FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario Announces Winners of the 2026 Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence
Ottawa, ON, October 23, 2026 – The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence.
Presented annually, the awards recognize the organizations, businesses and individuals whose innovation, leadership, creativity and commitment to excellence help make Ontario a destination of choice. They celebrate outstanding contributions across the tourism industry and the people and partnerships helping to move Ontario tourism forward.
The awards were presented during the Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence Gala on October 22 at The Westin Ottawa, bringing the 2026 Ontario Tourism Summit to a celebratory close.
“This year’s Ontario Tourism Summit demonstrated what is possible when our industry comes together to connect, share ideas and elevate one another,” said Andrew Siegwart, President and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario. “We congratulate all of this year’s nominees, finalists and winners. Their creativity, leadership and commitment reflect the ambition of our industry and the momentum behind Forward Motion, as we work together to strengthen Ontario’s visitor economy and position tourism as a driver of prosperity and pride in every corner of the province. Congratulations!”
This year, TIAO honoured Ellie Joseph, Co-Founder of Two Row on the Grand, as Tourism Champion of the Year, recognizing her leadership, contributions and lasting impact on Ontario’s tourism industry.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Gerry Cariou, Executive Director of Ontario’s Sunset Country, recognizing his decades of leadership and extraordinary contribution to tourism in Northern Ontario and across the province.
The Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence celebrate the industry’s best, recognizing the innovators, experiences, events, organizations and tourism leaders whose passion and quality help make Ontario a premier destination.
The winners of this year’s awards are:
Tourism Innovator Award
Parks Canada & Working Title Kitchen
Tea on the Veranda, Laurier House National Historic Site
Tourism Event of the Year
Brockville Tourism
Tall Ships Festival
Sports Tourism of the Year Award
CPKC Women’s Open
Attraction of the Year
The Canadian Canoe Museum
Arts & Culture Award of the Year
St. Catharines Downtown Association
Holi Festival of Colour
Indigenous Tourism Award
Woodland Cultural Centre
Sustainable Tourism Award
Evergreen Brick Works
Rainbow Registered Award
Tourism Kingston
Culinary & Agritourism Award
Lynn River Farm
GRAZE Dinner
Tourism Influencer of the Year
Nina Ngo (@_ninango)
Tourism Marketing & Travel Media Awards of Excellence celebrate excellence and innovation among those contributing to Ontario’s tourism industry through impactful marketing, partnerships, storytelling and media relations provincially, nationally and internationally.
Tourism Digital Marketing Award
Ottawa Tourism
Magic on Set
Tourism Marketing Partnership Award
Visit Mississauga | Sheraton Gateway Hotel | Square One
Tourism Marketing Campaign Award (Over $50K)
Grey County Tourism
Gather in Grey
Tourism Marketing Campaign Award (Under $50K)
Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board
Get FREE Gas & Spending Spree
Travel Media Story Award
Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board | Izabela Jaroszynski
Rooted Along the Bay
The Workforce Innovation & Collaboration Award recognizes a business or organization that has developed an innovative local solution to a workforce challenge through collaborative partnerships.
Workforce Innovation & Collaboration Award
Lifelong Learning Lakehead University | Bethune Memorial House | Parks Canada
Tourism Reach Ahead & Sector Partner Experience
The Doug Smith Award recognizes a post-secondary individual who embodies the spirit of tourism in Ontario.
Doug Smith Award
Saoirse Curry, University of Ottawa
The Air Canada Future Leader Award recognizes a post-secondary student who has made a meaningful contribution to Ontario’s tourism community and demonstrates the potential to become a future leader in the industry.
Air Canada Future Leader Award
Mustafa Tanil, George Brown Polytechnic, Hospitality and Tourism Management
The Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence are presented in partnership with organizations from across Ontario’s tourism industry, recognizing achievement and excellence across a diverse range of sectors.
TIAO congratulates all nominees, finalists and winners on their remarkable contributions to Ontario tourism.
For more information on the Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence, visit tiaontario.ca.
About TIAO
The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) represents the voice of tourism in the province, advocating for the interests of its diverse industry membership and working with stakeholders to promote growth and create a favourable business environment.
Media Contact
Katie Law, Manager Marketing, Digital Services & Communications
communications@tiaontario.ca
www.tiaontario.ca
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