The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) announced the winners of its annual Canadian Tourism Awards – designed to reward success, leadership, and innovation in the industry – at a gala ceremony at The Westin Ottawa last week after the association’s annual Tourism Congress.
Now in its 22nd year, the honours span nine categories of distinction, in addition to the previously announced Lifetime Achievement Award, given this year to industry luminary Bill Knowlton.
The awards are open to all businesses operating in any of the full suite of sectors that comprise the tourism industry: accommodations, transportation, recreation, travel services, and food and beverage.
“Each of these winners have proven to have gone above and beyond in offering travellers superior experiences in Canada, and have done so under incredibly trying circumstances,” said TIAC President and CEO Beth Potter. “They embody the true spirit of our Awards – the values of courage, hard work, and dedication to a truly great Canadian tourism product.”
The 2022 Canadian Tourism Award winners are:
Air Canada Business of the Year Award: Great Wolf Lodge – Niagara Falls
Great Wolf Lodge is a waterpark resort with over 9,300 sq. m. of wild rides, slides and water activities that hosts over 500,000 lodging guests each year.
ITAC Indigenous Tourism Award: Heritage Path Tour – Elisipogtog Mi’kmaq Cultural Centre
The Mi’kmaq Heritage Path Tour is a guided walk through the traditional lands of the Elsipogtog First Nation in New Brunswick. Lasting over two hours, the tour features historical, cultural, and spiritual teachings, and is designed for both Indigenous and Non-Indigenous people.
VIA Rail Canada Innovator of the Year Award: AREA 506 Waterfront Container Village
What started as a simple parking lot on an industrial waterfront has been transformed into a top tourist attraction in Saint John, NB. AREA 506 has rebranded Saint John for visitors and residents alike, becoming a cool and attractive place with energy, excitement, and a bit of everything New Brunswick has to offer.
Small or Medium-Sized Business of the Year Award: ERTCU Travel Group
ERTCU Travel Group is a receptive tour operator and offers self-guided, pre-booked RV itineraries for both independent travellers and guided travel groups. They specialize in all-inclusive travel packages for the on-the-go traveller wanting to explore all that Canada and Western US have to offer.
Air Transat Sustainable Tourism Award: Eagle Wing Tours
Eagle Wing Tours is an ecotourism and conservation company based in Victoria, BC, that offers year-round whale and wildlife tours. As Canada’s first third party verified carbon neutral whale-watching company, Eagle Wing Tours aims to protect marine wildlife and the ocean environment by building awareness through tours, education and outreach.
Tourism HR Canada Employee of the Year Award: Kaleigh Potts
Potts has been a valued member of Adventure Canada since 2016. A high impact team player, she exhibits an intelligent, thoughtful, and professional approach to her work and played a key role in supporting clients during the pandemic, never failing to go above and beyond what was asked of her.
Tourism HR Canada Employer of the Year Award: Tourism Kingston
Tourism Kingston is the Destination Marketing Organization for Kingston, Ont. Its vision is to champion Kingston as a destination for local, regional, national, and international tourism. Tourism Kingston strives to provide a supportive environment for staff to innovate, collaborate and grow.
TMAC Travel Media Award: Must Do Canada, Karla and Matthew Bailey
Must Do Canada’s Matthew and Karla Bailey have created an exceptional social media following that genuinely showcases Canada’s nature, rural and urban life experiences to Canadians and the world. In a short period of time, they have achieved recognition as a travel media company focused on ‘real’ travel in their discovery of Canada as a ‘must do’ destination.
Floor13 Business Event Award: Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada 2022 Conference – Toronto
The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) 2022 Convention is the world’s premier annual exploration and mining event. This year PDAC welcomed more than 17,000 investors, analysts, Indigenous leaders, mining executives, geologists, government officials and students to Toronto for its first in-person convention since March 2020.