Greenstone Nominated for Tourism Awards and Wins NOSTA Presidency

Written by Municipality of Greenstone on 22 November 2011

Left to right; Lee MacOdrum (Designated Ambassador Trainer), Dori Gignac (Geraldton Music Jamboree), Rob Kurish (Manager of Recreation & Leisure, Municipality of Greenstone. Submitted photos.

Dori Gignac, Geraldton Music Jamboree, with her award from NOSTA. Submitted photo.

GREENSTONE, ON – The Greenstone Municipal Economic Development Office was proud to announce, last Wednesday November 16^th, that Municipal Economic Development Officer, Vicki Blanchard, was nominated and has accepted the position of President on the North of Superior Tourism Association (NOSTA) Board and that three of this year’s nominees for the 2011 NOSTA Tourism Awards hail from the Municipality of Greenstone.

November 9, 2011, Vicki Blanchard and Ambassador Trainer, Lee MacOdrum, attended the 2011 NOSTA Annual General Meeting and Awards Gala and were presented with nominations in three tourism award categories: Dori Gignac for Volunteer of The Year; Lee MacOdrum for Tourism Leadership; and the Municipality of Greenstone for Best Municipality Marketing Program.

“Dori Gignac has been a committee member with Greenstone’s premier event, The Geraldton Music Jamboree, for 13 years. She has brought forward a professional and enthusiastic attitude to the committee and tackled every task with determination and hard work. This was especially evident this past year as she was not only the Chair of the Committee; she also brainstormed and founded Battle in the Park. Thousands of music lovers and visitors to Greenstone have would like to say “thank you, Dori.”

“Lee MacOdrum has been Coordinator of the Discover Geraldton Interpretive Centre for seven years partnering on local tourism projects and working closely with operators and government to promote the Greenstone region. Recently she took the next steps in professional development to further aid Greenstone in achieving excellence in the industry by becoming the only OTEC-certified Ambassador Trainer in Northwestern Ontario east of Thunder Bay. She has garnered a reputation for her enthusiasm, sound knowledge of and commitment to customer-service and an uncanny connection with people.”

With the appointment of a new president from Greenstone and the awarding of many of the 2011 NOSTA Tourism Awards to small communities such as Nipigon and Terrace Bay, it is evident that our rural communities are stepping out and taking the lead in championing regional tourism excellence.