JOHN COOPER TO BE HONOURED FEB. 19 FOR ‘CHAMPIONING’ MUSKOKA TOURISM
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
GRAVENHURST — John Cooper is already a big winner and international sports champion.
If you know the outgoing, involved retired businessman — and who doesn’t — you already know how much he loves Muskoka.
Just ask James Murphy, CEO of Explorers’ Edge, central Ontario’s top tourism executive.
“John Cooper is no stranger to those who know him as a business icon and as a tireless volunteer for so many organizations across Muskoka,” said Murphy.
“For Explorers’ Edge staff, we are always so appreciative of him taking the time to learn all he can about our organization, to attend as many events as possible and to follow it all up with positive feedback afterwards.
“He is our biggest champion and we are very grateful for his support.”
Cooper, who has dressed Canadian and international hockey players — men and women — with his family’s Cooper sports equipment for decades before selling, will be a special recipient Feb. 19 when Explorers’ Edge recognizes winners of its annual 2024 Big Applause Awards.
It’s the third year for the industry honours being handed out at a Muskoka Bay Club luncheon in Gravenhurst.
Called the “Pillar of Support Award,” Murphy says the staff wanted to do something to “show their appreciation for Cooper’s unwavering championing of the organization’s programs for close to a decade.”
Twenty-two regional employees are recipients of the annual honours, which were created by the organization to recognize employee excellence in the regional tourism sector. Unique among industry recognition programs, nominations are submitted by co-workers, who wish to honour their colleagues for a job well done.
Each person who nominates a co-worker has to submit a few words about the nominee, and the thoughtful acknowledgement that comes with every nomination really speaks volumes about how important team members are to each other.
“These awards are truly heart-warming, not just because they honour the exceptional people who do such important work in all areas of the tourism and hospitality sector, but also because their efforts are recognized by the person standing next to them in the trenches,” said Murphy.
The event is open to community members who’d like to join the celebration of tourism employee excellence across Algonquin Park, the Almaguin Highlands, Loring-Restoule, Muskoka, west Parry Sound district and South Algonquin. Explorers’ Edge staff will also share highlights of the upcoming fiscal year’s destination development plan.
Call Kate Monk at 705-706-4353 for tickets.
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