The Grande Prairie-hosted 2024 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships is a finalist for Sport Tourism Canada’s Prestige Awards Canadian Sport Event of the Year in the under $1 million budget category.
The NAHC was hosted in May of last year when more than 400 coaches, athletes, and officials from Ontario, Manitoba, Atlantic Canada, Northern Canada, BC, and Saskatchewan represented their province on the big stage, and officials say they are honoured to be a finalist at the national level.
“We’re honoured that this event is a finalist on the national sport tourism stage, highlighting the City of Grande Prairie’s legacy as a premier games host for elite sport and culture events,” the city shared in a statement on social media.
Grande Prairie was also the first Alberta host city in NAHC history, and the city says they appreciated the opportunity to showcase the region’s Indigenous culture and spirit.
Two other finalists were selected, the first being the 2024 Canadian Little League Championships, which were hosted in Kingston Ontario, and the 2024 Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada, which was hosted in Greater Victoria.
The City itself isn’t the only finalist, however. Katie Biberdorf, who served as the 2024 NAHC Organizing Committee Chair, has been selected as a finalist for the STC’s Sport Tourism Industry Champion Award.
The 17th edition of the STC Prestige Awards will be presented during a ceremony and brunch in Calgary on March 20th.
