NB 1146
Oct. 18, 2004
MONCTON (CNB) - Two community festivals, a partnership of coastal restaurants and art galleries and one of the province's leading companies were the recipients of the first ever provincial government tourism awards during an industry banquet on Sunday, Oct. 17.
"We created these awards because we knew of the outstanding professionalism and creativity of so many of our New Brunswick tourism operators but even we were blown-away by the quality of the submissions," said Tourism and Parks Minister Joan MacAlpine, who presented the awards during the annual meeting and banquet of the Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick.
"These
award winners are outstanding examples of the companies, groups, professionals
and volunteers who have helped create a billion-dollar tourism industry within
the province," the minister said. "It is their innovation and initiative which
have capitalized upon our natural wonders, rich heritage and cultural diversity,
and made New Brunswick a year-round tourism destination."
From left: David Seabrook, Harvest Jazz & Blues Festiva , Fredericton; Roland Bernier, La Route des fruits de la mer, Acadian Peninsula; Tourism and Parks Minister Joan MacAlpine; Mary Keith, JD Irving Ltd .; Paul Marcel Albert, Ode à l'Acadie, Festival Acadien. (Large photo)
The Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival of Fredericton won in the Marketing category thanks to their integrated radio, television, internet and direct mail marketing strategy and their partnership with the North Atlantic Blues Festival in Rockland, Maine. Their marketing has been so effective that two out of every five households in their primary market area participate while still attracting visitors who account for more than 30 per cent of their audience.
Ode L'Acadie - Festival Acadien of Caraquet won in the Product Development category. With a history of more than 40 years, the festival broke new ground in their celebration this year of the 400th anniversary of the Acadien presence. Of particular note was a show entitled "Ode a L'Acadie" featuring seven talented young Acadian musical performers who paid tribute to the Acadian music of the past and present aided by video images and narrative text.
La Route des fruits de la Mer, a collection of 15 restaurants and 13 art galleries along the Acadian Peninsula, won in the Partnerships category. In an exceptional example of innovative thinking, these potential competitors formed a partnership to create a tourism zone featuring local seafood dishes and local art. The participants promoted each other's restaurants and art galleries along the route to promote local culture and history through art and cuisine.
MacAlpine noted these three award winners were selected by a five-person panel of nationally-recognized tourism industry experts.
J.D.Irving Ltd. won the special Minister's Award for Tourism Excellence in recognition of the company's extensive contributions to the tourism industry which has resulted in significant economic spin-offs and greatly enhanced the tourism experience for both visitors and New Brunswickers.
In particular, the award recognized the Irving Nature Park and Riverview Park and the Irving Eco centre, la Dune de Boutouche as well as the hundreds of kilometres of former railways beds and bridges the company contributed to the Sentier NB Trail system.
"These awards are one means of recognizing the special achievers within an industry that employs more than 31,000 New Brunswickers, two-thirds of which are full-time year-round jobs," MacAlpine said. "Tourism is a key New Brunswick industry and judging by the example of today's award winners, it is an industry poised for further growth and development."
04/10/18
MEDIA CONTACT: Dan Toner, communications, Tourism and Parks, 506-444-4454.
04/10/18
