Honouring some of the best tourist operators in the Ottawa Valley

There is no better way for a tourist operator to enter the uncertainty of the 2022 tourist season in the Ottawa Valley than to be named as one of three winners in the annual Ottawa Valley Tourism Awards.

This year, the winners are Cindy Jamieson, owner and operator of the Whitewater Inn and Valley Cycle Tours, Braiding Rivers, and the third award went to the organizing committee and participants in the annual Tour de Bonnechere.

The Ottawa Valley Tourism Awards, introduced in 2014, are presented annually by the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association (OVTA) to participating OVTA members. The Ottawa Valley Tourism Awards are awarded to people, organizations, and events that recognize the importance of working together for the growth of our local tourism industry, as well as offering exceptional visitor experiences. 

There are three award categories which recognize success, leadership and innovation in our local tourism industry: the Marilyn Alexander Tourism Champion Award, the Business of Distinction Award, and the Special Event of the Year Award.

The Marilyn Alexander Tourism Champion Award recognizes an OVTA member who is an active tourism champion for the Ottawa Valley. This year’s recipient, Cindy Jamieson, is the owner and operator of The Whitewater Inn and Valley Cycle Tours located in Beachburg.

After 20 years operating Jamieson Travel, in 2019 Jamieson transitioned to yet another tourism-focused business when she purchased Whitewater Inn in Pembroke. She transformed the century-home located on the main road in Beachburg into a modern B&B with four grand suites. The Inn is also home to Valley Cycle Tours, her secondary business which has rented bikes to Canadian and international tourists.

The Business of Distinction Award recognizes an OVTA member business or organization that demonstrates leadership, innovation and dedication to the local tourism industry. This year’s winner, Braiding Rivers, co-founded in 2020, is a collaboration of talents Ashley Strange, Keira Loukes and Rachel Worth-Cappell.

Braiding Rivers is a nature-based guiding company for women looking to connect with the rivers of Algonquin Territory. They bring their depth of knowledge in health, the outdoors, nature-therapy, community building and land-based values into the way they run their business.

The Special Event of the Year Award recognizes an event or festival that exemplifies industry best practices in all aspects of its operations, and is an example of excellence for other events and festivals. The winner of this year’s award is the Tour de Bonnechere.

It is an annual cycling event organized by a group of creative and determined volunteers. In 2021, organizers rose to the challenges presented by the pandemic by adding a virtual option as an alternative form of participation. The tour utilized four cycling routes centered out of Eganville and drew new visitors to the area, as well as much needed spending to local businesses. The event also raised over $5,000 to support local mental health initiatives.