2011 Ontario Tourism Summit: Winners


The Ontario Tourism Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in the tourism industry and recognize individuals and organizations who have successfully promoted Ontario as a must-see destination. The awards program featured five marketing awards, two journalism awards and six industry awards of excellence. Winners were announced at a gala awards ceremony held October 4^th at the Hamilton Convention Centre. Nominations were open to all organizations or individuals in the tourism hospitality industry operating in Ontario and were judged by an independent, third-party panel of industry and marketing experts including:


Marketing Awards: Cyndy Carruthers, President and CEO, Mindful Creative Darrell Schuurman, Managing Partner, DNA Marketing Group Lori Dodd, Vice-President, Dodd Media Group Guy Lamarche, Manager of Tourism, Events and Communications for the City of Timmins Scott McPherson, Vision EM Managing Partner


Industry Awards of Excellence: Troy Young, Executive Director of Attractions Ontario Beth Potter, President and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario Gary Masters, Executive Director, Festivals and Events Ontario Victoria Behune, President and CEO of OTEC Jack Robinson, Chief Operating Officer of the CN Tower


Culinary Awards: Hersch Jacobs, Research Associate at the Ted Rogers Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Valerie Howes, Reader’s Digest Food Editor J. Charles Grieco, Chair and President of the Ontario Hostelry Institute Ivy Knight, Toronto Star columnist Congratulations to all of the winners for their outstanding contributions to promoting Ontario tourism. For more information, read the news releases below.


Lifetime Achievement Award Rob Thorburn was honoured for his passion and dedication to Ontario’s tourism industry. For news release, click here. Photo (from left): Steven Davidson, acting Deputy Minister, Ministry of Tourism and Culture; Rob Thorburn, Owner, Scenic Caves Nature Adventures.


Marketing Awards Best Tourism Advertising Ottawa Tourism won its second consecutive Best Tourism Advertising at the 2011 Ontario Tourism Awards for its successful “Let’s Go!” leisure marketing campaign. For news release, click here. Photo (from left): Steven Davidson, acting Deputy Minister, Ministry of Tourism and Culture; Karen Squires, Executive Director of Marketing, Ottawa Tourism; Ronald Holgerson, Interim President and CEO, OTMPC.


Best Interactive Marketing Tourism Toronto’s “Toronto Looks Good on You” campaign, aimed at young adults received the Best Interactive Marketing award. For news release, click here.


Best Marketing Initiative Under $25,000 An innovative marketing campaign that involved a game show themed event earned the Southwestern Ontario team an Ontario Tourism Award for Best Marketing Initiative under $25,000. For news release, click here. Photo (from left): Annette Hamm, Anchor, CHCH-TV News Hamilton and Ontario Tourism Awards Master of Ceremonies; Donna Clements, Tourism Business Development Officer, Tourism Brantford; Samantha Stramba, Project Manager, Smart Serve Ontario.


Best Tourism Marketing Partnership Northern Ontario got a big boost at the Ontario Tourism Awards when the Highway 11 Partnership was honoured for Best Tourism Marketing Partnership. For news release, click here. Photo (from left): Marla Tremblay, Economic Development Officer, City of North Bay; Steven Davidson, acting Deputy Minister, Ministry of Tourism and Culture.


Best Tourism Printed Collateral Material Shaw Festival Theatre’s artistic seasonal brochure received the Best Printed Collateral Material award at the 2011 Ontario Tourism Awards. For news release, click here. Photo (from left): Annette Hamm, Anchor, CHCH-TV News Hamilton and Ontario Tourism Awards Master of Ceremonies; Valerie Taylor, Director of Marketing, Shaw Festival; Samantha Stramba, Project Manager, Smart Serve Ontario.


Best Travel Photography Julian Holenstein received the Best Travel Photography award for his stunning photos of a kayaker in Terrace Bay’s Neys Provincial Park. For news release, click here.


Best Travel Journalism Paul French received his second consecutive Best Journalism Award for his article, “The Art of History”, which appeared in the Sunday Boston Globe. For news release, click here. Photo (from left): Steven Davidson, acting Deputy Minister, Ministry of Tourism and Culture; Paul French, journalist.


Industry Awards of Excellence Sustainable Tourism Award The Ontario Snow Resorts Association received the Sustainable Tourism Award for promotion of sustainable practices through its Engine Idling Reduction Program. For news release, click here. Photo (from left): Lindsay Matthews, My Sustainable Canada; Steven Davidson, acting Deputy Minister, Ministry of Tourism and Culture; Bruce Haynes, President, Ontario Snow Resorts Association; Tania Del Matto, Michelle Rutty, My Sustainable Canada.


Tourism Innovator of the Year Award The National Capital Commission was awarded the Tourism Innovator of the Year Award for its project, Mosaika, a sound and light show on Parliament Hill that makes innovative use of social media and new projection technology. For news release, click here.


Event of the Year Award The Rogers Sarnia Bayfest was awarded the Event of the Year. For news release, click here. Photo (from left): Michelle Stokely, Executive Director, Sarnia Bayfest; Steven Davidson, acting Deputy Minister, Ministry of Tourism and Culture.


Volunteer of the Year Award For his outstanding and extensive contribution of time and talent to the Canadian International Military Tattoo, John Terence was honoured with the Volunteer of the Year award. For news release, click here. Photo (from left): Steven Davidson, acting Deputy Minister, Ministry of Tourism and Culture; Chief Warrant Officer (Retired) John Terence, Producer, Canadian International Military Tattoo.


Culinary Awards: The Ontario Culinary Tourism Leadership Award Savour Stratford Perth County was recognized with the Ontario Culinary Leadership Award. For news release, click here. Photo (from left): Steven Davidson, acting Deputy Minister, Ministry of Tourism and Culture; Danielle Broghagen, Programme Development Coordinator, Stratford Tourism Alliance; Eugene Zakreski, Executive Director, Stratford Tourism Alliance.


Ontario Culinary Tourism Experience Award The Apple Pie Trail was awarded the Ontario Culinary Tourism Experience Award. For news release, click here. Photo (from left): Steven Davidson, acting Deputy Minister, Ministry of Tourism and Culture; Patti Kendal, Blue Mountain Village Association.

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