November 21, 2019
(Cover photo: Sarah Pruys)
At the Northwest Territories Tourism Conference Gala earlier this month, some of the territory’s best and brightest were recognized for their many contributions to the tourism industry.
ITI Minister Nokleby presented the Parks Operator of the Year Award to Debbie Mundy, recognizing her as a beacon of welcome who went above and beyond to create a recycling program at the Hay River Territorial Park in order to make donations to the Hay River SPCA.
Debbie Mundy (left) presented the NWT Parks Operator of the Year Award by Minister Nokleby (right). Photo: Sarah Pruys
The full list of award recipients includes:
- Debbie Mundy (Hay River Territorial Park) - Parks Operator of the Year Award, awarded by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment
- Mike Freeland, Blachford Lake Lodge - Lifetime Achievement Award, awarded by NWT Tourism
- Explorer Hotel - Tourism Operator of the Year, awarded by NWT Tourism
- Kota Kanamori, Aurora Village - Service Excellence Award, awarded by NWT Tourism
- Sue Lindberg, Honourary Lifetime Member, awarded by NWT Tourism
The evening was an opportunity to recognize the smiling faces that welcome guests into NWT campgrounds, the tour operators with treasure troves of historical knowledge and stories and the guides that share their love of this territory.
Related stories:
Record Breaking Tourism Numbers Surpass Strategy Goals
Let’s Talk Tourism, NWT: Engagement on Next Tourism Strategy Begins
As the single largest renewable resource-based industry in the NWT, tourism continues to be a major driver in economic diversification. On the heels of the record breaking 2018-19 tourism visitor and spending numbers, the conference and gala provided an opportunity to recognize the many tour operators, agencies and various levels of government working collaboratively to build this important industry.