SnowSeekers, Tourism Smithers win national GOLD at Canadian Online Publishing Awards
The Gagnon sisters, seen here on Hudson Bay Mountain Resort's slopes, keep local tradition alive, strong and respected.
Receiving a GOLD medal at the Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPA) is a huge win for us. As champions of independent, community-focused media, we are proud to celebrate Canadian outdoor and travel destinations and promote them to the world. Our thanks to Masthead, producers of COPA, for its ongoing commitment to supporting the Canadian publishing industry.
This #skinorthbc winning story on the Indigenous connections at Hudson Bay Mountain Resort in Smithers, BC, is a story that unites local passion, reconciliation and travel desirability in one feel-good package.
Special credit and thanks goes to:
Witsuwit'en First Nation community members Dolores Alfred, Keyento and Ashy Gagnon for their continued efforts to build more recognition of traditional knowledge and language.
Lex Rei-Jones, General Manager of Hudson Bay Mountain Resort for her vision in the creative of this feature, along with the team behind the Smithers Ski and Snowboard Club, masters at building community.
Writer Matt Simmons, producer Jim Barr, videographer Jake Daly, photographer Thomas Camus and editor Jeremy Derksen, whose special dedication towards celebrating diversity across Northern BC is captured so powerfully in this story.
This coverage couldn't have happened if it weren't for co-producer Tourism Smithers taking the lead with Destination BC via the eight-year running #skinorthBC marketing co-op initiative.
At Seekers, it's not just about creating powerful content—we stand behind our stories.
If you're planning a ski trip, Smithers and northern BC should top your list, for authentic ski experiences run by local Canadian owner/operators, making a difference right in the community, right now.
Keep travelling Canadian
There has never been a better time to plan travel in Canada, and that is where we will continue to lend our voice. Supporting Canadian businesses in the face of economic uncertainty is win-win-win:
You win, with awesome experiences you can feel good about.
Local communities win, through your support.
Canada wins, through solidarity in the face of adversity.
Stay tuned to Seekers Media for more Canadian travel features, supporting local communities in Western Canada.
SnowSeekers is one of three magazines under Seekers Media. For more stories about Alberta and BC's unique cultural connections, visit this ZenSeekers roundup of First Nation features here.
Should your community be looking to increase its cultural ties and/or celebrate those connections, please reach out to @email to get the conversation started towards award-winning results like these.