Wikwemikong Tourism wins international award
Officials with Wikwemikong Tourism say they are ecstatic over their recent win at the International Indigenous Tourism Conference in Winnipeg and they are coming home to Manitoulin with some new hardware – the 'Exceptional Industry Leader and Original Star' award.
"It feels great, it's a culmination of years of hard work so it definitely feels good to be recognized on a national level," said tourism manager Luke Wassegijig.
Wassegijig said it was definitely a team effort in what they've been able to achieve these last few years, from management down to the front-line staff.
"It's about the people that are on the front lines, our administration staff, our guides, our coordination staff, they're really the key to the core of our operation so we're thankful for them," he said.
Wassegijig told CTV News he believes one of the key things that was recognized was their ability to rebuild after the crushing impacts of COVID-19 on the tourism industry.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
He said Wiikwemkoong had to deal with several challenges that come in our communities didn't necessarily have to face.
"COVID for many operators was difficult, especially for Indigenous operators. We were under a different set of rules, when the rest of the province was open … there was a lot of times we remained locked down,” said Wassegijig.
“So for us it was a very difficult long two years but coming out of COVID was a real testament as to how well we were preparing ourselves for the reopen. It was great because we saw our best year ever in 2022 in terms of tour sales and tour volume.”
The tourism professional said they attribute a lot of their success to working with the cruise industry, which also reported a record year in the Great Lakes over the summer.
Wassegijig said he's looking forward to what they have planned in the year ahead.
Officials said this season they will be focusing on local partnerships to enhance festivals including Wiikwemkoong's Annual Cultural Festival and the Manitoulin Ice Showdown.
For more updates and event details, follow Wikwemikong Tourism on Twitter.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
BREAKING Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
A fight to protect the dignity of Michelangelo's David raises questions about freedom of expression
Michelangelo's David has been a towering figure in Italian culture since its completion in 1504. But in the current era of the quick buck, curators worry the marble statue's religious and political significance is being diminished.
Doctors visiting a Gaza hospital are stunned by the war's toll on Palestinian children
An international team of doctors visiting a hospital in central Gaza was prepared for the worst. But the gruesome impact Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children still left them stunned.
China's latest EV is a 'connected' car from smart phone and electronics maker Xiaomi
Xiaomi, a well-known maker of smart consumer electronics in China, is joining the country's booming but crowded market for electric cars.