Barkerville Historic Town & Park had much to celebrate at the BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference’s awards gala in Prince George.
Chief Executive Officer Kate Cox was awarded Business Woman of the Year. Her acceptance speech included praise for her staff as well as a call to action for all heritage sites to continue the important task of creating inclusive spaces that incorporate Indigenous perspectives into the storytelling of colonial sites.
“It is an honour to be recognized for the work we are doing here,” says Cox. “I say ‘we’ because this award belongs to my teammates as much as it belongs to me. I am proud of the work we do every day to keep our National and Provincial Heritage Site standing. I am proud of the extraordinary, talented, and dedicated staff and contractors who bring Barkerville’s history to life, year after year, for ourselves and for our visitors. Barkerville is still on a long road to recovery from the effects of the pandemic, and we have had to make hard choices to protect our core operations by dedicating our limited non-profit resources towards preserving our site and offering quality public programming, while also ensuring that our heritage resource remains intact for future generations. I am grateful every day to work with people who have proven themselves to be flexible and adaptive to ever-changing circumstances. I know that together, along with others who care so deeply for Barkerville, we will continue to contribute to this unique place so that it is stronger and better each year.”
Other finalists for Business Woman of the Year included Lan Do of Banh Mi Tres Bon in Richmond, and Sarah Vallely of Opus Hotel Vancouver. The award, sponsored by Prince of Whales Adventures, aims to raise the profile of women across the province who have achieved phenomenal success and are making a real impact in BC’s tourism and hospitality industry by recognizing the achievements, professional expertise and leadership of outstanding women who play a vital role in the tourism industry.
Barkerville also had the distinction of holding a second nomination that evening with its manager of public programming, Stewart Cawood, among the finalists in the Remarkable Experiences category, which was awarded to Prince George’s very own Northern FanCon.
“This recognition is well-deserved as FanCon has been providing northern B.C.’s community with a unique and inspiring experience since its launch in 2015,” said Cawood, who has been on the mainstage at Northern FanCon in Barkerville costume in the past, as have many of the talented staff of the Cariboo historic site, which has been a FanCon partner since its inception.
“It was also exciting to see the new hit series Beyond The Haunting Investigations, which was on location in Barkerville in 2021, receive its award for Innovation, and it was a humbling reminder of the positive effect that B.C.’s gold rush town can have on the broader community.”
Other tourism interests from the region who finished in the final three included Nemiah Valley Lodge in the Indigenous Operator Or Experience category, and Tourism Prince George which was a finalist for the Professional Excellence (DMO) Award.
Barkerville’s main season begins Saturday June 3rd and will run for 100 days until Sunday September 10th. Reservations for accommodations and campgrounds are now available online. Visit http://barkerville.ca to learn more.
Read more: Haunted Gold Rush documentary scoops Tourism BC Innovation Award