CATT 2010 National Student Conference in Saskatoon a Great Success

June 15 2010

Students Learn About Diverse Opportunities in Tourism Sector

The Canadian Academy of Travel and Tourism National Student Conference was held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan from May 13th-16th, 2010. Organizing students from Nutana Collegiate, the event’s host school, welcomed CATT students from across the country to Saskatoon’s Travelodge Hotel for a tourism themed weekend of discovery, community, and education.

The conference opened at the Saskatoon Western Development Museum, an impressive facility boasting a life size reproduction of a prairie boomtown from the year 1910. Before a buffet dinner, the CATT students were welcomed by Dr. Shirley Figley, Principal of Nutana Collegiate, and enjoyed an opening speech by the Honourable Dustin Duncan, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Tourism. The students enjoyed getting to know each other while taking part in a Saskatchewan themed scavenger hunt in the model town, which developed problem solving and co-operation skills, and provided a history lesson in a tourism setting.

Friday morning saw an early departure from the Travelodge, as the students made their way to the Saskatoon Farmer’s Market. They learned about the Farmer’s Market, and how it has attracted both locals and tourists to an area of downtown which was previously underused and underdeveloped. Mayor Donald J. Atchison delivered a breakfast speech highlighting the success of many tourism projects in the city, and encouraging the students to vocalize their ideas and work together to achieve their goals in the future. Mayor Atchison also described some exciting upcoming strategies to attract tourists to the area, with a special focus on sports tourism in Saskatoon.

After breakfast, the Meewasin Conservation Authority gave a short history of their organization and its mandate to protect the natural and cultural resources of the South Saskatchewan River Valley. A walking tour of the Meewasin Trail demonstrated the unique tourism potential of the valley’s downtown trail system, river access and wide open spaces — all very attractive attributes to travellers, but not always thought of as obvious tourist draws by the students. The group’s guide explained how the development of the trail system was designed to increase tourism throughout all stages of the project, increasing visitors and generating funds for the ongoing work on the trail. The guide was also able to pass on personal tips and insights into the tour guide occupation, pointing out the importance of keeping an audience engaged and interested in the tour’s subject matter at all times.

From downtown, the students travelled by bus to another local tourist attraction, the Wanuskewin Heritage Park. This provincial heritage property gave students a chance to see heritage interpreters in action, as the staff at the park presented the history and culture of the Northern Plains First Nations, and demonstrated or led activities such as dream-catcher weaving, tipi building, walking tours, and serving a traditional lunch. The students learned about cultural tourism from the interpreters, further expanding their view of tourism and the career opportunities it presents.

In the evening, the conference participants visited the Whitecap Dakota First Nation, and learned how tourism can make a real difference in a community. They learned from Chief Darcy Bear that until recently the community had lacked proper infrastructure and the residents’ quality of life was considered poor. The Whitecap Dakota First Nation turned its community around by building a Casino, and then a world class golf course. The tourism dollars generated by these facilities have been invested in the infrastructure needs of the community, and plans are underway for construction of a hotel to help attract tourists to the area for longer stays. Visiting this First Nation community gave the students a real life example of the economic impact that tourism has in Canadians’ lives every day.

Saturday saw an impressive lineup of guest speakers visit the CATT Student Conference, with breakout sessions and the keynote speaker exploring different aspects of tourism in Canada. The keynote speaker for the conference was Albert Jame, the creative director of ZU, an award winning agency specializing in web strategy, design, and development. Mr. Jame’s address focused on customer service, one of the most important components of tourism, and on social media, a powerful communications tool being used more and more by tourism stakeholders to connect with existing clients and to attract new business.

The four breakout sessions at the conference focused on a few unique areas of tourism. One session looked back on the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championship, held in Saskatoon and Regina. The tournament was a great success, and the session gave students information on large scale international event planning, sports tourism, and the benefits to the community of hosting such a high profile event. Sessions presented by Prince Albert National Park and Parks Canada delved into in eco-tourism. Students learned about the growing numbers of outdoor enthusiasts and the potential of outdoor and heritage sites as tourism destinations. The final breakout session, Opportunities Abroad, encouraged the students to think about the global reach of tourism, and about the exciting tourism careers available to them in Canada and around the world.

In the afternoon, the students jumped at the chance to learn about a few of Saskatoon’s finest tourist attractions. Groups investigated a local sightseeing company and went on a riverboat tour, visited the Mendel art gallery to learn more about managing a cultural tourist attraction, explored the unique tourism environment of the Saskatoon Zoo, and were immersed in the fast paced worlds of food and beverage and accommodation at the historic Delta Bessborough Hotel. Once again, the CATT students were exposed to new and exciting aspects of tourism at each of these attractions, and gained a clearer understanding of the scope and range of the tourism sector in Canada.

From there, it was off to Prairieland Park for a conference ending banquet and dance, where some final time was spent with new friends before everyone headed their separate ways on Sunday. While everyone was saddened to see the conference end, they were also excited about what they were taking away with them. The students who attended the 2010 CATT Student Conference enjoyed a wonderful few days in beautiful Saskatoon, and built a valuable network of friends and peers with a shared interest in tourism. The attendees also took away a much greater understanding of the impact tourism has on people’s lives, and the amazing variety of exciting opportunities that exist for those seeking a career in the tourism sector. Thanks to the hard work and civic pride of the organizing students from Nutana Collegiate, the 2010 CATT National Student Conference was a resounding success, and Canada’s tourism sector will benefit from their dedication, enthusiasm, and generosity as students who attended the conference move into the workforce in the years to come.

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