Country music festival at the Ness Creek Site. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Ian Gustafson

Two local business owners recognized for helping tourism in Saskatchewan

Nov 13, 2020 | 2:17 PM

The 2019 Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence recipients have been announced including two local business owners, Brad Muir and Gordon Olson.

Brad Muir from Anglin Lake owns Sundogs Excursions and Gordon Olson from Big River owns Ness Core Ventures.

Out of 13 awards announced, they both were awarded the Tourism Builder Award, which is given to individuals who have helped the Saskatchewan tourism industry and made the province a destination.

Muir, who has owned and operated Sundogs excursions since the late ’90s said he has helped and encouraged others to build their businesses which has been a great pleasure for him.

“I worked with Tourism Saskatchewan as a mentor for small business operators providing all sorts of different adventures in northern Saskatchewan and it comes from my heart when I can see them taking guests out and really enjoy themselves,” Muir said.

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Sundogs Excursions takes its guests dog sledding while experiencing the outdoors around Anglin Lake and Prince Albert National Park.

Like many business owners, he said they were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to when business started shutting down in March, Muir said Sundogs Excursions was having its best season yet. Once the word came out, they weren’t sure what to do but they closed for the safety of guests.

They’re not sure if they’ll be able to offer their services this winter as of yet but based on discussions, he thinks they can do it in a safe offering on the trails.

“I’m optimistic, we certainly got lots of bookings for the early winter late fall and we’ll do what we can to get people out,” he said.

Olson, who owns Ness Core Ventures, has helped bring the Ness Creek music festival to Saskatchewan and said winning the award is humbling.

“There’s so many people that really are part of what we do here,” he said. “I’m very honoured and happy that we got some recognition but I kind of see it as you know it takes a whole community to do what we do here.”

Ness Core Ventures manages its Ness Creek site, which Olson said hosted four main festivals every summer before the COVID-19 pandemic. They also manage the Nesslin Lake campground.

He added tourism is an important aspect of Saskatchewan.

“It’s an industry that is maybe often overlooked, you don’t think of Saskatchewan as a tourist destination, but I think are experience would be contrary to that belief,” he said. “We get people from all over Canada coming here.”

The 31st annual Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence Gala was supposed to take place on April 2 in Regina but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They announced the finalists back in March and held a Facebook live event on Nov. 10 to announce the recipients.

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panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow