Karen Henderson, Centretown News The Canadian Museum of Nature is a contender in the first annual Ontario Choice Awards. The Canadian Museum of Nature and the Canadian War Museum are two of the seven finalists in the running to be named Ontario’s top museum, art gallery or historic site for 2016.
The contest is part of the first annual Ontario’s Choice Awards, which has Ontario citizens and tourists vote online for the province’s top attractions in various categories.
These categories also include top outdoor attraction, top touring experience and top performing arts attraction, to name a few.
Attractions Ontario, an industry association that promotes Ontario tourism, decided that its members deserved the recognition that other associations, such as Festivals and Events Ontario, give to their members, according to association CEO Troy Young.
Young says Attractions Ontario staff and board members selected the finalists from a list of applications from across the province.
“Many awards are judged by panels, but we wanted to be unique. We realized that there are no awards that have the actual tourists decide who warrants the award,” Young said via email.
The Haunted Walk, which operates in Centretown as well as downtown Kingston and Toronto, is also in the running for best tourism experience, and the Bytown Museum – located in the headlocks of the Rideau Canal – is a finalist among the province’s small museums.
The nature museum started as part of a national geological survey, but as scientists and explorers returned from travelling across the country with all kinds of specimens of rocks and minerals, it was decided that they would be shown in an exhibition space, says John Swettenham.
From this foundation, Swettenham says, emerged the essence of what the McLeod Street museum provides visitors.
“We really value any recognition,” he says of the Attractions Ontario contest. “We have a lot of pride in our product because we think we provide a really good visitor experience and we’re always trying to make it better.”
Swettenham says Ottawa is very much a museum town.
“So in one way this recognizes us, but in another way it kind of recognizes Ottawa as a tourist destination. We think it’s really important that museums are seen as a key facet of the city brand,” he continues.
The Canadian War Museum at LeBreton Flats is also home to many compelling artifacts and some of the finest military holdings in the world, including rare vehicles, artillery and uniforms.
Michèle Canto, the CWM’s director of marketing and business, says being recognized as the province’s top museum would be especially meaningful because visitors are making the decision – a people’s choice award.
“We strive to share our country’s military history though a unique, educational and interactive experience to visitors,” she says. “This is recognition that we are perhaps succeeding.”
The winners of the contest will receive a certificate and the rights to display a badge at their location or in their advertising, according to Young.
Ultimately, he says, Attractions Ontario is hoping the contest will get people talking about these tourist sites.
“As this is the first year, we are still in learning mode and there may be some changes in future years,“ says Young. “We also only want one winner. Being a finalist is great, but being able to say that you won makes you special.”
Voting for the Ontario’s Choice Awards closes on Sept. 6.