Multicultural festival among 2026 tourism award winners

Tourism Westman recognized tourism operators, volunteers, events and organizations across southwest Manitoba during its 2026 Tribute to Tourism Awards Gala at The Backyard on Aberdeen last week.

Nine awards were presented to individuals, businesses and organizations whose efforts have strengthened tourism, attracted visitors and enhanced the region’s reputation as a destination.

The Westman Multicultural Festival was named Brandon Event of the Year for events with budgets over $10,000.

Festival chair Enver Naidoo said the award reflects years of work by volunteers and participating cultural groups rather than the efforts of any one individual.

“Every year the festival has been growing,” Naidoo told the Sun. “This past year saw the return of the Mexico Pavilion and the Métis Pavilion, and we continue to see strong visitor numbers. Building on the success of previous years, we were delighted to be recognized with the Brandon Event of the Year award.”

The Virden Indoor Rodeo & Wild West Daze won the Event of the Year (budget over $10,000), ArtFest/Amazing Race Neepawa by Arts Forward won Event of the Year (budget under $10,000), and Section 6 Brewing Co. of Brandon received the Marketing Excellence Award, while Prairie Gateway Tourism of Virden earned the Partnership Award for its collaborative tourism development efforts.

Individual and specialty awards went to Dean Hammond of Brandon, who was named Employee of the Year, and Stan Peck of Boissevain, who received the Volunteer of the Year Award.

National Indigenous Peoples Day in Brandon was honoured with the Indigenous Tourism Award for its celebration of Indigenous culture and community connection, while Deer Meadow Farmacy near Oak Lake was recognized as Small Business of the Year for its innovative agri-tourism experiences and commitment to sustainable farming and visitor education.

Naidoo described the recognition for the multicultural festival as both exciting and humbling.

“For me personally, I’m humbled by the opportunity to support an incredible community event,” he said. “This award wasn’t about me. It was recognition for the countless volunteer hours and the amount of time many of the pavilions have invested in building this festival over the last 17-plus years.”

He said the festival’s continued growth and strong community support demonstrate its importance to Brandon and the Westman region.

Naidoo also thanked the more than 1,000 volunteers, sponsors and community partners who support the festival each year.

“I think everybody deserves recognition for helping create such a vibrant and inclusive city and province,” he said.

The volunteer-driven festival attracts more than 25,000 visitors annually and features 11 cultural pavilions offering cuisine, music, performances and cultural experiences from around the world.

Tourism Westman said the annual Tribute to Tourism Awards celebrate the individuals, organizations and attractions that contribute to the growth and success of the tourism industry across southwestern Manitoba while creating memorable visitor experiences and generating economic benefits for local communities.

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