Canadian Tourism Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Tourism Toronto

This award, handed out annually at the Canadian Tourism Awards gala, recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution of energy, service and talent towards the growth of the Canadian tourism industry, through volunteer work, service or business accomplishments. Focusing on tourism building, the recipient demonstrates leadership, vision and innovation built on a solid foundation of strong values and sound business strategies.

Nominees for the Lifetime Achievement Award should be individuals who have:

• Dedicated the majority of their professional career to the tourism sector;
• Made an outstanding personal contribution to the tourism sector;
• Helped to create growth in Canada’s tourism sector through innovation, astute business practices and the development of new opportunities;
• Demonstrated leadership in the industry through their engagement with tourism partners at the local, provincial and/or national levels;
• Left a positive and lasting legacy with the people with whom they have worked.

Nominees are generally retired or in the twilight of their tourism careers.

TIAC welcomes all submissions - if you would like to submit a nomination, please start a nomination here.

2019 Tourism Toronto Canadian Tourism Lifetime Achievement Recipient

Bob Sparrow 

The Sparrow family is the oldest operating hotel family in Western Canada celebrating its 82 year in the hospitality industry in the City of Winnipeg.

Bob joined the Norwood Hotel fifty years ago in 1969. The Norwood Hotel began as a neighbourhood gathering place and over time has seen a number of additions including new meeting and guest rooms.

Bob was involved with the expansion of the business that now includes Inn at the Forks, Mere Hotel, the ERA Restaurant and food services for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The company has been rebranded to Sparrow Hotels and is under the direction of Ben Sparrow (CEO), Bob and wife Diane’s son. 

Past Recipients

	2018 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient  Nancy Stibbard As owner and CEO of the Capilano Group, Nancy was inducted into Canada’s Tourism Hall of Fame in September 2007. Nancy’s vision ‘to create experiences that people are amazed by’ means she is always seeking new ways to “wow” her guests. At Capilano that has meant two major additions: Treetops Adventure in 2004 and Cliffwalk in 2011. Both are unique, state-of-the-art, thrilling attractions, giving visitors reasons to return again and again.
	2017 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient  Walter Oster Walter served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the MTCC from 1998 to 2017. He dedicated 29 years to public service and to the Convention Centre from 1988 to 2017. His enthusiasm, business acumen and commitment to public service are legendary.
	2016 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient  Jack Robinson Jack Robinson, past COO of the CN Tower, is quite literally a towering figure in Canadian tourism who has not only led one of our top national attractions to continued success, but he has done so in a manner that embodied the local and national spirit of partnership that has been his mark of true leadership.
	2015 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Don Cudmore Don Cudmore has been Executive Director of the Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island (TIAPEI) for almost 20 years and an active employee, manager, volunteer and leader in the tourism industry for 43 years.
	2014 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Lynda & Merv Gunter Co-owners of Frontiers North Adventures with their son John, Merv and Lynda started Frontiers North Adventures after living in Churchill for four years in the early 1980s. They have grown the company from a staff of one to employ 15 year-round staff and up to an additional 50 seasonal staff.
	2013 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient David G. Morrison David Morrison is a pioneer, builder and dynamic leader in the travel and tourism industry. Appointed President of Brewster Travel Canada in 1980, Morrison quickly positioned the company to become a leading tourism entity in Canada.
	2012 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Chris Cahill Executive Vice President of Global Operations for Las Vegas Sands Corp. While at Fairmont Raffles and its predecessor organizations, Mr. Cahill gained an international reputation for excellence as he led the company through several successful mergers as both president and chief operating officer.
	2011 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Al Raine & Nancy Greene Following their successful careers in downhill skiing, Senator Greene Raine and her husband Al were leaders in the development of Canada's ski tourism industry, including their instrumental roles in the early development of Whistler-Blackcomb and Sun Peaks in British Columbia.
	2010 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Charles Lapointe In 1989, he became president and chief executive officer of the Greater Montreal Convention and Tourism Bureau (Tourisme Montréal), retaining the position until his retirement in 2013. In 2002, he also became chairman of the Canadian Tourism Commission.