A name synonymous with arts & culture in Swift Current recently received an award from Tourism Saskatchewan.

On Tuesday morning, the former event and festival organizer in Swift Current Shann Gowan was named one of three recipients of the Tourism Builders Award for 2018.

Gowan said she was surprised last week when she got a phone call from Tourism Saskatchewan CEO Mary Taylor-Ash informing her she'd won the award, which she will be given on the night of April 11 at the Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence Gala at the TCU Place in Saskatoon.

"When they tell you in advance that means they actually want you to say something intelligent when you get it, which means I'll have to think about whatever it is I'll say," she said laughing. "I've won awards at the provincial level before, but then you're just one of three finalists, and they don't expect as much from you. I'll have to do a little preparation this time."

Gowan isn't a stranger winning Tourism Saskatchewan awards as she won the Fred Heal Tourism Ambassador Award in 2013 and all of the festivals she helped create in Swift Current have also won Tourism Saskatchewan awards.

"They're all important," she said referring to her past and present awards. "I've been really lucky to have all the support so that all the events that we've put on could go as far as they have. None of that is ever done alone, so I've always been very happy to have all the support in Swift Current that we've had move these things forward."

Seven other businesses, events, or people from the southwest, are up for Tourism Saskatchewan awards this spring, and that's a testament to just how far tourism in the area has evolved according to Gowan.

"Historically that's not the case, like ten years ago there wasn't a lot (of nominees for Tourism Saskatchewan awards) from southwest Saskatchewan," she said. "Southwest Saskatchewan has really upped its game; they're doing a great job, especially Maple Creek."

Gowan added she looks forward to attending the gala next month and sharing the evening with the other southwest finalists.