Mayor Lee recognized with Prestigious Canadian Sport Tourism Award

Mayor Lee recognized with Prestigious Canadian Sport Tourism Award

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, April 10, 2013 – The City of Charlottetown is pleased to announce that Mayor Clifford Lee was recognized earlier today by the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA) as the recipient of its 2013 CSTA President’s Award during its annual Sport Events Congress in held Ottawa.

“I am honoured to accept this incredible national award today on behalf of all the residents of Charlottetown, Members of City Council, and the many sport organizations, corporate partners and volunteers who have helped Charlottetown become a leader in Canadian sport tourism,” said Mayor Clifford Lee. “Our City’s ongoing success in attracting and hosting numerous high profile sport events and our ability to grow sport tourism in Charlottetown is because of the vision, dedication and hard work of everyone involved over the years. This award belongs to our community, of which I am very proud to be a part of.”

The CSTA’s President’s Award recognizes the outstanding achievements or contributions by individuals, companies or organizations which have helped profile and build sport tourism in Canada,provide exceptional sporting opportunities, generate significant revenue, and/or demonstrate the value of volunteerism. Each year, the award recipient(s) is endorsed by the CSTA Board at the recommendation of the CSTA President.

“This award of distinction is very well deserved and we congratulate Mayor Lee for his leadership and ongoing support of sport tourism in our community and to those who play a role in making each and every event a success,” said Deputy Mayor Stu MacFadyen, Chair of Economic Development and Culture. “Charlottetown has become a national example of how sport tourism can truly have a positive impact on a community with the help of visionary champions.”

Charlottetown is looked upon as a leader in Canada’s sport tourism industry. Managed by the City’s Events Development Officer, Wayne Long, SCORE! – Charlottetown’s highly recognized and respected sport tourism brand – attracts and assists in the hosting of high-profile regional, national and international sport events in Charlottetown that offer a pronounced opportunity for economic, tourism and community growth. Annually, sport tourism is worth millions of dollars to the provincial capital.

The CSTA President’s Award was handed out in Ottawa during the CSTA PRESTIGE Awards Gala Luncheon as part of the CSTA’s 7th Annual Sport Events Congress. The CSTA PRESTIGE Awards celebrate the people, places and events that make the Canadian sport tourism industry so dynamic and important to the economic fabric of Canadian communities. These awards are presented annually in several categories to individuals, companies, events and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the success of the sport tourism industry across Canada this past year.

For more information on the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance and its PRESTIGE Awards, visit: www.canadiansporttourism.com.

To view the official CSTA PRESTIGE Awards recipient release, click here

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Background:

About CSTA:
The Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA) is a tourism industry led organization that promotes sport tourism as an economic development initiative at the community level.  The CSTA services over 300 members across Canada, including 140 municipalities, 125 national & provincial sport, multi-sport and major games organizations and variety of other sport and tourism industry partners.  Sport tourism is the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry with approximately $3.6 billion in annual spending.

About SCORE!:
SCORE! is a project of the City of Charlottetown developed to grow the sport tourism industry in Charlottetown. The City realizes the value of the events sector and has placed a high priority on sport events to stimulate tourism and economic growth.