Barkerville CEO Kate Cox awarded Business Woman of the Year at BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference March 5, 2023 (Barkerville, BC) – Barkerville Historic Town & Park had much to celebrate on March 2nd at the BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference's awards gala in Prince George as its Chief Executive Office, Kate Cox, was awarded Business Woman of the Year. Her acceptance speech included praise for her staff as well as a call to action for all heritage sites to continue the important task of creating inclusive spaces that incorporate Indigenous perspectives into the story telling of colonial sites.
"It is an honor to be recognized for the work we are doing here," says Cox. "I say 'we' because this award belongs to my teammates as much as it belongs to me. I am proud of the work we do every day to keep our National and Provincial Heritage Site standing. I am proud of the extraordinary, talented, and dedicated staff and contractors who bring Barkerville's history to life, year after year, for ourselves and for our visitors. Barkerville is still on a long road to recovery from the effects of the pandemic, and we have had to make hard choices to protect our core operations by dedicating our limited non-profit resources towards preserving our site and offering quality public programming, while also ensuring that our heritage resource remains intact for future generations. I am grateful every day to work with people who have proven themselves to be flexible and adaptive to ever-changing circumstances. I know that together, along with others who care so deeply for Barkerville, we will continue to contribute to this unique place so that it is stronger and better each year." Other finalists for Business Woman of the Year included Lan Do of Banh Mi Tres Bon in Richmond, and Sarah Vallely of Opus Hotel Vancouver. The award, sponsored by Prince of Whales Adventures, aims to raise the profile of women across the province who have achieved phenomenal success and are making a real impact in BC's tourism and hospitality industry by recognizing the achievements, professional expertise and leadership of outstanding women who play a vital role in the tourism industry. Barkerville also had the distinction of holding a second nomination that evening with its manager of public programming, Stewart Cawood, among the finalists in the Remarkable Experiences category, which was awarded to Prince George's very own Northern Fancon. This recognition is well-deserved as Fancon has been providing northern BC's community with a unique and inspiring experience since its launch in 2015. It was also exciting to see the new hit series Beyond the Haunting, which was on location in Barkerville in 2021, receive its award for Innovation, and it was a humbling reminder of the positive effect that BC's gold rush town can have on the broader community. Barkerville's main season begins Saturday June 3rd and will run for 100 days until Sunday September 10th. Reservations for accommodations and campgrounds are now available online. Visit http://barkerville.ca to learn more.