Tourism Manager and Economic Development Coordinator for Grey County has been named the 2011 recipient of the Charlie Kelly award.
Bryan Plumstead picked up the award at the 12th annual Tourism Conference, held at the CAW Family Education Centre in Port Elgin.
Plumstead was one of 10 nominees.
He tells Bayshore Broadcasting News, he knew he was nominated because he usually serves on the committee that chooses the winner.
He was told not to show up for that meeting.
Plumstead says when his name was announced, it was still a “shock and awe” moment for him and an emotional one as well.
He says he knows the committee had a tough time coming up with a winner because there are so many great people in this region in the tourism industry.
Plumstead says he believes the future is bright for tourism in Bruce, Grey and Simcoe counties.
He says the Regional Tourism Ontario 7 group is just getting started and will play a big part in the future marketing plans of the area.
Making the Charlie Kelly announcement was the President and General Manager of Bayshore Broadcasting Ross Kentner — who says Bryan Plumstead has been a leader in the tourism industry and in particular the development of the regional tourism concept.
He says he believes Charlie Kelly would have agreed with the choice of this year’s winner and would be pleased that the tradition of making tourism bigger and better was being done, all in his name.
Charlie Kelly — a former Owen Sound alderman — is credited with beginning winter tourism in the Owen Sound area and getting people to buy into a concept of a four-season tourism program.
The award, which has been presented for over 30-years is sponsored by Bayshore Broadcasting and is presented to the individual that has contributed the most for tourism in Grey and Bruce counties in the past year.
