Kaslo Hotel wins Gordon Wilder Memorial Award

Anne Pigeon, director of Kootenay Rockies Tourism presented the manager of the Kaslo Hotel, Andy LeCouffe, with the Gordon Wilder Memorial Award.

The Gordon Wilder Memorial Award is presented annually by Kootenay Rockies Tourism. It recognizes significant achievement in support of tourism in British Columbia's Kootenay Rockies region.

The award is named after Gordon Wilder, who was the director of marketing for Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. He died during a flight on his private plane, on his way back to Fairmont from Calgary to attend a Kootenay Rockies AGM on October 21, 1988.

This 2010 recipient of the Gordon Wilder Memorial Award is the Kaslo Hotel, owned and operated by the Eckland family—John, Susan and Tom. The hotel was originally opened in 1896 and it has been restored over the last few years to its former glory by a $2 million renovation and upgrade.

The Ecklands were recognized as one of Kootenay Business magazine's Top Ten Business People of the Year last year. The award was recently presented at the Nelson AGM of Kootenay Rockies Tourism.