The winners take it all. The closing dinner of the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC)’s annual media show had a star turn: the GoMedia Canada Marketplace awards.

This year there were six trips to the podium at the High Country Inn and Convention Centre in Whitehorse, YT. Without further ado—meet the winners:

Tourism Whistler stayed ahead of the pack to claim the Online Media Centre Award—Industry submissions. Judging the entrants, Barbara Tong, producer, Business News Network, noted: “The ‘Fresh Image Gallery’ allows users to download the images right away, without cumbersome sign-in and passwords. Fantastic for all journalists on deadlines.”

There are thousands of travel blogs in cyberspace now. Ryan Holmes, CEO of HootSuite, the popular social-media dashboard, had a tough call on his hands for the Best Travel Blog Award—Canadian and International submissions, but plumped for Toque and Canoe. Holmes commented that the blog “has consistent personality, is warm and welcoming and is uniquely Canadian in a non-stereotypical way. I liked that it mixed wilderness and urban, sports and leisure and felt the theme was gorgeous overall.”

Carol Geddes, filmmaker and writer from Teslin, YT, wore two judging hats. First was for the Top Canadian Travel Story Award—International submissions (broadcast). “Essential Yukon” from Travel Channel caught Geddes’s eye and took the prize: “Good travel journalism, in my view, involves social and cultural history and this piece fulfilled both categories as well as providing a variety of well-chosen, beautifully composed shots.”

Geddes also looked after the Top Canadian Travel Story Award—International submissions (print or online). Sarah Barrell’s hugely evocative tale “Land of Extremes” in the UK version of National Geographic Traveller magazine was the standout in this category: “She [Barrell] wove a great overview of the Yukon by looking at particular details such as the dog teams, a trip on the river, and the importance of seeing the Yukon by air.”

Rick Mercer, eponymous host of CBC’s “The Rick Mercer Report,” had a delicate job going through all the entries for the Top Canadian Travel Story Award—Canadian submissions. Eventually, Mercer decided Joanne Blain’s “Prince Edward Island’s seafood nirvana” in the Calgary Herald was the pick of the bunch.  He noted that: “The author’s descriptive love of the bounty that is PEI seafood is mouth-drooling. She captivates the reader with a sense of place that is graced with fresh local food and creates a longing for a shore dinner.”

Last but not least was the new GoMedia GoGetter Award for PR Excellence. After much head-scratching, judge Joy Jennisen, Hill + Knowlton Strategies senior vice president and general manager, British Columbia, chose Gillian Marx from Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism as the deserving recipient for this new award. Jennisen observed that: “No media request is too taxing and no amount of time too much for Gillian to invest in helping with a story. She’ll zip-line across a frozen waterfall in Gros Morne, sing along in a St. John’s pub, teach you to play the spoons or invite you home to meet her family. When Gillian’s in charge, you’re in the heart of the Newfoundland action and never feel you’re ‘from away’.”

There will be a full report on GoMedia Canada Marketplace in CTC News laster this month. Stay tuned!