Finalists Announced for the 2024 Sport Tourism Canada’s PRESTIGE Awards 

Kingston, February 16, 2024 — Sport Tourism Canada (STC) proudly announces the finalists for the 2024 PRESTIGE Awards which recognize exceptional sport tourism initiatives, multisport games, and events. The PRESTIGE Awards also shine a spotlight on the people and places behind these initiatives, multisport games and events that make the Canadian sport tourism industry so dynamic and diverse.

“We have a rich history of sport tourism in Canada, and the 2024 PRESTIGE nominations once again illustrate the breadth and depth of our industry,” said Sheena McCrate, CEO, Sport Tourism Canada. “The 24 finalists represent both summer and winter sports, held in smaller communities and major urban centres. It’s another demonstration of the calibre of the events held in Canada, both domestic and international, and incredible legacies, as well as a recognition of the volunteers and sponsors who are the backbone of sport hosting and sport tourism.  The future of the sport tourism industry is bright thanks to the incredible talent of the rising stars in our industry. We were encouraged to see the response to our awards program, with over 50 entries received this year. We thank everyone for submitting a nomination and look forward to honouring all of our PRESTIGE finalists in Winnipeg.”

2024 SPORT TOURISM CANADA’S PRESTIGE AWARDS FINALISTS

Canada Sport Event of the Year: Group A (budget greater than $1M) presented by Marriott International

  • Grey Cup Festival – Hamilton, ON and Niagara Falls, ON
  • RBC Canadian Open – North York, ON
  • Tremblant World Cup – Mont-Tremblant, QC

Canada Sport Event of the Year: Group B (budget less than $1M) presented by Marriott International

  • Baseball Canada 18U National Championship and 13U National Western Championship – Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo, AB
  • Christine Sinclair’s Farewell – Canada v Australia Women’s International Friendly Match – Vancouver, BC
  • Junior All Native Tournament – Snuneymuxw First Nation and Nanaimo, BC

International Sport Event of the Year: Group A (budget greater than $2M)

  • Arctic Winter Games – Wood Buffalo, AB
  • North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) – Kjipuktuk (Halifax), NS
  • World Police and Fire Games – Winnipeg, MB

International Sport Event of the Year: Group A (budget less than $2M)

  • Canada Cup (Women’s Softball) – Surrey, BC
  • CARHA Hockey World Cup – Richmond, BC
  • World Aquatics Diving World Cup – Montréal, QC

Sponsorship Initiative of the Year

  • Canada Games House – Charlottetown, PEI
  • National Bank Challenger – Calgary, AB
  • The Style Experience FIS Snowboard Big Air World Cup – Edmonton, AB

Volunteer of the Year presented by Explore Edmonton

  • Brenda Chinn – Vancouver, BC
  • Bruce Donaldson – Charlottetown, PEI
  • Peter Inch – London, ON

Legacy of the Year presented by Discover Saskatoon

  • Arctic Winter Games – Wood Buffalo, AB
  • North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) – Kjipuktuk (Halifax), NS
  • Ontario Parasport Games – Durham Region, ON

Rising Star of the Year

  • Robyn Hughes – Sport Burnaby
  • Tanner Dorion – City of Summerside
  • Tim Kasper – Explore Edmonton

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This 16th edition of the STC PRESTIGE Awards will be presented at the awards ceremony and brunch on March 15, 2024, in Winnipeg, M.B. at the RBC Convention Centre. The awards show and brunch takes place in conjunction with STC’s annual Sport Events Congress (March 13-15, 2024), which is Canada’s largest annual gathering of sport and tourism professionals, event managers and industry suppliers that attracts approximately 300 delegates each year.

Tickets
Tickets to the PRESTIGE Awards are included with delegates’ fees for those who are registered delegates at Sport Events Congress.  Tickets are also available for purchase on a stand-alone basis, subject to availability.  The cost is $100 + tax per person and includes attendance at the awards show and brunch. For more information about the Sport Events Congress, the PRESTIGE Awards or to purchase tickets or register for the Congress, visit the STC website at: sporttourismcanada.com

About Sport Tourism Canada 
Sport Tourism Canada is an organization founded in the year 2000 through a partnership with the Canadian Tourism Commission with the mission to increase Canada’s capacity to attract and host sport tourism events, and grow the sector.  The STC has over 350 members, which include 200+ municipalities, 250+ national and provincial sporting organizations, and 20+ educational institutions that support the industry.

For more information contact:
communications@sporttourismcanada.com