We want to highlight some of the recent award wins and achievements in our local tourism industry that have occurred over the past couple of months.
Arts & Culture
The Kelowna Art Gallery’s satellite space at the Kelowna International Airport, and its current exhibit, Sheldon Pierre Louis’ puti kʷala – we are still here, were featured in EnRoute’s list of The Best Art Found in Airports Around the World.
Culinary
While Canada’s Great Kitchen Party looked a bit different this year, the virtual event was no less fun—plus, it raised almost $50,000 through a CanadaHelps fundraiser. Congrats to Vice & Virtue Brewing’s Chef Chris Braun, who won the Kelowna competition with his bison-focused dish.
The Paisley Notebook’s Aman Dosanj was featured in the Globe & Mail’s Canada’s Kitchen: 2020 Edition – Introducing the country’s next star chefs, highlighting the more than $60,000 that was raised for local charities through her International Women’s Day dinners (2017-2020) and introducing her new spice blends (a percentage of proceeds go toward antiracism organizations).
LGBT2Q+
Dustyn Baulkham, Founder and Executive Producer of Rebellious Unicorns Production Company, is a finalist for the Young LGBT+ Entrepreneur of the Year category at the CGLCC Business Leadership Awards, which will be handed out at a virtual awards ceremony on Thursday, November 5.
Local Awards
The finalists in the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce’s 2020 Business Excellence Awards were announced in a virtual event in mid-October. Big White Ski Resort, Myra Canyon Ranch, and Paynter’s Fruit Market are finalists in the Excellence in Tourism category. The awards will be handed out virtually on November 26.
At the end of October, finalists for the Greater Westside Board of Trade 2020 Key Business Wards were announced. A View to Remember Bed & Breakfast, Courses at Shannon Lake, and Cove Lakeside Resort are the three finalists for the Tourism and Hospitality category. A View to Remember is also a finalist in the Environmental Sustainability category. The awards will be handed out in a virtual ceremony on November 26.
Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery won the 2020 Community Leader of the Year award, with President, Tony Dyck, taking home Business Person of the Year at the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce 2020 Business Excellence Awards. The award wins recognize Okanagan Spirits’ production of sanitizer during the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw them donate more than 70,000 bottles of sanitizer to health care and essential service workers and their families.
Outdoor Recreation
SilverStar Mountain Resort is a nominee in USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Best Ski Resort. Voting ends on 9 a.m. PDT on Monday, November 9, with winners announced on Friday, November 20.
Wine
The BC Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards were recently handed out and several Kelowna and area wineries took home awards. Six of the 15 Platinum Award-winning wines were from Central Okanagan wineries:
- Arrowleaf Cellars, 2018 Pinot Noir
- O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars, 2019 Riesling
- Mission Hill Family Estate, 2018 Perpetua
- SpearHead Winery, 2018 Pinot Noir Saddle Block
- SpearHead Winery, 2018 Pinot Noir Cuvée
- Tantalus Vineyards, 2017 Old Vines Riesling
Visit the Wine Festivals website for a complete list of winners, including the Central Okanagan Gold, Silver, and Bronze Award winners.
Sustainability
Home Block Restaurant at CedarCreek Estate Winery was the winner in the Foodservice category for FortisBC’s Efficiency in Action Awards, which “recognizes a select group of organizations that have most effectively utilized energy-efficient programs.” University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus (UBCO) was the winner for the Large Commercial Customer category.
Congratulations to all the award winners and all those recognized, and best of luck to those still in the running!
Have an award win or notable achievement to share? Email me at melissa@tourismkelowna.com with all the details.
