News release

Nova Scotians Win Tourism Awards

Tourism, Culture and Heritage (Dec. 2003 - Jan. 2011)

Three Nova Scotia finalists won their categories at the Tourism Industry Association of Canada awards in Victoria, Monday, Nov. 5.

The winners are:

  • The Celtic Colours International Festival, Event of the Year Award
  • Cape Chignecto Provincial Park, Parks Canada Sustainable Tourism Award
  • The Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, Deloittee Innovator of the Year Award, for its use of Google Earth as a marketing tool.

Pictou Lodge was also a finalist for the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council's Award for Excellence in Human Development.

"Nova Scotia is one of the first places in the world to use Google Earth as a tourism marketing tool and it's a key part of the new direction we adopted last year, with guidance from the Nova Scotia Tourism Partnership Council," said Bill Dooks, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage.

"Our industry is providing those quality tourism and culture experiences like Celtic Colours and Cape Chignecto Provincial Park. I offer my sincere congratulations to these most deserving award winners and all nominees."

Google Earth Nova Scotia is part of the province's tourism plan, New Realities, New Directions. The new technology tool was downloaded from www.novascotia.com by about 19,000 people since its launch in April.

"This is well-deserved recognition for the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage," said Chris Keevill, president of the department's agency of record, Colour. "Google Earth is a great example of how they've fully embraced getting closer to today's traveller and meeting their needs. All of their marketing efforts reflect this approach. We're thrilled we have the opportunity to work with such an innovative client."

The government has contributed to the success of the other Nova Scotia winners. Tourism, Culture and Heritage provides funding for Celtic Colours to mount the nine-day festival each fall, featuring local and international Celtic musicians.

The province has also invested over the years in trail construction, interpretation and other enhancements in Cape Chignecto Provincial Park. The park is the Department of Natural Resources' only back-country camping park and is operated by the Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association through its Cape Chignecto Park Management Board.