Meet the 2025 National Awards Judges (for work completed in 2024)

We are most fortunate to have a talented and diverse group of leaders in their respective fields judging the TMAC National Awards. You can read more about each of our judges below.
 

Our thanks and appreciation to all this year's Judges for lending their time, expertise, and insights to make the TMAC National Awards possible.

Carolyne Parent

“Last call!” This airport injunction has taken Carolyne Parent, tourism contributor to Montreal daily Le Devoir since 1996, to more than 120 countries and, for several of them, three times rather than once. Holder of a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University, she received a “Best Foreign Journalist Award” from India’s Dept. of Tourism in 2006 for a series of articles published in Le Devoir and the Toronto Star. In 2011, her book Ambiances d’Asie received a Best Culinary Tourism Guide (French Canada) award from Gourmand International. In 2021, she published Un Monde à voir – 100 aventures à vivre au temps nouveau du voyage (KO Éditions). She also shares her travel insights in her columns at ELLE Québec and Véro magazines, and travel tips on their websites. “Don’t believe anyone who claims that there’s something wrong with traveling, she says, yet be the most caring traveler you can be towards others and the planet!”

Dr. April Liu 劉詩源 (she/hers)

As an author, cultural programmer, and media producer, Dr. April Liu works extensively with Chinese Canadian artists and storytellers to revitalize diverse forms of cultural heritage. She's an expert in Cantonese Opera who published the first book length study of the opera’s visual and material culture (Divine Threads, 2019).

She is currently the Manager of Education and Public Programs at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre in Vancouver, BC, where she produces exhibits, films, educational initiatives and cultural programming. She previously served as an expert consultant for UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage section and the Curator of Public Programs at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC.

Her media projects have been featured on CBC Gem, CBC Arts, CBC Radio Canada, Guangzhou Radio and TV, Chinese National Radio (CNR), and at the Pasadena International Film Festival.

Arjun Basu

Arjun Basu is a writer, editor, brand strategist and host of The Full Bleed, a podcast about the future of magazines. For many years, he was editorial director at Spafax (later Bookmark) and led or founded projects for Air Canada, Fairmont Hotels, Bombardier and others, in Canada and overseas. His  most recent novel, The Reeds, was published last year. He lives in Montreal where he leads arbaStrategies, a content and branding consultancy. 

(c) Jane Heller

Jantine Van Kregten

Before retiring in June 2023, Jantine Van Kregten served as Director of Communications with Ottawa Tourism for almost 20 years.  She loved the fascinating people she met and diverse places she travelled to because of her position. She grew up in southwestern Ontario and spent a year in (West) Germany   as an exchange student before taking a political science degree at the University of Ottawa. Following graduation, she worked with two separate Ottawa City Councillors and spent six years representing the businesses of the bustling ByWard Market neighbourhood. 

Jantine is known for her love of craft beer, quirky experiences, and arcane trivia. She lives in the  eclectic Hintonburg neighbourhood in Ottawa with her husband Jerry. 

Marc Williams

M.V. Williams is a Skwxú7mesh/ Wet’suet’en 2 Spirit, photo-based artist. Their work focuses on memory, personal narrative and documentation, while working through various mediums, photography, print media, and weaving. They graduated from Emily Carr University of Art + Design with a BFA in visual arts.

Marie-Eve Vallieres

Marie-Eve Vallieres is a Montreal-based travel writer and PR specialist with a passion for storytelling and over 15 years of experience bringing destinations to life. Her career spans traditional print magazines, award-winning travel blogs, and impactful content marketing campaigns. A seasoned traveler, she has lived in Britain and France and visited 38 countries, drawing inspiration from themes such as oenology, feminism, architecture, and the transformative power of travel. Her work has appeared in renowned outlets like La Presse, AFAR, Viator, Fodor's, Expedia, and Travel + Escape. Since 2019, Marie-Eve has channeled her travel expertise into public relations as Senior Advisor, PR and Marketing at Air Transat. In this role, she focuses on curating compelling narratives and positioning the airline’s brand with precision in the media. Her work is driven by a deep belief in the power of storytelling to connect people and foster meaningful experiences.
 

Rebecca Bollwitt

Rebecca has been writing about events and travel in BC since 2004 on the internationally-recognized and multi award-winning blog Miss604.com.
 

With 25 years of digital publishing experience, she has co-authored and technically edited five books on the subject, and is the CEO of her own agency which assists clients across North America with their social media strategy and website development. Community is at the heart of her mission, and Rebecca partners with and sponsors campaigns for over twenty charities each year. She is also a columnist for Megaphone Magazine and serves as a Board Executive for two nonprofit organizations.

Danie Béliveau

An experienced communicator, I worked in the electronic media for nearly 15 years before making the jump to press relations.  During the following 18 years in the latter field,  I had the opportunity  of experiencing and appreciating two sides of the same coin.  I am as comfortable in front of a camera or a microphone as I am in the company of a group of journalists or visitors.

Marie-Andrée Boucher

Marie-Andrée Boucher travaille avec la presse tourisme et voyages depuis de nombreuses années. Native de Val-d’Or, au Nord du Québec, c’est une grande voyageuse passionnée par son travail. D’abord guide touristique, elle est invitée en France en 1988 pour devenir conseillère voyages pour Voyageurs au Canada. De fil en aiguille, elle travaille pour Vacances Air Canada, puis pour la Commission Canadienne du tourisme à Paris, où elle a vécu plus de quinze ans. De retour au Québec en 2004, elle continue à promouvoir le Canada sur le marché européen pendant quelques années. Puis elle est embauchée par Atout France, à titre de Responsable Presse et Éditions, cette fois pour promouvoir la France auprès du marché canadien. Elle boucle sa carrière avec l’Alliance de l’industrie touristique du Québec, cette fois pour travailler avec la presse québécoise. 

Marie-Andrée Boucher has been working with the travel and tourism press for many years. A native of Val-d'Or in northern Quebec, she is an avid traveler with a passion for her work. Starting out as a tour guide, she was invited to France in 1988 to become a travel consultant for Voyageurs au Canada. One thing led to another, and she went on to work for Vacances Air Canada, then for the Canadian Tourism Commission in Paris (Destination Canada), where she lived for over fifteen years. Returning to Quebec in 2004, she continued to promote Canada on the European market for several years. She was then hired by Atout France as Press and Publishing Manager, this time to promote France to the Canadian market. She ended her career with the Alliance de l'industrie touristique du Québec, to work with the Quebec press.

Timothy Taylor

Timothy Taylor is a Vancouver based novelist, journalist, and Professor at the UBC School of Creative Writing. He's the bestselling and award winning author of eight books and hundreds of magazine articles. His travel writing has appeared widely including in such publications as EnRoute and the New York Times. His most recent novel is The Rise and Fall of Magic Wolf, set in the commercial kitchens of Paris, Tokyo, and Vancouver. He is also the host and creator of the six-part documentary podcast "The Hidden Holocaust Papers: Survival Exile Return" produced by Walrus Lab and the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre.

Dennen Perrin

Deneen is currently the Director of Public Affairs, Stakeholder Engagement and Government Relations for the Royal Canadian Mint and formerly held the position of Senior Program Manager, Policy & Stakeholder Relations for the Mint.

Previously, Perrin held various positions in communications for the Fairmont Château Laurier, where she built an impressive 25-career with the Fairmont brand. Prior to her departure from the hospitality industry, Perrin occupied the role of Director, Media Relations, Marketing, and Partnerships at Ottawa’s premier hotel. 

Recognized as a resilient and adaptable communications executive, with proven specialty in crisis communication and a strong business acumen spanning leadership, decision-making, guest relations, change management, and more.

As an integral part of our community, Perrin has held various Board of Directors positions, including the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, the Algonquin College Foundation and the Rideau BIA, and Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern Ontario and currently sits on the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Board. She is also the winner of the 2011 Tourism Volunteer of the Year Award.