Meetings, Events, Conventions and Conferences experts in Canada and the USA
Resource Experts
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Brenda Zimmerman
Brenda brings a definite gastronomical expertise to the events she helps stage. This graduate of Le Cordon Bleu cooking school with experience in several restaurants brings a definite "panache" to the task at hand. Brenda has also acquired significant marketing, event-planning, and communications expertize over the years. She has worked with Great Excursions on several projects. -
Carey Isaak, MA, Professional Archivist
A graduate of the University of Manitoba with Master of Arts degrees in History and Archival Studies, Carey is Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Council for Archives and Archivists. Along with an in-depth knowledge of Regina's history and the archival records that document that history, Carey's area of specialty resides in the study of urban development in western Canada and the geographic history of the Canadian plains. A prairie boy born and raised, Carey has never met a grain elevator he didn't like and is always selling the virtues of 'Canada's favourite rectangle' to archivists and historians across the country. -
Claude-Jean Harel MA MAHI
Claude-Jean Harel is the Founder and Manager of The Great Excursions Company, a Regina-based boutique travel and destination management company which crafts "behind the scenes" tourism experiences using a variety of techniques. He brings to tourism 25 years of broadcast media experience in the fields of culture, heritage and science, generating national and international attention for the distinctive qualities of the North American Plains region. Claude-Jean not only presents tourism products as reportages intended to be lived by guests, he is also a regular contributor to CBC Radio and Television programs. Claude-Jean's work has won numerous awards including: the Canadian Ethnic Journalists' and Writers' Club award. He is a former Commonwealth Relations Trust bursar. His work was nominated for a UNESCO Award; and in 2004, he was admitted to the degree of Master of Arts in Archaeology and Heritage with Distinction at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. Claude-Jean's company recently joined the CAA Saskatchewan group of companies, where he is now also Manager of Inbound Travel. CAA operates the largest travel agency in the province and WestWorld Tours.
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Cliff Walker, Military Historian
The owner of this friendly smile is one of Canada's favorite military historians and historic battlefields tour guides. Cliff Walker served 35 years in the Canadian Army. He spent seven years in the Royal Canadian Engineers and 28 years as an infantry officer. He is a graduate of a variety of military courses in Canada and the United Kingdom. He was the first Deputy Commander of Land Force Western Area and served in that capacity for five years. Cliff Walker is a well-known figure in the Regina community . He received a Bachelor of Education with Distinction from the University of Saskatchewan and held teaching and administrative positions at the high school and university level. He is the Past President of the Royal United Services Institute and served on the local executive of the Canadian Institute for International Affairs. He became the Chief Executive Officer of the South Saskatchewan Division of the Corps of Commissionaires in 2002. Cliff Walker is one of these resource people who loves nothing more than to share his valuable insight. -
David Weiman, Nature Interpreter and Guide
David Weiman has, throughout his life, combined professional work with a personal love for the Boreal and Parkland regions. A specialist in renewable resource technology, he left a career as a conservation officer to open an outdoor adventure store, but soon found he needed to be in the real outdoors again. Thus, Sawyer Lake Adventures evolved providing you the opportunity to explore and appreciate the Parkland Boreal Forest. David brings familiarity with ecosystems, and his enthusiasm introduces you to their magic. -
Frank Switzer, Natural Heritage Interpreter
Frank is a 1938 model. Being born into a farm family at the end of the Great Depression gives Frank a definite long term advantage from which to view our natural surroundings. Frank has been well inducted into his interest in nature. His mother; Dr. Stuart Huston; natural history societies in Yorkton, Regina, Saskatchewan and Canada have all played a role. Presently, Frank belongs to Friends of Wascana Marsh, Nature Regina, Nature Saskachewan, Nature Canada and the Nature Conservancy of Canada. A bit tongue-in-cheek, Frank says the only pieces of paper he has that may show he might have known about something at one time, maybe, are in electronic technology and mathematics. However, he also enjoyed course in the study of ornithology, mammology, palaeontology and botany; that's birds, mammals, fossils and plants. Frank's working lifetime was spent with the Saskatchewan Power Corporation. During the course of his 30 years employment he held positions as draughtsman, electronics technician, environmental research assistant, communications specialist, community relations officer, community relations superintendant and manager of community relations. he retired in 1987. Frank participated in Canadian Wildlife Service breeding bird surveys for 30 years. He contributed to the field guide Wildflowers Across the Prairies as a photographer in the first two editions and added the section on grasses, sedges and rushes in the third edition. He has also consulted on breeding bird surveys relative to vegetation management practices in provincial parks and P.F.R.A. pastures. In his younger years, Frank helped with nature programs for scouts, guides and 4H. In later years, he participated on the boards of both Nature Regina and Nature Saskatchewan. In 1998, Frank received the Douglas H. Pimlott Award for Conservation from the Canadian Nature Federation, now Nature Canada. Since 1994, Frank has contributed to a bi-weekly radio column about birds on the CBC Radio One Afternoon Edition with Colin Grewar. Frank and May continue to live in Regina. -
Gordon Johnson, Heritage Interpreter
Gord has access to slide presentations about Moose Jaw and Area. He was presented with the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for his dedication to tourism in 2002. He received the Ambassador Award for Tourism Services from the Saskatchewan Tourism Educational Council in 2003. His small business has been recognized in print media, radio and television. In June 2003, Johnson had the honour to be a tour guide for His Royal Highness, Prince Edward when he visited Moose Jaw for the 100th birthday celebrations. -
Hugh Lerat, Traditional Knowledge Keeper
Hugh Lerat, also known as Spotted Medicine Horse, is a Cree member of the Cowessess First Nation on the edge of Crooked Lake in the Qu'Appelle Valley. Hugh has not only inherited some invaluable knowledge of the traditional uses of native plants he is an accomplished interpreter of the heritage of Plains indigenous societies. Hugh Lerat, also known as Spotted Medicine Horse, is a Cree member of the Cowessess First Nation on the edge of Crooked Lake in the Qu'Appelle Valley. Hugh has not only inherited some invaluable knowledge of the traditional uses of native plants he is an accomplished interpreter of the heritage of Plains indigenous societies. He hosts cultural camps for a variety of school systems in Saskatchewan. He has also partnered with The Great Excursions Company to host corporate team building activities for provincial organizations and guests from around the world in search bor aboriginal immersion experiences. -
Jennie Avram, President of Station Events Inc.
In 1994, Jennie Avram was awarded the title of Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Saskatchewan by the Federal Business Development Bank. The award recognized her creative and successful business efforts. Station Events Inc. (SEI) was launched as a special event marketing and management company that operated out of the old VIA Rail train station in downtown Regina. It began when Jennie Avram convinced VIA Rail that the abandoned, historic train station would make an outstanding special events facility. In the spring of '93, VIA turned the keys over to SEI with the approval to proceed with breathing new life into one of Regina's finest buildings. When SEI opened the doors in September of 1993, it was an instant success. Jennie worked with Great Excursions since on a number of projects.
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