They may not be firefighters or law enforcement officers, but five people from Grand Forks will be deemed heroes after an award ceremony tonight at the Fire Hall Theatre.
The Greater Grand Forks Convention & Visitors Bureau is hosting its annual Hometown Heroes ceremony from 5 to 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
Julie Rygg, executive director of the bureau, said the ceremony was first held last year as a way to award those people and organizations that deserve recognition for their work in the events and conventions industry.
"We started it really to recognize the local individuals who are really working to bring events to our town," she said.
Winners are selected in five categories. Rygg said she wouldn't disclose the honorees because she wants it to be a surprise, but they are all dedicated and deserving recipients.
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"All the people being recognized are those that are truly passionate about what they're doing and are right there on the frontline to make sure these events are successful," she said.
The five categories of awards are tourism innovator of the year, event of the year, event or convention organizer of the year, organization or venue of the year and hospitality person of the year.
Rygg said winners could be recognized for things they did through an official work capacity or through a volunteer effort. "Still, they're going above and beyond for the community," she said.
Before award winners are announced, anyone in attendance will get a chance to have a casual meet and greet.
She said people can also take a look at the Fire Hall Theatre and see what it has to offer if they haven't recently been inside. The ceremonies will be held at different locations each year, Rygg said, and hopefully will help highlight unique meeting venues around town.
But the main purpose of the event, of course, is to honor those individuals and organizations that have helped make Grand Forks into a regional destination city. She said their efforts add to the ongoing work of the visitors bureau and are a vital part of the city's success as a convention and event center.
"If they weren't willing to go out and do it, there's no way for one small organization to do it," Rygg said. "We're very grateful to them, and they make our job much easier."
Reach Johnson at (701) 780-1105; (800) 477-6572, ext. 105; or send e-mail to rjohnson@gfherald.com .
