The Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, is pleased to announce that Stephen and Gwendolyn Knudsen, owners of The Dark Tickle Company, are the 2008 recipients of the fourth-annual Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) Tourism Atlantic Technology Award in Newfoundland and Labrador. The award was recently presented in Gander during a luncheon at the Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador’s Annual Convention and Tradeshow.

“Tourism plays an important role in strengthening the economy of Atlantic Canada,” said Minister Hearn, on behalf of the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of ACOA. “Our Government is proud to recognize tourism-related operations which are working to achieve best practices in technology and also promote our beautiful region.”

The Dark Tickle Company, located in Griquet on Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula, manufactures jams, sauces, vinegars, teas, drinks and chocolates from unique wild berries. Owners Stephen and Gwendolyn Knudsen are well- known for their hand-picked, carefully processed and additive-free products. The award recognizes their commitment to technology by Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, the province’s tourism industry association.

Understanding the need to connect with a global audience, the Knudsen’s asked their son to create the company’s website in the late 1990’s. Since that time, the website has evolved with streamlined e-commerce capabilities. Thanks to these innovative upgrades, The Dark Tickle Company now has the ability to export their products throughout the world.

The Tourism Atlantic Technology Award was created in 2004 to recognize one tourism industry association member in each of the four Atlantic provinces who exemplifies innovation, leadership and vision in using technology as a competitive advantage for their business.

Nominees, who must be members of their respective provincial tourism industry associations, must also have: operated their businesses for two years; successfully demonstrated the basic principle recognized by the award; and be willing to participate in promoting their achievements to other operators in Atlantic Canada. The Government of Canada, through ACOA, continues to support a pan-Atlantic approach to strengthening our region’s tourism industry through sound research, product development, and marketing.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

The Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans today announced that Stephen and Gwendolyn Knudsen, owners of The Dark Tickle Company in Griquet on the Great Northern Peninsula, are the recipients of the fourth-annual ACOA Tourism Atlantic Technology Award. The award was presented in Gander today during a luncheon at the Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador’s Annual Convention and Tradeshow.

The Knudsen’s were recognized for their innovation, leadership and vision in using technology as a competitive advantage for their business, which offers a variety of food products made from Newfoundland wild berries promoted and sold internationally via their company’s innovative website.

INFORMATION:

Jana Parker
ACOA PEI & Tourism
Communications
902-368-0264

Tony Marx
Manager of Government and Industry Relations
Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador
709-722-2224