TTHENAAGO/NAHANNI BUTTE - A Nahanni Butte resident has been honoured for his work to provide exceptional experiences in a territorial park.

Bob McLeod, right, minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, presents Burton Campbell with the 2010 Parks Award during NWT Tourism's annual general meeting in Inuvik. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

Burton Campbell is the recipient of the 2010 Parks Award. The award has been given out yearly since 2006 to recognize parks and visitor centre staff members who provide outstanding hospitality and service.

The award winner is chosen based on nominations submitted by visitors to the parks, campgrounds and visitor centres in the territory.

For the past three summers Campbell has had the contract to run Blackstone Territorial Park.

"People created new categories for him in terms of satisfaction," said Richard Zieba, the director of tourism and parks with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

On the comment cards tourists drew new boxes so they could rate Campbell as being awesome.

"He epitomizes Northern hospitality," said Zieba.

Visitors included stories about how Campbell cooked meals for them when they were tired coming off of the river after a trip through the Nahanni National Park Reserve.

"He's genuinely kind and has a great deal of dignity," said Zieba.

Campbell said he was both surprised and honoured to receive the award, which was presented at NWT Tourism's annual general meeting in Inuvik on Nov. 25.

Campbell became interested in running the park while watching tourists come through his home town of Nahanni Butte after paddling in the Nahanni National Park Reserve. Many paddlers didn't know about Blackstone and Campbell said he wanted to promote the park as well as the community and the surrounding area.

"I really enjoy it," he said about the work.

"You have to love it to enjoy it."

Campbell said he was surprised to get the award because he doesn't consider his efforts to look after the campers to be out of the ordinary. In addition to keeping the campground clean Campbell said he does cook meals for some of the paddlers coming off the river and families arriving on the highway. It's good to have a meal with some moose meat for the paddlers because most have been eating dry food during their trips, he said.

This summer Campbell also offered boat trips twice a week to take tourists into Nahanni Butte and show them nearby fishing spots.

"The tourists want to know more about the culture and the people," he said.

Campbell said visitors would be waiting at the boat for him to arrive for the popular trips.

During his first two years at the park Campbell worked along side his wife Pauline. This year Pauline didn't join him at the park because she had other employment.

Campbell said it's too early to say if they will be bidding on the park contract again next year.

Campbell is the third person from the Deh Cho to receive the Parks Award. Rufus Sanguez and Susan Deneyoua were the first recipients in 2006 for their work at Sambaa Deh Falls Territorial Park.

The award is part of the department's overall vision to make the parks attractive and welcoming to people, said Zieba.

People in the service and hospitality industry see few tangible rewards so the award is also one way to recognize them, he said.

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