Toronto, Ontario – On May 30, 2024, Attractions Ontario hosted its 41st Annual General Meeting in Toronto at Little Canada. The event provided an opportunity to recognize industry leaders during a presentation of Tourism Awards. Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West & Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport joined us to give greetings and distribute these prestigious awards.
Tourism Champion of the Year Award: Attractions Ontario presents this award to individuals who provide significant organizational assistance, commitment, enthusiasm, and specific expertise to the nominating business.
This year, Attractions Ontario honoured two individuals:
Kevin Devaux, Toronto Symphony Orchestra
L-R: Paul Pepe, Chair, Attractions Ontario, Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West & Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Kevin Devaux, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Troy Young, CEO, Attractions Ontario |
Kevin Devaux is an enthusiastic customer service leader with over two decades of experience in the arts and entertainment industry.
His journey with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra started in October 2002 as Assistant Manager of Patron Services. He later advanced to Manager of Patron Services and is now Director of Patron Services. In this role, Kevin oversees a team of 14 who ensure exceptional experiences for all TSO attendees, from ticket and subscription sales to receiving donations and fielding patron inquiries.
Kevin is a dedicated volunteer with the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation (PWA). Since 2011, he has regularly participated in the Friends for Life Bike Rally, helping raise funds for the cause. Kevin holds an Honours degree in Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts from Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology. |
Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer, Little Canada
L-R: Paul Pepe, Chair, Attractions Ontario, Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West & Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer, Little Canada, Troy Young, CEO, Attractions Ontario |
Mr. Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer is the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer at Little Canada – Our Home and Miniature Land. Before this, Mr. Brenninkmeijer spent 10 years in the investment business, and prior to that as Managing Director of Good Energies Inc., a private equity.
Prior to the investment business, Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer was General Manager of Fossil Canada, a division of Comark Inc., a Canadian apparel fashion retail company. Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer has over 35 years of business experience working in senior executive roles, principally in retail, across five European countries and North America. He is a Board Member of a US/Canadian charitable foundation and was recently Chair of the Board of Directors at King’s Christian Collegiate. He lives with his wife Mimi and their four boys in Oakville, Ontario and has been in Canada since 1999.
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Col. Don Dailley Lifetime Achievement Award: Attractions Ontario presents this award to an individual who has made significant contributions to the development and promotion of the tourism industry in Ontario. This year, Attractions Ontario honoured:
Doug Wilson, The Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory
L-R: Paul Pepe, Chair, Attractions Ontario, Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West & Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Doug Wilson, Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory, Troy Young, CEO, Attractions Ontario |
Doug Wilson began his career 48 years ago as an award-winning photojournalist and teacher of photojournalism. He then turned his attention to business as director of marketing and licensing for an international distribution firm.
Community-minded at heart, Doug recognized the unique educational and experiential impact a butterfly conservatory could offer its visitors. 32 years ago, he became a co-founder and shareholder of Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory, a privately held attraction, education and research facility in Cambridge, ON. In addition to being president of Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory, Doug is a founding director of Waterloo Region Tourism Marketing Corporation (now Explore Waterloo) and has held various directorships and executive positions in Southern Ontario. |
2023 Ontario’s Choice Awards Ceremony: The 2024 AGM honoured the winners of last year’s Ontario’s Choice Awards. From July to September of each year, the public is called upon to vote for their favourite Ontario attraction, and they choose the winners of these awards. There are eight categories.
This year, Attractions Ontario honoured:
| Top Family Entertainment Centre
Great Wolf Lodge, Niagara Falls |
Top Touring Experience
Blue Heron Cruises, Tobermory |
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Top Outdoor Attraction Riverview Park & Zoo, Peterborough |
Top Small Museum/Art Gallery/Historic Site Lang Pioneer Village, Keene |
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Top Performing Arts Westben, Campbellford |
Top Museum/Art Gallery/Historic Site Casa Loma, Toronto |
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Top Indoor Attraction Little Canada, Toronto |
Top Festival & Event Carrousel of the Nations |
“We are immensely proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of this year’s award winners,” said Troy Young, CEO of Attractions Ontario. “Their dedication, innovation, and passion for excellence have significantly contributed to the vibrancy and growth of Ontario’s tourism industry.
Attractions Ontario is a non-profit association dedicated to optimizing attendance for its member attractions. As the only province-wide trade association dedicated to the attractions sector of the tourism industry, Attractions Ontario members encompass over 500 public and owned attractions in numerous categories, such as amusement parks, historical sites, cultural activities, arts and entertainment, and adventure tourism.
For more information, contact:
Kate March,
Director of Communications, Attractions Ontario