Sault Ste. Marie honours Jim Hilsinger

Jim Hilsinger, known for his five JJ's Chicken eateries and for building the landmark Water Tower Inn and its associated conference facility, was honoured last night with Sault Ste. Marie's first Tourism Award of Excellence.

True to form, Hilsinger responded in his acceptance speech with advice to the City of Sault Ste. Marie to get serious about tourism.

A comprehensive approach reflecting respect for the area's natural environment is needed, not just changes to the City's master plan, he said.

For example, Hilsinger decried the massive amounts of fill being used to level undulating lots along Highway 17 North, asking whether we're trying to create a Las Vegas-like strip instead of respecting the Sault's natural beauty.

Hilsinger's award was one of four bestowed at Tourism Sault Ste. Marie's first-ever Tourism Annual Awards presentation, attended by 140 people at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre.

More than 200 local tourism organizations wee invited to nominate candidates for the new awards, which were sculpted by local artists Tim and Bonnie Barthelmes.

To read about the other winners, please click on the following links:

Algoma Central Railway Inc. Donna Gregg Paul Foisy

The following is what Tourism Sault Ste. Marie chair Bill Durnford had to say about Jim Hilsinger:

**************************************************************** It was New Year's Day in 1962 when Jim moved to Sault Ste. Marie from Toronto to begin a restaurant supply distribution business.

He purchased the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant on Great Northern Road and from the original location expanded his operation to five restaurants in five years.

These popular outlets were known locally as JJ's Chicken.

In 1974 Jim built the Water Tower Inn beside his first restaurant and has expanded since then adding a major conference facility in 1990 known as the Pavilion.

Over the years the Water Tower Inn has become a well known brand in its own right and arguably one of the better quality hotels in Northern Ontario.

In 1985, Jim, in his capacity as President of HATS, rescued Searchmont Resort from receivership.

He then became personally involved as an investor and was instrumental in developing and expanding the resort in order to attract a larger number of skiers.

Searchmont has accommodated over 100,000 visitors annually making it Northern Ontario's largest winter destination attraction.

In 1988, Jim was the recipient of the prestigious Northern Ontario Business Entrepreneur of the Year award.

His latest venture is the development of the Trailhead program which positions the Water Tower Inn as the base for exploring the Great Lakes Heritage Coast.

The program has now been expanded to include the Mackinaw Trail, the Huron North passage, Manitoulin Island and the Chicheemaun ferry.

Over the years Jim has been extremely active in community initiatives, which include Hospitality & Travel SSM, Sault Trails & Recreation Association, the Economic Advisory Council, the Community Action Team as well as the fund raising campaign to purchase a CATscan Imager and MRI for Sault Area Hospitals.

It is obvious that Jim Hilsinger has made and continues to make significant contributions to the tourism industry in Sault Ste. Marie.

I'm proud to be able to present Jim with the first Tourism Award of Excellence.

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