Niagara Falls, Ontario (March 8, 2023) Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) is proud to announce the 2023 Top 100 Festivals & Events in Ontario. These Top 100 recipients represent festivals an...

Niagara Falls, Ontario (March 8, 2023) Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) is proud to announce the 2023 Top 100 Festivals & Events in Ontario. These Top 100 recipients represent festivals an...

Niagara Falls, Ontario (March 8, 2023) Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) is proud to announce the 2023 Top 100 Festivals & Events in Ontario. These Top 100 recipients represent festivals an...

Niagara Falls, Ontario (March 8, 2023) Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) is proud to announce the 2023 Top 100 Festivals & Events in Ontario. These Top 100 recipients represent festivals an...

Inducted in 2023 Welcome Joanne Robbins from Port Elgin Pumpkinfest to the Festivals and events Ontario Hall of Fame. Joanne has played a key role in the festival industry for over 30 years and has ...

Inducted in 2022 Christine started her career in Richmond Hill in the early 90’s as the Wave Pool Supervisor.  Later she transitioned into an Event Supervisor role before becoming the Manager of Even...

Inducted in 2022 The festival celebrated its 25th Anniversary in September 2021 and Raya has been a staple of this Festival since inception. Raya was the very first Executive Director of this Festiv...

Inducted in 2022 With the many high-profile events and programs that Lori had to manage each year, volunteers were a key component to her success.  Typically, Lori would have to recruit and manage ro...

Inducted in 2022 Through her role as Executive Director for the past 30 years, she has been the key planner and organizer of Carrousel of the Nations for three decades. Prior to her position with the...

Inducted in 2020 There would be an absolute void in the Festivals and Events industry if Delores pursued a different career. Having 30 years’ experience in community planning and development at the m...

Inducted in 2020 Deb is an outstanding mentor, leader and coach. She leads by example in the community of Centre Wellington and has a visible track record of success. Deb is well-respected in the tou...

Inducted in 2019 Guy Laflamme was the Director of the Ottawa 2017 year-long calendar of extraordinary events, which served as the centerpiece of Canada’s 150th sesquicentennial year celebration and l...

Inducted in 2018 Since his first industry experience over 30 years ago he has striven for and achieved excellence, while leaving a lasting impression on which ever festival, event, or community he ha...

Inducted in 2018 Maria has held numerous positions in both the not for profit and governmental sectors where her leadership, commitment, passion and support have resulted in highly successful festiva...

Inducted in 2018 Mike Mueller was an employee at the City of Burlington for nearly 40 years. Mike worked in various roles at the City. When Mike retired, as the Coordinator, Festivals & Events he...

Inducted in 2018 Guy started his career in the tourism industry in 1979. He boasts over 39 years of progressive and proactive leadership in tourism, recreation, leisure and cultural sectors. As Mana...

Inducted in 2017 Shane Sargant possessed a post graduate diploma in Special Events and a diploma in Tourism Management. Along with his education, Shane worked over 25 years in the field of Tourism, C...

Inducted in 2017 Michael began his career working in publicity for a performing arts company in Toronto after graduating with honours in Fine Art and History from York University. As the Executive D...

Inducted in 2017 Ian McMillan was appointed the first Executive Director of Tourism Sault Ste. Marie in Sept. 2001 offering now close to 35 years of tourism marketing experience. He spent 18 years as...

Inducted in 2016 Judi has worked and volunteered throughout Markham and York Region extensively over the last 30+ years, organizing and chairing dozens of events and festivals including the Markham J...

Inducted in 2015 Darren Winger's long history of involvement with FEO and with countless community events across Southwestern Ontario spans almost two decades. His commitment, his vision and his tire...

Inducted in 2015 Sarah Wood is the Senior Manager of Events, Programming and Sponsorship Development at The Niagara Parks Commission (NPC).  Wood who has been a part of NPC for nearly 20 years has ha...

Inducted in 2014 Responsible for the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, Patrick Taylor serves as Executive Producer and CEO of Toronto Downtown Jazz. Since co-founding the Festival in 1987, Taylor has been To...

Inducted in 2014 Gerry’s career has included employment in senior management positions in Ontario’s Festivals and Events industry with extensive experience in Not for Profit Organizations, Municipal ...

Inducted in 2013 John Thorpe was born in Vancouver and grew up in Oakville, Ontario.  He went to McMaster University and studied Physical Education, majoring in Kinesiology.  A family oriented man; h...

Inducted in 2012 Employed by the City of Windsor Department of Parks and Recreation for over 35 years, Walt Metulynsky has been a leader in community special events and festivals for nearly 30 years....

