 19 partners in the Pembina Valley to promote tourism in the area and to increase the area's visibility in other parts of the province. Growing from four partners only two years ago, the five-month-long promotion markets the area's museums, includes a geochaching component to extend its reach and offers participants the chance to win prizes.
West Interlake Trading Company was recognized as a finalist in this category for its collaborative approach to promoting tourism through packaging and joint marketing in the southwest Interlake area. The WITC is the go-to resource for tourism development in the surrounding community. By developing relationships with partners and building tourism products, the WITC has produced a number of experiences that highlight the area's assets and build value in visiting the area.
Product Development Award
The Central Museum of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery (The RCA Museum) was recognized as a finalist in this category for its over $600,000 in improvements to the museum, including the 1,800 sq. ft. interactive Manitoba Military History Gallery. Other improvements include adding interpretive signage to all of the outdoor exhibits ensuring a meaningful experience for visitors, even when the museum is closed, as well as developing barrier-free and family-friendly washrooms.
Explore the North - the Manitoba Museum was recognized as a finalist in this category for complementing and adding value to polar bear and aurora borealis packages to Churchill. A photo clinic and hands-on session at the Planetarium teaches participants how to best capture photographs of the aurora borealis. Participants also learn about the people of Manitoba's north, as they handle and examine artifacts, while learning about the human and natural history of the region.
Hermetic Code Tour - Heartland Travel & Tours was recognized as a finalist in this category for offering a unique and Winnipeg exclusive product. Based on a book exploring the design of the Manitoba Legislative Building, the two-hour walking tour highlights the building's inclusion of Masonic symbols, Egyptian architecture, sacred numerology, astrology and the science of Alchemy. This tour appeals to virtually all markets, as over 3500 people have participated in this tour since it was created in 2009.
The Incorporated Community of Nelson House Fishing Derby was recognized as a finalist in this category for growing their annual ice fishing derby from a local event with about 30 participants to an event attended by over 1,000 people from not only northern Manitoba but across the country. The derby was the first in northern Manitoba to initiate a numbered ticket system and security measures and to offer seasonal employment for up to 20 local people each year.
Service Excellence Award
Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge was recognized as a finalist in this category for meeting the changing needs and expectations of its clients. The modernization of cabins ensures guests' comfort, while bilingual staff help make all guests feel at ease. Aikens encourages camaraderie between staff and guests, as this enriches the visitor experience beyond simply being a "fishing trip". Hours and amenities are operated in accordance with guest needs as opposed to being dictated by any lodge policy.
Danny's Whole Hog BBQ & Smokehouse was recognized as a finalist in this category for its commitment to staff training to ensure great service. As the business grew, in-house staff training ensures confident and competent staff who feel empowered to do what they see as right. Started in 2002, Danny's now serves 350,000 customers a year and maintains the mantra that the customer is always right.
Don Finkbeiner was recognized as a finalist in this category for his long-term involvement and dedication to Manitoba's tourism industry. As the owner and manager of Heartland International Travel and Tours, Don continuously seeks ways to improve current products and services, as well as creates and develops new products and services to fulfill current demands and visitor expectations. He serves and works effortlessly on committees for various tourism initiatives and offers advice on ways to ensure that the visitor has the best experience possible.
Pineridge Hollow was recognized as a finalist in this category for its successes in operating a business that nurtures and welcomes guests while providing good food and good company. As the business has grown into a full-service restaurant and furniture and home decor store, the primary goal of making people feel at home and ensuring they leave satisfied has not changed. Pineridge Hollow continues to strive for excellent service, by serving comfort food, supporting local producers and staying away from pretentious pricing.
Sustainable Tourism Award
The Assiniboine Credit Union River Trail was recognized as a finalist in this category for creating awareness of the value of rivers and to empower users to become stewards of these rivers. In building and managing the River Trail, activity is restricted to the ice surface, ensuring the delicate land of the river banks remains undisturbed and provides a cost-effective way to conserve fish, wildlife and flora.
Dauphin's Countryfest was recognized as a finalist in this category for limiting the environmental impacts of the festival and ensuring cultural diversity. Countryfest actively promotes their "Green Initiatives", which include an on-site recycling compound staffed by volunteers, prohibiting food vendors from distributing condiment packages and the use of cloth rather than plastic bags. Countryfest also strives to include other cultures in their programming, such as Aboriginal and Ukrainian artists.
Fairmount Bed and Breakfast was recognized as a finalist in this category for making home grown food a pillar of the experience at Fairmount. Organic eggs, fresh produce from the garden and onsite prepared breads and cereals are all on the menu. Food is preserved by a combination of drying, freezing and canning techniques to ensure farm produce from Fairmount is available year round. Chemical-free cleaners and salvaged and restored building materials and furniture further reinforce the dedication to sustainability.
Volunteer of the Year Award
Pat Eyolfson was recognized as a finalist in this category for spearheading the Arborg & District Multicultural Heritage Village. As current co-chair of the committee overseeing the village, Pat has developed business plans, planned fundraisers and applied for grants. Pat oversaw the moving of the buildings to the site as well as their restoration. Pat worked with various committees to pull together the efforts of over 100 volunteers to ensure the project's success.
Cathy and Al Macatavish were recognized as finalists in this category for being active volunteers in the amateur and professional golf community. Both were instrumental in bringing the CN Canadian Women's Open (CNCWO) to Winnipeg in the summer of 2010, which drew 65,000 spectators for the week. Cathy and Al are also active in the Manitoba golf community as they promote the concept of bidding on and hosting amateur events around the city and province.
Bette Mueller was recognized as a finalist in this category for her dedication to various local and regional tourism products and committees. Among her local roles, Bette was a founding member and chair of the Pembina Manitou Log House Tourism Centre and co-chair for the 100th and 110th anniversary homecoming committees. Regionally, Bette has been involved with Pembina Valley Tourism Association for over 10 years. She is a fantastic mentor who seeks to involve others in the industry.
Travel Manitoba Award of Distinction
Dauphin's Countryfest was recognized as a finalist in this category for organizing a successful music festival that for 21 years has brought thousands of visitors to the Parkland region. As Canada's longest running country music festival, Countryfest has sold out for the past six years as 14,000 visitors from across Canada and the U.S. travel to Dauphin every July long weekend. As a non-profit organization, Countryfest has donated more than $4.5 million back to the community since 1990.
The Icelandic Festival of Manitoba was recognized as a finalist in this category for offering a cultural celebration that for 121 years has kept alive the traditions that are part of Manitoba's Icelandic heritage. This second longest running festival in North America has grown into a four-day festival that welcomes 50,000 people to Gimli every August long weekend. The festival generates significant economic benefits for the community and offers an important opportunity for cultural exchanges that build on the area's tourism offerings.
The Keystone Centre in Brandon was recognized as a finalist in this category for its role as a recreational facility and as a tourism destination for recreation, entertainment, conventions, fairs and events. By working with tourism partners to attract events to Brandon, the Keystone Centre has a proven reputation of professional and accommodating customer service. From last year's Memorial Cup national junior hockey championship to the Provincial Exhibition's three annual fairs, the Keystone Centre successfully balances community and business functions in Manitoba.
