Travel Oregon announces Travel & Tourism Industry Achievement Awards
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Wednesday, March 16th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
UNION/WALLOWA COUNTIES – The Oregon Tourism Commission, better known as Travel Oregon, has announced the recipients of the 2021 Oregon Travel and Tourism Industry Achievement Awards. These awards were presented recently during the 2022 Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism. Among the award recipients was the Eastern Oregon Rise Star Award which was presented to Kate Harbour with the Eastern Oregon Visitor’s Association.
In a release from Travel Oregon it was noted that “In Kate’s first year and a half with the organization, she has increased connectivity throughout the recreation and trail stakeholder communities, coordinated collaborative funding approaches to support regional stewardship of public lands and trails, and increased capacity and infrastructure to support outdoor recreation assets. Kate shows up to meetings with curiosity and intention, and her approachable demeanor has been a real asset in helping to build connections between groups and organizations.”
Another member of Eastern Oregon to recveive an award was Gwen Trice, , Founder of Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center. This award was the Oregon Tourism Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion Award, which celebrates a business or destination that has demonstrated leadership in raising awareness, or facilitating change, to build a more inclusive and welcoming environment for visitors to Oregon.
In a release from Travel Oregon, it was noted that “In 2001, Gwen Trice learned of her family’s ties to Maxville in Wallowa County. From 1923 to the early 1930s, Maxville operated as a company town for a Missouri lumber company. Among its households were more than 50 African Americans from southern states who’d been recruited to work in the woods of Wallowa County. Gwen’s father was one of them. The story of Maxville captured Gwen’s heart and she began working to develop the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center, where she now serves as the executive director. Located in downtown Joseph, the center offers a view into the past with displays of artifacts, photos of loggers, horses and equipment, a replica baseball uniform and a map of the town plotted with the houses and the names of the families who lived there. Gwen’s family story has been featured by OPB, and she has been awarded by the Oregon Commission for Women for her commitment to diversity and equity and preserving Oregon’s rich history.”
To view a list of all recipients, log on to https://t.e2ma.net/message/xly1qi/1sem0i
