CTHRC Presents Award For Outstanding Human Resource Practices at the Hotel Association of Canada's Hall of Fame Awards of Excellence

This award recognizes an individual or organization that demonstrates commitment to innovative HR practices while providing leadership and professionalism in and for Canada's lodging industry. The Human Resources Award is sponsored by the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council (CTHRC), and was presented to Ms. Lumb by CTHRC President Wendy Swedlove.

During her twenty year career with STEC, Ms. Lumb has worked tirelessly to improve HR practices in both the lodging industry, and the tourism sector as a whole. Under her direction, STEC has been instrumental in the development, review, and updating of National Occupational Standards and emerit Professional Certification for many hospitality occupations, and in the promotion of these resources to the industry. Ms. Lumb leads by example by encouraging and funding professional certification for STEC staff. On a provincial level, Carol leads the organization responsible to the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission as the Joint Training Committee, which delivers training in the workplace to apprentices working toward Journeyperson designation as Food and Beverage Persons and Guest Services Representatives.

"We are proud to have this opportunity to highlight Carol's innovative and effective HR programs and initiatives," says Wendy Swedlove, CTHRC President. "Carol is a true leader in human resources, and her continued commitment to the industry and outstanding work with STEC merits the national recognition that comes with this award. Carol's tireless work and dedication have always been an example for her colleagues across Canada and she is in large part responsible for the high quality resources and programs coming from the Council."

Perhaps Ms. Lumb's greatest impact has been in reaching out to under-employed groups and providing guidance and training to prepare them for careers in tourism. What started as the Tourism Careers for Youth project became Ready to Work, a highly successful career awareness, skills development, and transition to employment program. To date, Ready to Work has prepared over three thousand participants, mostly Aboriginal, for entry into the tourism workforce in Saskatchewan. This program has directly benefitted accommodations and other tourism businesses across the province, and has had life changing positive effects on countless communities and individuals.

Working directly with accommodations businesses, Ms. Lumb has played an important role in identifying labour market issues in the industry with the Saskatchewan Tourism Labour Market Partnership, represented the industry while working with the provincial and federal governments on Foreign Worker Programs, and developed free online resources to help businesses access foreign workers for their operation. The Saskatchewan Employer of Choice Program provides businesses with an assessment of their HR practices, and identifies them as HR leaders, helping them keep their top performers, and attract new employees.

Other efforts and programs that STEC and Ms. Lumb have played a role in include the Canadian Academy of Travel and Tourism (CATT), a high school program designed to showcase the wide range of career choices available in the tourism sector; the development and delivery of Service Best, an award winning customer service workshop for frontline hospitality staff; management and delivery of Serve It Right Saskatchewan, a training program on responsible alcohol service; and provision of many more career awareness, professional development, and skills training workshops and resources.