Announcing the Finalists for National Awards for Tourism Excellence

Ottawa, September 27, 2010 — The Tourism Industry Association of Canada is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2010 Canadian Tourism Awards, presented by The Toronto Star. The Awards have been presented since 2003 by TIAC to recognize the best of Canada’s tourism industry, and to reward those people, places, organizations and events that have gone above and beyond to offer a superior tourism experience to travelers in Canada.

“We are very proud of this outstanding list of finalists for this year’s Awards,” said TIAC President and CEO David Goldstein. “This impressive collection of tourism businesses - and the people who make them thrive - demonstrates the wealth of ingenuity, enthusiasm and perseverance in our sector. There are great tourism successes stories all across our country, and we are very pleased to recognize the organizations and individuals who help make Canada a world-class destination.”

Three finalists were named in each of the 14 award categories.  Among the finalists are individuals and organizations from across the country. The complete list of 2010 finalists can be found here.

The Canadian Tourism Awards, presented by The Toronto Star, will be presented at a gala dinner in Gatineau, Quebec on November 2, 2010 as part of The Tourism Congress, TIAC’s annual national tourism policy conference.

The 2010 finalists are:

AIR CANADA BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD — SINGLE-UNIT

  • CN Tower (Toronto, Ontario)
  • Estrimont Suites & Spa (Orford, Québec)
  • The Wickaninnish Inn (Tofino, British Columbia)


HILTON FAMILY OF HOTELS CANADA BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD — MULTIPLE-UNIT

  • COWS Inc. (Cavendish, Prince Edward Island)
  • RCR Hospitality Group (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
  • Sépaq (Québec)


DELTA HOTELS & RESORTS NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD

  • Gasoline Alley at Heritage Park Historical Village (Calgary, Alberta)
  • Le Jardin des glaciers (Baie-Comeau, Québec)
  • UrbanQuests.com Inc. (Ottawa, Ontario)


DELOITTE INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

  • Canadian Badlands Ltd. (Southeastern Alberta)
  • Tourism Moose Jaw (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan)
  • Wine Trail Rides — WindsorEats.com (Windsor, Ontario)


FAIRMONT HOTELS & RESORTS MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR AWARD

  • Olympic Marketing Initiative, Pan-North Marketing Consortium (Representing Canada’s three Northern Territories)
  • Live! With Regis & Kelly, Prince Edward Island Department of Tourism and Culture (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island)
  • It’s OK to Cheat on Your City / Allez-y, trompez votre ville!, Tourism Toronto and Tourisme Montréal (Joint Submission) (Toronto, Ontario / Montréal, Québec)


STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS WORLDWIDE INC. CORPORATE PARTNER OF THE YEAR AWARD

  • Canada Safeway Limited (Calgary, Alberta)
  • The Halifax International Airport Authority (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
  • Waterfront Development Corporation (Halifax & Lunenburg, Nova Scotia)


METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE EVENT OF THE YEAR AWARD

  • Canada Day at Canada Place — Canada Place Corporation (Vancouver, British Columbia)
  • Grand Chief Membertou 400 — Mi’kmaq Association of Cultural Studies (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
  • Scotiabank Blue Nose Marathon (Halifax, Nova Scotia)


WESTJET ONLINE MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR AWARD

  • China Online Marketing Platform — Banff Lake Louise Tourism (Banff, Alberta)
  • Halifax Sociable! — Destination Halifax (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
  • I Want to be a Snow Bum! — Tourism Sun Peaks (Sun Peaks, British Columbia)


PARKS CANADA SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD

  • Au Diable Vert - Station de montagne (Glen Sutton, Quebec)
  • The Joggins Fossil Institute Association (Joggins, Nova Scotia)
  • The Links at Crowbush Cove (Lakeside, Prince Edward Island)


NATIONAL CULTURAL TOURISM AWARD

  • Celtic Colours International Festival (Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia)
  • Confederation Centre of the Arts (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island)
  • Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre (Whistler, British Columbia)


CTHRC AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT

  • The Fairmont Winnipeg (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
  • The Prince George Hotel (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
  • Rodd Hotels & Resorts (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island)


TOURISM TORONTO TRAVEL MEDIA AWARD

  • D. Grant Black (Wakaw, Saskatchewan)
  • Canadian Geographic Travel — March 2010 Edition (Ottawa, Ontario)
  • Barbara Radcliffe Rogers and Stillman Rogers (Richmond, New Hampshire)


INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARD

  • Debbie Aldous-Ibbitson, Tourism Saskatoon (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)
  • Marian Perrett, Tour Guide, Ô TOURS (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
  • Guy Theriault, Parks Canada (Gatineau, Québec)


VIA RAIL CANADA VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD

  • The Saint John Meet & Greet Committee (Saint John, New Brunswick)
  • Sheila Smyth, Proprietor, A Suffolk House Bed and Breakfast (Edmonton, Alberta)
  • Harley Tingley, Chairman of the Board, Cape Enrage Interpretive Centre (Quispamsis, New Brunswick)


CANADIAN TRAVEL PRESS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

  • The recipient of a 15th award, the Canadian Travel Press Lifetime Achievement Award, will be selected by TIAC’s Board of Directors.

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About the Tourism Industry Association of Canada:

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada is the voice of Canadian tourism. Founded in 1930 to encourage the development of tourism in Canada, TIAC serves today as the national private-sector advocate for this $74 billion industry, promoting positive measures that help the industry grow and prosper.

For more information, please contact:

Kevin Desjardins
Director, Communications
Tourism Industry Association of Canada
Tel.:  613.238.6251
Mobile: 613.240.7225