Inducted in 2012 Chuck Jackson is the Founder and Artistic Director of the annual Tim Hortons Southside Shuffle Blues and Jazz Festival which has become a major event on the North American festival c...

Inducted in 2012 Lloyd Grinham has been a volunteer with the Hillside Festival since 1999.  Lloyd joined the Board of Directors in 2000 and served on the Board for 8 years sitting on many committees....

Inducted in 2011 Mark Monahan is the founder of the Ottawa Bluesfest. Mark fills the role of executive director and—along with a volunteer board of directors—provides leadership for the organization....

Inducted in 2011 As Program Director of the HFAHC, Lloyd is responsible for for the organization of “It’s Your Festival”, as well as other initiatives of the Hamilton Folk Arts Heritage Council.  Ove...

Inducted in 2011 William M. Duron has over 30 years of management experience in the media and tourism industries. He is Director of the Greenbelt Fund which promotes Ontario produced foods in public ...

Inducted in 2010 Rae dedicated her life as a volunteer for more than 50 years. Rae, with the help of her husband, was Chairperson of the Highland Dance Competitions for many years.  Following his dea...

Inducted in 2009 Gino Latini has over thirty years of experience in event production, stage management, sound reinforcement, lighting and custom staging. Gino mastered the art of performance and ente...

Inducted in 2009 Shelley’s event industry experiences span over 20 years. Her position as the Events Coordinator & Events Supervisor with the City of Hamilton included working with event organize...

Inducted in 2009 Peter started working for the City of Hamilton in 1974.  His positions included gardener, foreman, general foreman, special events liaison officer and manager of Parks.  Over these y...

Inducted in 2008 David is currently the Dean of the Hospitality & Tourism Division at Niagara College. Prior to this Position, David held the positions of Chair of Hospitality & Tourism, Co-o...

Inducted in 2008 Larry is the Executive Director of the Kitchener- Waterloo Oktoberfest. He has held this position since 1996 and he is responsible for the overall administrative operation of the fes...

Inducted in 2007 Donna began her career in the festivals and events industry in 1985 when she joined the Board of Directors of the Ontario Bon Soo Winter Carnival.  She was involved with the festival...

Inducted in 2006 Mr. Johnston, owner of Tom Johnston marketing in London, Ontario was a lifelong resident of Southwestern Ontario whose efforts in the corporate world and subsequently with his entrep...

Inducted in 2006 Anna was involved with the Association's growth and development in the 90's. During her involvement as a Board of Director then Vice President and President, the association experien...

Inducted in 2005 Cathy Seguin is currently the Manager of Arenas and Facilities with the City of North Bay.  Previously the Recreation Coordinator for the City of North Bay, she managed the North Bay...

Inducted in 2005 Jan, the owner of Alliance Advantage, an event management company was the Coordinator of the successful International Plowing Match staged in Leeds-Grenville in 2007. She has also wo...

Inducted in 2004 Doug Little spent many years as the Marketing Manager for the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa and was one of the founding members of Festivals Ontario, now known as Festivals &...

Inducted in 2003 Greg Bailey who retired in 2002, was the Manager of the Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls. 2003 Festival Chairman George Hostick said “Bailey helped bring it (Winter Festiv...

Inducted in 2003 Mr. Farrow is best known in the festivals and events Industry, as the Recreation Director for the Town of New Liskeard.  He is recognized for his unique ability to network with peopl...

Inducted in 2003 Thérèse St-Onge (CFEE) recently retired from the National Capital Commission, as the Senior Program Manager of Events and Celebrations. She has occupied several assignments at the Na...

Inducted in 2002 Dana has worked and contributed his personal time to the festivals and events industry for 30 years.  He has been instrumental in organizing events of all sizes – from non-profit and...

Inducted in 2002 Jim Thomson started his business out of his home and grew it to an international supplier of inflatable balloons for the largest events across North America.   In Las Vegas, NV 2000...

Inducted in 2002 Yvette Ward has dedicated much of her life to making Welland a better place to live.  She founded the Welland Heritage Council and Multicultural Centre in 1976, was a charter member ...

Inducted in 2001 Bill Stewart has made a tremendous contribution to the Festivals industry. First in his community as a volunteer, board member and President of K-W Okoberfest, then as a professional...

Inducted in 2001 Before founding his own company, Rhéal Leroux and Associates Inc., Rhéal worked for six years as director of the Culture and Leisure division at the National Capital Commission.  In ...

Inducted in 2001 Retired in 2000 as Executive Director of Hamilton's Creative Arts, and the producer behind that community's premiere festival, the Festival of Friends. Hamilton-Wentworth Creative Ar...