Saskatchewan’s tourism sector is pleased to honour outstanding businesses and individuals with the announcement of the 2019 Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence recipients. Tourism Saskatchewan Board Chair Norm Beug and CEO Mary Taylor-Ash made the virtual announcement during a Facebook Live event on November 10.
One of the recipients, for the Business of the Year Award (Under 20 Full-Time Employees), was The Happy Nun Café of Forget.
The Happy Nun Café creates an intimate dining and cultural experience for up to 1,100 guests each month. The owners handcrafted a visitor experience with a unique blend of local food ingredients, live music and art.
The café staff, known as the “Happy Nun Family,” are highly knowledgeable about the cuisine, as well as local history and the deep cultural roots of the tiny Forget community. Effective marketing is a critical part of the café’s incredible success, especially considering the remote location of the venue.
The Happy Nun Café also collaborates with local businesses to create cultural experiential packages for overnight stays. Social media marketing and a subscription newsletter, combined with traditional marketing, are the perfect blend for its target audience. Plans to capitalize on the location include camping and an outdoor gathering space for music festivals and events.
The 31st annual Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence Gala was originally scheduled to take place on April 2 in Regina. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tourism Saskatchewan cancelled the event and postponed the announcement of the 12 award recipients and three Tourism Builders.
Nearly 90 nominations were received in the 13 award categories that acknowledge quality in marketing, service, business practices, Indigenous tourism, human resource development and other areas.
The Tourism Builder Award recognizes individuals who have made tourism an important part of their life’s work and have helped position Saskatchewan as a welcoming destination.
“During challenging times, it is especially important to recognize inspiring leadership and accomplishments,” Minister Responsible for Tourism Saskatchewan Jeremy Harrison said. “The Government of Saskatchewan is pleased to play a role in the virtual celebration of the Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence. Congratulations to the finalists, award winners and the three Tourism Builders – Bradley Muir, Gordon Olson and Dr. Ernie Walker. They are pivotal to a proud, resilient tourism sector.”
“It was heartbreaking to cancel the Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence Gala in April and witness the impact of COVID-19 on our industry,” Tourism Saskatchewan CEO Mary Taylor-Ash said. “Through Facebook Live, we are able to celebrate the award finalists, recipients and Tourism Builders in a way that is safe and appropriate for this uncertain time. These businesses and individuals certainly deserve far more fanfare for their achievements. They model the vision, work ethic and collaborative spirit that drives our industry and makes Saskatchewan travel experiences remarkable in so many ways.
“Tourism Saskatchewan extends heartfelt congratulations and gratitude for these exceptional contributions to our industry.”
