By Matt Kelly

Two North Battleford nominees for Saskatchewan Tourism Awards

Apr 11, 2016 | 1:18 PM

A North Battleford community event and a business are both nominated for awards by Tourism Saskatchewan.

Downtown North Battleford’s International Street Performers Festival is up for Community Event of the Year in the Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence for 2015, while the Gold Eagle Lodge is up for the Service Excellence, Tourism Employer of the Year and Business of the Year (Over 20 Full-Time Employees) awards.

Downtown North Battleford executive director Lisa Kissick said she’s happy to be nominated and rub shoulders with other great events.

“Of course it’s a great honour to be recognized by Saskatchewan Tourism because we’re up against a couple of really good events. The ARTFARM in Weyburn as well as the Canada Remembers Our Heroes in Saskatoon, so just to be a finalist amongst those two is quite an honour.”

The festival is one of a kind, according to Kissick, and aims to draw attention to the city.

Fond Memories

North Stars' 20-year-olds reflect on junior hockey experience: Part 2

11h ago

Fond Memories

North Stars' 20-year-olds reflect on junior hockey experience: Part 1

Apr 18, 2024

Trades in Sask.

Skilled trades need not limited to building homes

Apr 17, 2024

“To be able to keep people in Saskatchewan and specifically within North Battleford is really important and that’s really kind of the goal of the festival. To try to showcase North Battleford as a place that we can host international events and they can be very successful.”

Kissick added none of this would happen without the support from the community.

“In 2014 our attendance was just over 3,000 and then last year attendance was over 6,500. So we know the festival is something that’s really popular in the community and without the support of everybody in our surrounding area, it wouldn’t be possible.”

Gold Eagle Lodge controller Laura Zary-Jackson said it’s an honour to be chosen for an award by Tourism Saskatchewan.

“It feels real good. It’s kind of a sign from your peers that you’re doing a good job and you’re doing things right in the industry.”

Being recognized for the awards really shows the Gold Eagle Lodge’s commitment to their visitors, according to Zary-Jackson, especially the Service Excellence Award.

“That (award) is mainly from reviews from the guests and comments from the guests. So that’s people coming back and staying in the hotel over and over and over again and liking our service and liking what we have to offer.”

Zary-Jackson said the Gold Eagle Lodge is always trying to go above and beyond to wow their guests, to give them that “’wow’ experience and not just ‘Hi, how are you, here’s your room, have a nice day.’ You always want to go that extra mile to make the guests remember you and want to come back.”

The Ness Creek Music Festival in Big River is also nominated for the Marquee Event of the Year Award.

The awards will be handed out on Thursday, April 14th at a gala in Regina, where all 33 finalists in the 12 categories will be honoured.

mkelly@jpbg.ca