By Sarah Klein
Ginette Lavack Walters, executive director of Festival du Voyageur (third), accepts a lifetime achievement award on behalf of her late husband, Kevin Walters, at the 2014 Winnipeg Tourism Awards of Distinction on Tuesday, June 2, 2015. (TOURISM WINNIPEG)
Tourism Winnipeg honoured local champions of the industry Tuesday during the 2014 Winnipeg Tourism Awards of Distinction.
Outside of the usual categories, the organization honoured the late Kevin Walters as the first posthumous winner of its Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Kevin had an exceptional impact on Winnipeg. He was a visionary, and someone who always delivered on his promises,” said Chantal Sturk-Nadeau, senior vice-president, Tourism Winnipeg. “We all have such great memories of him.”
Walters was selected for his work in tourism with Manitoba Film and Music, and in how he organized major events like the JUNO Awards, Canadian Country Music Awards, BreakOut West, the Grey Cup, and Manitoba Homecoming 2010.
Other winners include:
Volunteer of the Year
Folklorama
Employee of the year
Patrick Hauta, RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg
Small Business of the Year
Adrenaline Adventures
Large Business of the Year
Sparrow Hotels
Leader of the Year
Stephen Borys, Winnipeg Art Gallery
Marketing Campaign of the Year (Under $2500)
Muddy Water Tours
Marketing Campaign of the Year (Over $2500)
Journey to Churchill at Assiniboine Park Zoo
Innovation of the Year
Storefront Manitoba – Cool Gardens
Bring it Home Award
Detective Sargeant Sandra Martin – International Association of Women Police
Partner of the Year
Lorne Perrin, Assiniboine Park Conservancy
Lifetime Achievement Award
Kevin Walters
