Tourism and Parks

2007 Tourism Excellence and Innovation Awards presented (07/06/08)

NB 740

June 8, 2007

FREDERICTON (CNB) - Tourism operators gathered today at an awards luncheon hosted by the Department of Tourism and Parks to celebrate the accomplishments of the industry and recognize the efforts of their peers.

(Multimedia)

"Tourism is a vital contributor to our provincial economy with annual revenues of $1.2 billion, and it is important to recognize the role that operators play in that success," Tourism and Parks Minister Stuart Jamieson said. "I am pleased to take the opportunity to formally acknowledge and commend the creativity and success of New Brunswick's tourism operators. I thank these operators for their continued efforts in promoting New Brunswick as a year-round destination."

The 2007 Tourism Excellence and Innovation Awards celebrate the achievements of the businesses, operators and organizations that capitalize on New Brunswick's natural wonders, rich heritage and cultural diversity to create outstanding tourism experiences. These awards recognize exceptional performance in product development, marketing and creative partnerships.

(Multimedia)

Science East in Fredericton won the Excellence and Innovation in Tourism Marketing Award.

• In 1998, the York County Jail building on Brunswick Street became the home of Science East, an organization that engages young people in science through the use of hands-on exhibits, interactive programming and through outreach programs. The centre had a huge playground, but people simply were not coming around to the front door to come in. They added a new WOW exhibit to their outdoor playground and created a colourful new back gate that is visible from the parking lot. The results speak for themselves, with an increase in visitations of 600 visitors a month.

• The Bay of Fundy Tourism Partnership approached the Eco-efficiency Centre in 2004 to gauge their interest in developing a green business mentoring program specifically for the tourism industry. With this partnership, the organization was able to offer higher level, customized one-on-one business mentoring sessions on the topic of sustainable tourism development and green business assessments to the Bay of Fundy tourism industry in both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. This program is the first of its kind in Canada. To date, a total of 70 tourism business operators in the inter-provincial region were assessed and are now being monitored.

• Upper Oxbow Outdoor Adventures is a family-owned Atlantic salmon angling business offering world-class experiences on the banks of the Miramichi River. After a successful 15 year run operating as a pure fishing lodge with four log cabin fishing camps and a cook house, Debbie and Dale Norton had a vision to expand and diversify. Their hard work and determination has taken the business to the four-star, year-round resort offering high-end accommodations that it is today. Their creativity lead to a number of new packages that go far beyond traditional fly fishing, such as the Women in Fly Fishing schools, a learn-to-fish program for women; and their cultural sand bread package where anglers enjoy bread baked in the sand by the river as they fish.


• In 2002, the first cultural tourism production in Madawaska, by Madawaskans, was born. Hugues Chiasson and Étienne Deschênes, along with a group of Madawaskans interested in tourism development, realized there were no Acadian cultural events being presented in Madawaska County, and Saint-Jacques already had an amphitheatre. L'Acadie des terres et forêts en fête was established. It is a children's summer theatre with 30 young artists ranging in age from 5 to 22. A local music school provides the 30 or so young artists who rehearse year round for the six weeks of shows. The performances initially drew in 4,800 visitors in 2002 but grew to 11,000 visitors by 2006.

• Mary Majka has championed nature conservation, environmental advocacy and heritage preservation in New Brunswick for over 40 years. She is a determined and passionate volunteer. She played a key role in the designation of Mary's Point in the Bay of Fundy as Canada's first Western Hemisphere shorebird reserve. As president of the New Brunswick Federation of Naturalists and the Albert County Heritage Trust, she helped to protect and preserve her province's wildlife and historic and natural sites. Her donation of a parcel of family land to the Nature Conservancy of Canada leaves an environmental legacy that will benefit generations of New Brunswickers.

07/06/08

MEDIA CONTACT: Danielle McFarlane, communications, Tourism and Parks, 506-444-4454.

07/06/08