Vision_awards

Jeff Green | Oct 04, 2007

Frontenac Shores Tops Vision Awards.by Kate Brown

Frontenac Shores was the major award winner at this year’s Land O’ Lakes Marketing Vision Awards, held on Thursday, September 27 at the Smiling Wilderness Banquet Hall in Napanee. Receiving the honour for the hard work, determination and innovation displayed while converting Mississagagon Lake’s Twin Pine Cottages into a Fractional Ownership development, creators Pat and Dave Storms were thrilled when their names were announced.

For the past three years this dynamic duo, who preside in the Township of North Frontenac, have used their knowledge of the real estate recreation market in order to devise a revolutionary method of cottaging. Using Twin Pine’s 17 acre site, 1000 ft. of shoreline and beautiful setting, the two decided to transform the old fashioned collection of ageing cottages and trailers into a hassle-free, convenient and cozy vacationer’s dream.

A relatively new concept to the area, Dave and Pat have at last completed the construction of their first building and will continue with the assembly of several more beautifully crafted cottages in the near future.

Spearheaded by Land O’ Lakes Tourist Association (LOLTA) General Manager Terry Shea and Tourism Councellor Joanne Cuddy, the Land O’ Lakes Vision Awards recognizes businesses that through their dedication, commitment to their community and encouraging of tourism, help the entire area prosper. Held every two years at a different location, the Vision Awards were established in 2005 and will put on their next event in 2009.

Along with the overall award winner, businesses from every township were rewarded as well. W.A. Robinson & Associates won the Central Frontenac category for, as presenter Mayor Janet Gutowski said, “Their extensive knowledge of the highly competitive world of investments and real estate”. In South Frontenac Township, Trousdale’s General Store took home the prize because, as presenter Mayor Gary Davison said, “They offer a unique shopping experience that has remained connected to the community”. Lastly, for “steadily improving their product selection while offering better prices for goods”, Mayor Henry Hogg presented the Addington Highlands award to Hook’s Rona. Other winners on the night included Poplars Golf Club from the Municipality of Tweed, Centreville Store from the Township of Stone Mills, Septic Solutions from the Frontenac Islands, The Melon Patch from Loyalist Township, and Selby Livestock Sales from the Town of Greater Napanee.

Highlights of the night included an address from M.P. Scott Reid, in which he spoke of the importance of rural areas and the need for them to be “comfortable in their own skins” in order to attract tourism. As well, a speech was given by retired Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Investments employee, Murray Douglas, who recounted the tale of what first enticed him to settle down in the Sharbot Lake area, where he is currently a part-time resident.

Finally a Special Award was presented to the family of Glenda Bence, as a tribute for her tireless efforts to improve her hometown of Kaladar, her tenacity when faced with a challenge and the ceaseless dedication she brought to the many projects with which she was involved. Having commented on how much it would mean to her to receive one of the beautifully designed plaques, carved by Rodger MacMunn, when the ceremony was held two years ago, this award will serve as a reminder to Glenda’s family of how much she meant to everybody.

To finish the evening, LOLTA President Werner Lips made sure to stress the importance of “bringing tourism to a higher level” in our local regions. Recounting the tale of his struggles to create a business from scratch after emigrating from Switzerland to Canada, he prompted everyone at the hall to “take a chance” with their endeavors, explaining that in order to succeed “we have to go forward”.