2010
TIAO Award:
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario—Tourism Innovator of the Year,
Fort William Historical Park Canada Gateway Centre, Grand Marais, MN
2009
Westjet Award—Up! Magazine: Value Award
Excellence in Diversity Award, Northwestern Ontario Aboriginal Youth Achievement and Recognition Awards
Discovery Award: Ministry of Tourism:
FWHP receives the Discovery Award for Innovative Risk Taker thanks to the opening of the Fort William Historical Park Canada Gateway Centre in Grand Marais, Minnesota earlier this summer. Team members: General Manager Sergio Buonocore, Manager of Marketing and Customer Service Doug Stanton, Historical Operations Manager Peter Boyle, and Business Services Manager Sandei Beattie, Corporate Development Officer Chris Ficek and Collections Team Leader Shawn Patterson.
2008
Public Sector Quality Fair
Anishnawbe Keeshigun 2007
Westjet Award
2008 Cultural Attraction Award from up! magazine: Fort William Historical Park
2007
Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards
Ambassador Award: Spirit of Thunder Bay
Discovery Award
Best Practices: Ministry of Tourism
United Way
Award of Merit
Public Sector Quality Fair
Rock the Fort
Certificate of Excellence Level 1
2006
Tourism Industry of Canada
Event of the Year: Rock the Fort
FWHP wins national recognition for Best Event of the Year for Rock the Fort, a weekend-long music festival. The first-time event attracted 32,000 patrons and generated over $1.7 million in economic impact.
Tourism Federation of Ontario
Business/Event of the Year: Rock the Fort
FWHP wins recognition for Best Event of the Year in Ontario for Rock the Fort, a weekend-long music festival. The first-time event attracted 32,000 patrons and generated over $1.7 million in economic impact.
2005
Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards
Ambassador Award: Spirit of Thunder Bay
Canadian Blood Services
Thunder Bay Communication Challenge:
Top Government Team
The Globe & Mail
Metro Toronto Convention Centre Event of the Year Award:
Rock the Fort 2005
2004
Public Sector Quality Fair
National Aboriginal Day
2003
Public Sector Quality Fair
200th Anniversary Celebrations for the Great Rendezvous
Toronto Star Lists Fort Among Top 10 Historic Sites
Fort William is among Canada's top ten historic sites, according to the Toronto Star. In the Star's March 29th travel section, writer Paul Dalby talks about Canada's 849 national historic sites and lists Fort William among the top ten. Other sites included in the list are Fort Anne and Port Royal in Annapolis Royal, N.S., Hatley Park in Victoria and the Rideau Canal in Ottawa.
Thunder Bay Awarded Cultural Capital of Canada Designation for Great Rendezvous Festival
The City of Thunder Bay's application under the Canadian Heritage Cultural Capitals of Canada program included a unique blend of new and expanded projects to celebrate the community's cultural achievements.
The Greatest Rendezvous Celebration
(Level 2 - population between 50,000 and 125,000 - maximum contribution of $500,000)
The Greatest Rendezvous Celebration marks the 200th anniversary of the First Rendezvous at Fort William.
2002
Attractions Canada Award: National
National Award: Best Developed Outdoor Site
The Fort, receives the Award of Excellence from Attractions Canada. The Fort won in the category, "Best Developed Outdoor Site," (operating budget exceeding $1 million.) The national prize-winners were chosen from 103 provincial and territorial finalists
Attractions Canada Award: Provincial
Provincial Award: Best Developed Outdoor Site
Canadian Tourism Commission
Win with Winter in Canada Competition
"Dog Days of Winter" Warmth of Winter Moments Category
For the second consecutive year, the Fort wins recognition in the Canadian tourism industry. The Fort, teams up with Blue Loon Adventures. "Dog Days of Winter" is a four-day excursion package that enables guests to witness and participate in the Grand Portage Passage Sled Dog Race that happens each winter between Grand Portage and Thunder Bay. For the past few years, the Fort has been alternating as the starting and finishing point for the race.
City of Thunder Bay
Civic Beautification Awards Category: Vegetable/Community Gardens
Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards
Employee of the Year: Hospitality Sector: Native Life Team Leader
2001
Public Sector Quality Fair
The Learning Wigwam: Sleeping Under Bark
Ontario Native Women's Association (ONWA)
Achievement Award
The Fort's Native Life Team Leader receives the Achievement Award from the Ontario Native Women's Association in recognition for developing the Learning Wigwam and its attendant program, "Sleeping Under Bark," which is the most comprehensive aboriginal program produced by the Fort. Ann is one of just four recipients receiving distinction by ONWA in all of Ontario. The award was presented during ONWA's annual general meeting earlier in December.
Top Ten Attractions in Canada: Toronto Star
Canadian Tourism Commission:
Win with Winter in Canada Competition
"Winter in the Wild, Warmth in the City"
The Fort partners with the Lakehead University Outdoor Recreation Department, Nor'West Sled Dog Adventures, the Valhalla Inn, Thunder Bay Charity Casino and Utopia Salon and Spa and Tourism Thunder Bay.
The program is a 3-day, 3-night winter excursion package that incorporates hands-on learning opportunities with exposure to Thunder Bay's many natural and urban offerings. The package includes heritage experiences at the Fort including historic orienteering, aboriginal lifestyles, forest interpretation and dog sledding. These activities are combined with city visits for gaming, shopping, fine dining and relaxation.
Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards
Employee of the Year: Hospitality Sector: Maintenance Foreman
Toronto Star
Top Ten Attractions in Canada
Mayor's Choice Award
Canada Day Parade
2000
Public Sector Quality Fair
CD-ROM Development: Northwest to the Pacific, A Fur Trade Odyssey
Tour Guide Re-structuring
Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards
Employee of the Year: Hospitality Sector: Corporate Development Officer
1999
Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards
Employee of the Year: Hospitality Sector: Communications Officer
Amethyst Award Highest Achievement in Ontario Public Service
Corporate Development Officer. Ministry of Tourism and Recreation
Development of the Fort's CD-ROM: Northwest to the Pacific, A Fur Trade Odyssey
AMTEC Award of Merit from the Association for Media Technology in Education in Canada 1999: FWHP development of CD-ROM, "Northwest to the Pacific: A Fur Trade Odyssey."
1998
Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards
Employee of the Year: Hospitality Sector: Coordinator Visitor Services
1997
Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards
Old Fort William Best Hospitality Establishment with 26+ Employees
1996
Amethyst Award Highest Achievement in Ontario Public Service
Special Events Coordinator, Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism; for her achievements in educating and entertaining visitors to Old Fort William and for her truly creative approach to making Canadian history come alive.
