The Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association will soon be welcoming a new Executive Director. Chair of the association Jason Halwa says with new leadership they will be looking to develop new partnerships and continue to work on current partnerships. They would like to strengthen the connection with the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum.
“We’ve been doing a lot of work with them in the past. I think we have some pretty good ideas and things to come for the future. I hope we can put together a stronger bond there and really help them grow. If we help them grow, we help the rest of the community grow as well.”
He adds that the new leader will continue to make marketing a focus and they hope to continue the momentum they have built up.
“We hope the new Executive Director that will be able to continue on and enhance where we have been trying to go.”
In April, the now former Executive Director of the Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association Ainsley LaMontagne presented sent a letter to the Minister of Culture and Tourism which voiced concerns about cuts made to funding. There was concerns with losing festival funding and losing festivals altogether in the summer of 2016. Although the proposed changes were initiated, there wasn’t much change noticed in funding.
LaMontagne has moved on to a position in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Halwa says the person taking over the position should be announced before the end of the week.