Hastings County hosted its seventh Annual Tourism Awards Celebration Friday evening, November 23, to recognize the successes and achievements of its tourism businesses, organizations, festivals and individuals. Hastings County is pleased to announce and congratulate the winners of the 2018 Awards:
- Tourism Champion of the Year – Hidden Goldmine Bakery
- MVP (Individual of the Year) – Mary Kavanagh (Bancroft North Hastings Heritage Museum)
- Festival of the Year – Tweed Stampede
“Year after year, the Awards evening is one to look forward to, as it provides us with an opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to our tourism industry and to show our appreciation,” says Hastings County Tourism Development Coordinator, Carly Freeman. “Tourism is a rapidly growing sector in Hastings County, and we are very proud of our many businesses, organizations and volunteers that are evolving with it and keeping pace. Each of this year’s winners demonstrated a unique commitment to growth, introducing new and exciting initiatives to their organizations and events.” This year’s celebration was held at the Marble Arts Centre in Tweed featuring live music by the Stirling J Birds, hard cider samples from Hastings County’s first cidery, Kings Mill Cider, and hors d’oeuvres by Gourmet Kitchens Catering. Guests were also entertained by Tweed & Co.’s artistic producer and Second City comedian Tricia Black who, in her role as emcee for the evening, had laughter echoing throughout the theatre. Greetings were brought by Tweed councillor Don DeGenova on behalf of MP Mike Bossio, and MPP Daryl Kramp who publicly announced Hastings County’s successful application for a $30,000 Rural Economic Development Grant, which as Hastings County Warden Rodney Cooney joked, “we’ve already started spending.” “Receiving the RED Grant has allowed our economic and tourism development department to move forward in a place branding exercise which will provide Hastings County with a highly engaging brand identity that will focus all of our investment, tourist and resident attraction efforts into one strategic approach, ” says Warden Cooney.
“Hastings County is an authentic alternative to traditional tourism in Ontario, and we are excited to share our wildly diverse landscape with those seeking an escape from the city.”
(Press Release from Hastings County)
