Tourism Westman is pleased to announce the 2026 Tribute to Tourism Awards Gala. This special evening will recognize and celebrate the exceptional individuals, businesses, organizations and communities within the Westman region that have made significant contributions to tourism development and promotion over the past year.
Awards will be handed out in nine categories; Event of the Year (budget over 10k), Event of the Year (budget under 10k), Brandon Event of the Year (budget over 10k), Marketing, Excellence, Partnership, Volunteer of the Year, Indigenous Tourism, Employee of the Year and Small Business of the Year.
27 nominations have been submitted for the 2026 Awards from communities including; Brandon, Boissevain, Carberry, Deloraine, Elkhorn, Killarney, MacGregor, Neepawa, Oak Lake, Pipestone, Rivers, Treherne, Virden and Waskada.
Nominees are as follows:
Event of the Year (over 10k):
Pipestone Homecoming
North-Norfolk Bull Bash, MacGregor
Oak Lake Fair
Virden Indoor Rodeo & Wild West Daze
Oak Lake Farmer’s Market
RM of Sitfon Annual Harvest Fest
Event of the Year (under 10k):
ArtFest/Amazing Race Neepawa by ArtsForward
Haunted Forest by Lucky Break Ranch – Rivers
Oak Lake High School Rodeo
TMSPHA 13th Annual Local History Seminar – Deloraine
Waskada Bulls on the Border
Brandon Event of the Year (over 10k):
Westman Multicultural Festival – Brandon
Brandon Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Festival
Marketing Excellence:
Prairie Gateway Tourism Burger Week – Virden
Section 6 Brewing – Brandon
Partnership:
MacGregor Chamber of Commerce
Prairie Gateway Tourism – Virden
Shamrock Centre/Municipality of Killarney – Killarney
Turtle Mountain Souris Plains Heritage Association/International Peace Garden – Deloraine
Employee of the Year:
Dean Hammond – Brandon
Taylor Wegener – Elkhorn
Volunteer of the Year:
Joanne Armstrong – Treherne
Stan Peck – Boissevain
Indigenous Tourism:
Moncur Gallery (People of the Plains) – Boissevain
National Indigenous Peoples Day – Brandon
Small Business of the Year:
Deer Meadow Farmacy – Oak Lake
Forest Hills Cabins & RV Park – Carberry
Award winners will be announced at the Tribute to Tourism Awards Gala being held at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 11th, 2026 at The Backyard on Aberdeen in Brandon, MB. The evening includes a served meal.
To purchase tickets, please complete the registration form below and email to info@tourismwestman.ca