FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2009                                                            

Northwestel and Yukon Convention
Bureau Honour Local Meeting Organizers

February 5th Yukon Convention Bureau held a Business After Hours to honour local meeting organizers who were instrumental in bringing meetings to the Yukon during the last fiscal year or who went out of their way to make their meetings in the Yukon a success. The Bravo Awards are sponsored by Northwestel, a company which has demonstrated its support of the meetings and convention sector for a number of years.

The Bravo Awards were presented to organization representatives by Northwestel President and CEO Paul Flaherty. Recipients this year were:

1. The Local Organizing Committee for the Trumpeter Swan Society (Canadian Wildlife Services, Yukon Government and Ducks Unlimited) in recognition of the  21st Trumpeter Swan Society Conference, April 16-19th, 2008,Whitehorse. This was a first time for Yukon. 135 delegates attended, 79 were from out of territory.

2. Canadian Heritage Office Whitehorse, in recognition of the Canadian Heritage Western Region All Staff Annual Retreat, May 14-16, 2008. This was a first time for the Yukon. 66 out of the 69 delegates were from out of territory. Some of the delegates added a few days to their trip to venture out of town.

3. CSWA Local Organizing Committee in recognition of the Canadian Science Writers 2008 Conference: ‘Science Under the Midnight Sun,’ May 25-27, 2008. The Conference was held in Whitehorse and Haines Junction and was a first time for the Yukon. 164 delegates attended, 120 were from out of territory. Delegates enjoyed the trip to Haines Junction and Kathleen Lake. A wealth of Yukon research was presented during the conference.

4. Geometrics Yukon, Information & Communications Technology, Yukon Highways & Public Works in recognition of the 29th Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing/ 10th International Circumpolar Remote Sensing Conference, Whitehorse, June 2-5, 2008. This annual meeting was a first for the Yukon. 70 delegates in total attended, 50 of whom were from out of territory.

5. Association of Yukon Occupational Therapists in recognition of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy Conference 2008, Whitehorse, June 12-14, 2008
Location: Whitehorse. This annual meeting was a first for the Yukon. 315 delegates attended, 300 of whom were from out of territory. The group enjoyed a special ‘Rendez-vous under the Midnight Sun.’

6. Softball Yukon in recognitions of the World Junior Men’s Fast Pitch Championship, Whitehorse, June 20-29, 2009. This was a first for the Yukon. 20,000 – 25,600 people attended, from all over the Yukon, 600 were from out of territory. What a huge success!  

7. HOG Chapter of the Yukon in recognition of the 9th Annual Western Regional HOG Rally – ‘Miles from Ordinary’ – Whitehorse, July 10-13, 2008. 25- delegates attended, 270 of whom were out of territory. Provided a parade through downtown, games, a midnight ride to Braeburn, a ‘Meet and Greet’, and a pancake breakfast.

8. Yukon Government – Consumer Services - *Roberta Allen* in recognition of the
Canadian Association of Gaming Regulators Conference, Whitehorse, July 21-24, 2008
This annual meeting was a first for the Yukon. 66 delegates with 62 out of territory. A successful companion program was offered.

9. Association of Yukon Fire Chiefs in recognition of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs Annual Conference, Whitehorse, September 20-24, 2008. 240 delegates 200 of whom were from out of territory. This annual meeting was a first for the Yukon. A successful companion program took in Skagway, Dawson and a trip with Uncommon Journeys.

10. Yukon School Health Advisory Committee in recognition of  the Northern Health & Learning Symposium, Whitehorse, September 24-25, 2008. Another first time for the Yukon. 100 delegates, 30 of whom were from out of territory.

11. Tourism & Economic Development – City of Whitehorse in recognition of Creative Cities Conference, Whitehorse, October 2008. This was a first time that this annual event was held in the Yukon. 92 delegates, 80 of whom were from out of territory. This was a great opportunity for our artists to showcase their work to prospective galleries and Arts Centre curators. It was also an opportunity for City Counsellors to recognize the municipal government’s responsibility to the arts.

12. Skills Canada Yukon in recognition  of the Skills Compétences Canada Annual General Meeting, Whitehorse, October 16-18, 2008. 150 delegates, 60 out of territory. Previously this meetings always been held in Ottawa. It was therefore an honour to hold the 2008 event in the Yukon. Participants came from all over the world as well as from every province and territory. A successful companion program was offered.

Laurel Miller-Wright was the happy winner of the grand door prize – a round trip ticket on Air North. Thank you to the many folks who joined us for Business After Hours to celebrate a very successful meeting in the Meetings and Conferences sector!

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