To be nominated alongside such inspiring individuals is in itself a privilege. I am extremely honoured to be awarded this recognition.
Ruedi Hafen, owner and operator of Niagara Helicopters Limited, has been appointed the 2006 Tourism Enterprise Award.
The Niagara Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (NEYA) program announced their decision Friday night at the 2006 Niagara Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Gala Dinner.
Hafen, along with 22 other nominees, vied for awards in seven different categories that focused on honouring Niagara’s entrepreneurs who exemplify hard work, determination, creativity, and resourcefulness.
Hafen says “To be nominated alongside such inspiring individuals is in itself a privilege. I am extremely honoured to be awarded this recognition.” This was not the first award from the NEYA that Hafen has received – last year he took home the 2005 Established Enterprise Award.
According to NEYA, the Tourism Enterprise Award recognizes individuals who have “demonstrated outstanding entrepreneurial achievement within the tourism sector. The recipient will have demonstrated innovation, commitment and leadership resulting in the success of a tourism enterprise in the Niagara Region.”
Hafen, who is also the chief pilot of the operation, is no stranger to recognition from the Niagara Falls community. For the past 25 years, Niagara Helicopters has been the only daily, year-round aerial sightseeing tour operator of the Falls, and has been named Niagara’s Attraction of the Year five times.
In addition, Niagara Helicopters’ involvement in the search and rescue efforts within the Niagara Gorge, and the ongoing training of search and rescue professionals on helicopter assisted missions, have garnered them an Award of Recognition of Service to the City of Niagara Falls.
