2009 Award Recipient - Ako Matsubayashi - AMBASSADOR

Ako has been an active member of the City of Burlington's Mundialization Committee for almost 19 years.  He has been the Chair of the Itabashi Sub-Committee, and the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Mundialization Committee.  He has been an inspirational leader, helping to foster strong international relationships between Burlington and it's twin cities.  In particular, Ako has championed the relationship with Itabashi, Japan.  In the fall of 2009, the 20th anniversary was celebrated through a visit by a delegation of over 40 Itabashi officials, citizens and a Taiko drummer band.  Due to the strong relationship built between the two cities, almost every year groups of 20 or more come to visit us.  There is no doubt that this relationship has been of great benefit of Burlington through the many annual visitors as well as the information and cultural exchanges and the many lasting friendships that have been formed.  Sponsor- Burlington Hotel Association.

2008 Award Recipients - Mark Runciman & Terry Yates - BUILDER

Mark Runciman has been a long standing employee at the RBG starting as Superintendent of Buildings and Equipment in 1984.  He was appointed to the position of Executive Director in 2006 and became CEO in 2008. Terry Yates is the current past chair of the board and a board member since 2005.  Terry and Mark helped lead the RBG through a mandate review and three year transition plan.  During that time the RBG has opened the Camilla & Peter Dalglish Atrium, providing a barrier free access to the Hendrie Gardens and also unveiled a major new garden, the Helen M. Kippax Native Plant Garden.  To better welcome visitors, the parking lot at RBG Centre was expanded and a new entrance from Plains Road completed.  In 2008, 250,000 people visited the Gardens!  Membership has increased by 45% since 2005.  Under the leadership of Terry Yates and Mark Runciman new funding arrangements have stabilized the organization, enabling the RBG to continue to play its vitally important role as a living museum and major visitor attraction. Sponsor- Burlington Hotel Association.

2007 Award Recipient - Louise Cooke - BUILDER

Louise has made extensive contributions to cultural tourism including being a member of the Burlington Art Centre Board of Directors, Foundation Board, Corporate Partnership Committee and Expansion Campaign. Louise has volunteered for over 20 years at the Burlington Art Centre (BAC) and has been instrumental in establishing the centre as one of Ontario’s leading public art galleries with a nationally significant collection of contemporary ceramic art. With over 100,000 people visiting it each year, the BAC has positively affected an estimated 1.75 million people over the first 30 years of operation and is one of Burlington’s key tourist attractions. She has also been recognized as the 2007 Voices and Visions Woman of the Year.  Sponsor - IKEA.

2006 Award Recipient – Mr. Gord Langford - AMBASSADOR

Gord Langford has been a tireless supporter of Tourism in Burlington as a member of the Tourism Board of Directors for 11 years, Chairman of Board for 4 years and Chamber of Commerce Board member for 10 years and where he acted as the Tourism representative to the Board. Gord was also a member of the Transition Team to review the Tourism Service Delivery Model with the City of Burlington. As a member of the Burlington Art Centre Committee, Gord investigated bringing a Robert Bateman Gallery to Burlington. Recently Gord was has founded and is the Chair of the Burlington Hotel Association and in this role advocated for the implementation of a Destination Marketing Fee in Burlington. This fee generates an additional $400,000 in marketing revenue for Burlington annually. Gord is the General Manager of Holiday Inn Burlington Hotel and Conference Centre where he was instrumental in bringing numerous new multi-day National and International conferences/events to the city plus has been a supportive sponsor of many tourism and community events throughout the years.  Sponsor - IKEA.

2005 Award Recipients – Dr. Robert Peeling and Mr. John Thorpe - AMBASSADOR

These two individuals have tirelessly led and organized Canada’s Largest Ribfest presented by the Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore. John Thorpe has been a member of this Rotary Club since 1987 and Dr. Peeling since 1994. Both men have served as President and both have received the Paul Harris Award from the Club for outstanding contributions to Rotary. These two members were the inspiration behind the creation of the Ribfest fundraiser and have served as Co-Chairmen of the event since its inception in 1995. In those 10 years, over a million dollars has been raised and distributed by the Rotary Club of Burlington-Lakeshore for charitable purposes both in the Burlington community and internationally. Bob and John both have successful businesses, which require their presence and attention, and yet John volunteers with the Salvation Army and Bob with the Boy Scouts in addition to their family, business and Rotary commitments.  Sponsor - IKEA.

2004 Award Recipient – Ms. Judy Scetta - AMBASSADOR

Judi was the President of Burlington’s Sound of Music Festival and a member of the Executive for 7 years, and has worked to raise the profile of the Festival. Attracting 190,000 attendees in 2004, this signature event increases the tourism profile of Burlington and invites many visitors to come and experience all that the City of Burlington has to offer. The festival is the culmination of the participation of the community, volunteers, artists, partners and sponsors in creating and presenting a free music festival that has evolved into the largest event attraction in the City of Burlington. Through Judi’s leadership many of these relationships have been strengthened positioning the festival to make significant steps forward and experience further growth. Judi extended her term as President, beyond the standard term of two years, to tackle the many new challenges and initiatives the 25th Anniversary year, in 2004, presented. In addition to her demanding duties as President, Judi also chaired the 25th Anniversary Committee, which supported and implemented all the new initiatives for this special year. Burlington’s Sound of Music Festival is recognized as a Signature Event by Festival Events Ontario indicating its ability to attract visitors regionally, provincially and/or nationally. The event has been named on of the Top 50 festivals in Ontario, one of more than 3000 events, for the 4th year in a row and came in 13th in awards and recognition. Judi was recognized and received the Festival and Events Ontario - Volunteer Award in 2005.

2003 Award Recipient – Mr. Bernie Scrivener - AMBASSADOR

Downtown Bernie ‘ as the Downtown Business Improvement Association likes to call him, has been a prominent and successful entrepreneur in the community for many years. He has sat on the Boards of Management for the DBIA and the BEDC and has been President of a local chapter of Rotary. Bernie has also been an active member of the Burlington Art Centre Foundation and stimulated growth in their endowment fund. He was an early lead contributor to the Burlington Art Centre Capital Campaign project. He was one of the early members named to the Performing Arts Burlington Board and he has continuously lobbied for such a facility to be built in the Downtown Core where it will form a nucleus of activity in Burlington. His passion for this centre has been demonstrated in his fundraising efforts towards the project. Bernie’s vision has once again demonstrated that when visitors come to Burlington, they spend dollars and that stimulates the local economy, creating jobs, and new businesses and enhancing the quality of life for residents.

2002 Award Recipient - Mr. Laurie Branch - AMBASSADOR

Laurie was the former Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Burlington. In 1968, through Laurie’s leadership the City took on responsibility for the Burlington Teen Tour Band to ensure their continuance and since that time the Musical Ambassadors to the World have flourished. Laurie also had a key role in designing or starting: Burlington’s Winter Carnival in 1968, Burlington International Games, first held in Vermont in 1969 § Spencer Smith Park, The Sound of Music Festival, The City of Burlington twinning with Itabashi, Japan and sister city relationship with Myrtle Beach South Carolina and Ireland House Museum. Laurie also assisted Tourism Burlington in setting up their visitor information centre location in Spencer Smith Park in 1970, and acted as our Interim Executive Director in the early 90’s. Laurie has enjoyed his involvement in Tourism so well that he still takes time from his retirement to help in the Tourism offices as a volunteer travel counsellor.

Related Pages:

• Tourism Ambassador Award

• Nomination Form