Celebrating Excellence at the Fourth Annual Winnipeg | Manitoba Tourism Awards

Manitoba’s tourism industry came together in unforgettable fashion as 470 guests filled the room at the RBC Winnipeg Convention Centre for the fourth annual Tourism Awards — an evening defined by energy, pride and celebration.

The sounds of the Dirty Catfish Brass Band brought the room to life, setting the tone for a high-energy night that celebrated the people, places and experiences powering Manitoba’s visitor economy. Angela Cassie, Chief Operating Officer at Travel Manitoba and Natalie Thiesen, Vice-President of Tourism at Winnipeg Economic Development & Tourism, kicked off the event with a few fun moments alongside the band. Heartwarming messages and a standing ovation honoured Colin Ferguson, as he will retire from his role as President and CEO of Travel Manitoba at the end of June.

The Tourism Awards shine a bright spotlight on the innovators, operators, employees, volunteers and community builders who make Manitoba such a compelling destination. This year’s event introduced two new award categories, Culinary and Agritourism and Content Creator of the Year, showcasing the growing importance of Manitoba as a foodie destination as well as the digital impact influencers make in how visitors experience Manitoba. Each award was presented to the winners by Minister Nellie Kennedy of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism and by Winnipeg Mayor, Scott Gillingham.

The evening’s Award of Distinction was presented by Colin Ferguson to Dave Daley of Wapusk Adventures for his remarkable contributions to Indigenous and northern tourism in Manitoba. His leadership and passion have helped create authentic visitor experiences and paved the way for future tourism operators to engage with travel trade from around the world to package their own experiences. Dave is not only a pioneer in Churchill’s Indigenous tourism community, he has been a leader with the Indigenous Tourism Manitoba board since its inception. In the video tribute, his family, colleagues and even travel trade recognized his dedication to do the hard things, his impact on the industry and his unforgettable guest experiences.

The tourism awards closed out with an after-party reception for the industry to enjoy, another memorable year honouring the sector and it’s incredible impact generating $1.89 billion a year in visitor spending, $385 million in tax revenues for the province and 25,000 direct jobs for Manitobans.

View the winner's videos here.