One of the women who helped build a throne in Collingwood for the King of Rock-n-Roll now has a place in a hall of fame herself.
Rosemarie O'Brien was inducted into the Festival and Events Ontario Hall of Fame in recognition of her 30-year-career planning festivals and events, including Collingwood's Elvis Festival.
She's one of 49 people inducted into the hall of fame representing festivals, municipalities, organizations and events from across the province.
O'Brien is on staff with the Town of Collingwood, continuing to help plan festivals and events, many of which have been recognized by Festivals and Events Ontario in their annual top-100 events list.
“While the 25-year Collingwood Elvis Festival is a significant part of her legacy, Rosemarie has been an essential ingredient in the development and implementation of most of the Town of Collingwood's successful event endeavours,” said Dean Collver, director, parks, recreation and culture for the town, in a news release.
O'Brien has also been president, past-president, vice-president, and awards committee chair of the Festival and Events Ontario board, and is no stranger to awards from the tourism and hospitality sector and from fans.
“Please join us in congratulating Rosemarie O'Brien for this singular accomplishment in her career. We're very lucky to have her on our team," said Collver in the news release.
The Town of Collingwood had three festivals on this year's Top-100 list from Festival and Events Ontario, including Art Crawl, Sidelaunch Days, and Trail Tunes.
About Art Crawl
The Collingwood Art Crawl is an annual free, self-guided art & music tour in the heart of downtown Collingwood. This year's Crawl takes place on Saturday, Sept. 21.
About Sidelaunch Days
Sidelaunch Days return to the shores of Collingwood on Aug. 10 and 11, 2024. Sidelaunch Days is Collingwood’s annual harbourfront festival that celebrates the joy of being in, on, and around the water while commemorating the unique shipbuilding heritage of Collingwood.
About Trail Tunes
Get out on the trails this International Trails Day for Trail Tunes, a collaborative, regional event connecting over 100-km of trails and rich musical culture between Wasaga Beach, Collingwood, and Clearview Township. Taking place on Saturday, June 1, 2024, residents, and visitors are encouraged to bike or hike, through Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, and Clearview enjoying free, live music at trailheads in each municipality, ending with a headliner concert in Wasaga Beach.