It was a great effort, but in the end, the106th Grey Cup and 2018 Grey Cup Festival in Edmonton beat out North Bay's 2018 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship for a Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance PRESTIGE Award.
See: North Bay an underdog for major sports tourism award...but
The awards recognize those who work to bid, host and stage sport events across the country.
The city finished as a runner-up but the event website doesn't say if it finished second or third in the.2019 Canadian Sport Event of the Year Award.
North Bay was also competing against Vancouver, which hosted the 2018 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships.
CSTA’S PRESTIGE Awards celebrate the people, places and events that make the Canadian sport tourism industry so dynamic. The awards are presented annually in seven categories to honour individuals, companies and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the success of the sport tourism industry.
"Edmonton’s organizing committee wanted the 2018 Grey Cup experience to be bigger and even more memorable," says the website.
"The Grey Cup Fan Festival spanned over three blocks in the heart of downtown, creating the largest and most unique fan festival Canada’s big game has ever seen. Some of the free, innovative, interactive activities included the Zipline, which propelled riders down into Edmonton’s iconic river valley; the Street Ski, which allowed festival goers the chance to strap on skis and ride down a hill made of scaffolding on Edmonton’s street, a Bungee Jump, and a mini-football field. The Entertainment Stage was programmed with free concerts, TailGate Parties, and an Esports Tournament rounded out the activities supported by over 1,000 volunteers.
"The PRESTIGE Awards are the CSTA’s marquis Program Recognizing Exceptional Sport Tourism Initiatives, Games & Events. In its 13th year, this annual award program shines a spotlight on the dynamic Canadians, places, and events that are building our nation’s growing sport tourism industry. "
