Kelvon Smith and Jane Harkness with Doyle Piwniuk MLA for Arthur Virden and Cliff Cullen Minister of Growth Enterprise and Trade.
Tourism Westman held their 14th Annual Tribute to Tourism Awards Gala on June 7 at the International Peace Garden Interpretive Centre near Boissevain,MB. The event recognized and celebrated the exceptional individuals, businesses, organizations and communities in the Westman region that have made significant contributions to tourism development and promotion over the past year.
The evening consisted of a dinner, then entertainment by Jayme Giesbrecht & The Soul Revue Band. Barry Lamb, radio personality at CJRB Boissevain, was the MC at the Awards Ceremony.
Volunteer of the Year was won by Kelvon Smith. This award is presented to a volunteer (a person who has not received payment) who has demonstrated an outstanding effort in a tourism activity.
Smith has helped make Virden a vibrant, and better place to live with his many years of volunteering; following his 39 year teaching career. He gives free walking tours to groups and school classes, provides free canoe tours and dinner packages to assist local charitable events.
A Sergeant at Arms for the Royal Canadian Legion, Smith served at parades, banquets, and has welcomed and entertained visitors to town for many years.
Smith has helped with the Canadian Red Cross Disaster Assistance Team, Emergency response Team, and has spent many hours improving Virden’s aesthetic. He also has an active role in the Virden Canada Day Committee, Pheonix Players, and Tourism Westman.
Jane Harkness won the Aspiring Youth Award. This award is presented to an individual under the age of 29 years in their capacity as a volunteer, employee, or entrepreneur.
Harkness is an Assistant Curator/Tour Guide at the Virden Pioneer Museum. She has promoted the communities local heritage and culture since 2014.
In 2016, Harkness received a summer scholarship from the Vimy Foundation. The only winner from Manitoba, she visited England, Belgium, and France; and shared her experience in a presentation, upon her arrival home.
Harkness is a reporter for the Student Council at school, a member of the Forte La Bosse “Mind Your Health Committee”, and started the “Post-secondary Club”. She also help found an in-school mental awareness committee called “Headstrong Committee”.
Harkness teaches gr. 3-4 Catechism in her church, and is a “Sparks Guider and Ranger. Her current project is collecting as much information as possible about all 103 soldiers whose names are inscribed on the Virden Cenotaph in Victoria Park. Harkness will attend the University of Ottawa, this fall, to study Bachelor of Arts in History.
