Carberry captures trio of tourism awards

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This article was published 27/06/2024 (563 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The best of Westman’s tourism industry gathered to celebrate another year’s hard work at the Tribute to Tourism Awards Gala on June 12 in Nesbitt. Nine awards were given out to businesses and individuals across the region.

Carberry swept the awards with three that were given to businesses and individuals from the community. Recreation director of the municpality Callie Sudak won Tourism Westman’s Employee of the Year award.

“It was awesome. It’s been a lot of hard work over the last year and a half, so it was really nice to have that recognized… It was great to be surrounded by even so many local people who were nominated,” Sudak said.

The Carberry Homecoming Festival won for event of the year with a budget under $5,000. With live bands and a car show, the festival drew over 1,000 visitors to the small town for the one-day event.

Lastly for Carberry, the Main Street Market Store and Studio took home the award for best partnership. Over 50 local artisans partner to show their creations at the heritage building. This began as a seasonal Christmas market, but enthusiasm quickly turned it into a full-time success.

The award for event of the year with a budget over $5000 was given to last August’s Softball Canada U15 Girls Canadian Fastpitch Championship, held at the Ashley Neufeld Softball Complex in Brandon. More than 700 passes were sold to the event and it generated over $80,000 in revenue. That amount was enough to give the facility some upgrades beyond what was required for the tournament, benefitting Brandon long after the event.

In addition to the revenue from pass sales, Tourism Westman stated that the tournament resulted in 1,921 room nights booked in hotels. The estimated economic impact of the four-day competition was about $1 million. One hundred and fifty volunteers and 24 teams participated.

Turtle Village won for the Indigenous tourism award. The sustainable accommodations business is owned by Ashley Smith and operates out of the Wasagaming Campground. Built for all-season exploration, Turtle Village offers an off-grid refuge for lake lovers in the summer and ice fishers in the winter.

The Hills Spa in Brandon was awarded best business with over 20 employees. With a hammam suite, which is a Middle Eastern steam bath, a cedar sauna and a steam room, The Hills offers a luxurious spa experience unique to the region. This was the first time Robyn Sneath’s business has been nominated for the award.

“Running a small business is a ton of hard work; winning an award like this provides a moment to pause and celebrate. We’re incredibly proud of our talented, hardworking team and we hope that this award will inspire more people to come and check us out,” Sneath said.

Volunteer of the year went to Jim Ludlam from Souris for his hours of tireless work trying to make events like the Christmas community suppers run smoothly. He’s the mind behind Souris’ colourful mascots, the peacocks. He introduced them to the community over 50 years ago and tends to them. Ludlam plays a number of roles in the community as part of the parks board, the beautification committee, and the Plum Museum board.

The winner of best small business, Kim Richardson, was thrilled that Lucky Break Ranch won in their category. Operational since 2016, Richardson has a goal of becoming the number one equine experience in Manitoba. They offer what they call cowboy suppers — a two-and-a-half-hour trail ride followed by a cowboy-style dinner. In addition to their recreational activities, Richardson is a certified equine assisted learning facilitator and offers many different kinds of therapeautic experiences.

“It’s an honour, like a huge honour, because it’s something that you never expect being just a small business,” she said.

The evening wrapped up with Tourism Westman’s award for lifetime achievement. This year’s recipients were Don Horner and Nancy MacKay of Ski Valley in Minnedosa. The hill opened in 1975 and Don Horner has been with it right from the beginning. He and his wife took over as owners in 1978. Since then, he and his wife have been maintaining the nine-run ski hill and offering lessons.

Avid skiiers don’t need to worry, though. Even though 2024 was Horner and MacKay’s final year running the slopes, they’ll still offer guidance to the new owners, Jay and Elin Klym.

»cmcconkey@brandonsun.com