Big Float at Manitou up for Community Event of the Year award

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The Big Float was part of the resort village’s centennial celebrations.

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“Everyone knows about Little Manitou Lake and the mineral content allowing you to float effortlessly on it so it was a great idea to celebrate the centennial,” Manz said.

The committee applied to set a Guinness World Record but was denied which according to Manz was a good thing for them. It turned it more into a community event for people to enjoy rather than putting the Guinness attention on it.

“I think this is our fifth different category that we have been a finalist in and there are only 12 categories in general,” Manz said.

Over the past 10 years, Manitou Beach has been a finalist or won the Lifetime Achievement, Business of the Year, Fred Heal Tourism Ambassador, or Service Excellence and now Community Event of the Year.

“It really helps showcase that we are a growing tourism area and a little bit of a mecca here in the province and something that our community can be proud of,” Manz said.

The village has around 300 permanent residents, so having close to 2,000 come for one afternoon was a great feat for the event committee.

“I think it was just overall a great event for not just our community but for the province,” Manz said.

Attendees came out from Alberta, Manitoba and even some internationally.

The Big Float is set for July 11, 2020 and will run in conjunction with the Manitou Boogaloo at Danceland.

The goal would be to beat last year’s number of 1,644 people floating in the lake at one time.

“People wanted to be part of a record-setting attempt and so that brings out people that wouldn’t otherwise come here and then they realize this is a place we need to come back to,” Manz said.

The 31st annual Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence gala will be held in Regina on April 2 and will be followed by the HOST tourism conference.

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angie.rolheiser@jobg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser