Meet your TMAC Awards Judges!

The Awards Committee has again undertaken a significant level of work behind the scene, meeting year round, to review and develop the annual awards program. In 2021 more than 400 submissions were received, and reviewed/evaluated by a panel of qualified, accomplished judges. 

The Awards Committee is thrilled to introduce you to this dynamic and accomplished collection of judges for our 2022 TMAC Awards! 

Andrea Rees
Andrea began her career as a portrait photographer in Toronto in 2003 and is known for her natural, artistic, and emotional portrait photography. Television networks CBC, W, and Splice and magazines such as Shutterbug and Marie Claire Brazil have featured her portrait work.

Today, Andrea is a smartphone photography and wildlife photography educator and founder of The Heart of a Woman Project (THOAW). THOAW is a women’s mobile photography development initiative that partners with non-profit organizations and community development projects. In 2020, Andrea was named one of the Top 100 Women Founders by Travel Massive for The Heart of a Woman Project.

Andrea has 20 years of experience curating and editing images. She curated an exhibition, Strong Women of Cape Town, for 30 journalists from magazines such as Vogue and Elle in collaboration with L’Oréal Germany.

Don Genova
Don is a Victoria-based award-winning freelance writer and broadcaster specializing in food and travel. He has written for the Globe and Mail, National Post, and enRoute magazine.

In 2014 Don published ‘Food Artisans of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands’, a guide to local food which tells the stories behind passionate food artisans. Work on the second edition of this book is now underway.

Don has been a regular cooking instructor at various cooking schools and now does live streaming cooking classes on demand from his custom-built home kitchen.  He also teaches a food and travel writing course for UBC Extended Learning.

Jay McDonald
Jay R. McDonald is a Canadian born, Commercial Photographer, and co-founder of RoamCreative.ca, based in Treaty 7 Territory. Jay's work can be seen in publications such as National Geographic, Sony Alpha Universe, Condé Nast Traveller and Canadian Geographic.

Passionate about meeting new people, seeing new things, and traveling the world in order to learn, experience and share the stories and traditions, new and old around him. Jay is excited to capture, create and communicate your moment, landscape or brand.

Magalie Boutin
Magalie is the Codirector for Equity, Diversity and inclusion and Head of Media Relations at the National Film Board of Canada. She has built a rewarding career in communications over the past 25 years. Magalie has represented Quebec and Canada in the industry using her expertise and her passion for communication, justice, innovation, and culture to promote her corner of the country in media around the globe.

A perfect balance of gratifying work, creativity, self-fulfillment and drive has made her into a motivated communication professional who exemplifies leadership, equity, diversity, and inclusion and a commitment to excellence. Magalie has developed sophisticated engagement strategies and is passionate about identifying opportunities for reporting, storytelling, and bringing Canadian creativity and content to the world.
 

Pete Heck
Pete  is an award-winning photographer who recently moved to Nova Scotia. Along with his wife Dalene, Pete travelled to over 60 countries and lived nomadically for nearly 8 years. The highest accolade received was when the couple was honoured as National Geographic Traveller's of the Year in 2014.

The duo now runs a digital marketing firm (HMI) and manages a number of travel blogs including HeckticTravels.com, RoadTripAlberta.com and TravelTriviaChallenge.com.

Pina Crispo
Mom of 3 and founder of ChicMamma.ca, Pina Crispo is a content creator and the host of the only parenting show on terrestrial radio in Canada, "The Parenting Show" on AM640 Toronto, which airs Sundays at 9pm est.

Not only does this Chic Mamma tell it as it is, Pina shares her passion and knowledge in Media Branding and Creative Content Development as a College Professor at Humber College and as an author in her books "Mamas Gotta Work!" and "Mama's Gotta Grow! which are both #1 Amazon best sellers.


Rebecca Bollwitt 
Rebecca built her first website in 1997 and she has been writing about life in BC since 2004 on the 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 two dozen nonprofit organizations each year. She is also a columnist for Megaphone Magazine, focusing on nonprofits that serve the Downtown Eastside, and serves as a Board Executive for three nonprofit organizations.
 

Ursula Beamish-Mader
Former Media Manager, North America for Switzerland Tourism, was born into the hospitality industry growing up above their family’s restaurant. Over more than three decades with Switzerland Tourism, she supported content makers of all media to create the best possible stories for their audiences.

She is an emeritus member of the Society of American Travel Writers and serves on the SATW board of the Canadian Chapter. She continues to be involved in the travel industry, working as freelance tour director for incoming visitors to Canada. 

Zane Buchanan
Zane is a Métis writer, producer and digital creator based in Vancouver, BC. Formerly a freelance journalist, Zane entered the world of travel media when Tourism Sask appointed him as the 2019 Saskatchewanderer. In this role, Zane established himself in the tourism landscape, ultimately resulting in his current position with the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada.

Beyond managing content for ITAC, Zane is the editor of Nations Magazine, a contributor for Canadian Geographic, and a fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. He is also the Founder and Creative Director of CIVL Creative, a digital agency that caters to the specific needs of nonprofits and social enterprises.

Nathan Fong Memorial Award Judges, presented by TMAC BC & Yukon Chapter

Fred Lee 
Fred started his media career as publisher of Xtra Newspaper, serving Vancouver's LGBTQ2SIA+ community. Fred, along with fellow CBC colleague Margaret Gallagher, also hosted the national CBC Radio One food show Flavour of the Week. He has been a regular contributor to the CBC, Vancouver Courier, National Post, TV Week, Living Magazine, BBC, and BC Business.
Fred’s column appears in Vancouver Magazine and Vancouver Boulevard Magazine.
A tireless volunteer, Fred gives his time to many organizations, including the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation.

Dr. April Liu
Dr. April Liu is a researcher, writer, and cultural programmer who is currently developing educational programming for the Chinatown Storytelling Centre in Vancouver. She has organized numerous festivals, exhibitions, and other educational initiatives across North America, Asia, and South America. Liu served as the Curator of Public Programs and Engagement at the UBC Museum of Anthropology. She also served as an expert consultant for UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage section (Asia). A specialist in Asian art history, Liu recently authored Divine Threads: The Visual and Material Culture of Cantonese Opera (2019).

Dixon Tam
Dixon Tam is a former journalist now working as a senior communications professional in Metro Vancouver. He spent a decade working as a reporter, photographer and editor for community newspapers throughout the Lower Mainland before making the transition to communications. He also has more than two decades of experience in media relations, issues management, and event coordination. Dixon loves food, photography, and coaching his son's soccer team. He is also on the board of directors for the Coquitlam Metro Ford Soccer Club.

Ann Britton Campbell Award Judges, presented by the TMAC BC & Yukon Chapter

Sandra Thomas
Sandra is an award-winning journalist and travel writer from Vancouver, B.C.
During Sandra’s many years with the Vancouver Courier newspaper, she often volunteered to help judge both the Canadian Community Newspaper Awards, and B.C. and Yukon Community Newspaper Awards. Sandra has been a member of TMAC for 10 years and is currently vice-chair of the B.C. & Yukon Chapter.

John Geary 
John Geary is a full time freelance writer-photographer based in Vancouver. Specializing in nature-oriented travel and paddling stories, he has been a member of TMAC since 2006.

Diane Selkirk
Diane Selkirk is a seasoned travel writer with a passion for exploring the world and sharing her experiences with others. With almost two decades of experience in the industry, she’s honed her craft and become a respected voice in the Canadian travel community.

Additionally, Ann Campbell was a dear friend of Diane's and being able to further her legacy is a great privilege.