Ingrid Strasdin is a breath of hope in her selfless giving to her family, her fellow employees and her restaurant patrons. For the past 20 years, as part of the wait-staff at the Lettuce Patch restaurant, Ingrid has been warming hearts with sound advise to younger employees, "special" Christmas coffees for regular customers and extended service to visitors. Ingrid's daughter, Heidi, knows of her mother's generosity and retold the story, at a presentation ceremony held in the lobby of the Dominion Hotel, of how her mom earned the Victoria Hospitality Award. "A German couple, traveling with a tour group in Canada, found themselves in the throes of an emergency during their stay in Victoria. Ingrid came to their rescue when the husband was sent to the hospital with a gall bladder attack. Unable to speak english, the couple relied on Ingrid to assist with the translating needed at the hospital and filling out forms. On her own time, Ingrid drove the wife to and from the hospital, prepared special meals for the husband upon his return to the hotel and made all the arrangements for the couple's expedient return to Germany. She even lent the couple the cash they needed to purchase their return tickets. Along with the money, which was returned as soon as possible, comes a new friendship for Ingrid with the very grateful German visitors. Surrounded by family, friends and co-workers, Ingrid received the Hospitality pin and certificate from Mayor Bob Cross. Gifts and congratulations were extended from the BC & Yukon Hotel Association, WHERE Victoria magazine, Rogers' Chocolates, American Express, Tourism Victoria, Tourism BC, The Empress, Amelia Street Bistro, Downtown Victoria Association, Victoria Business Improvement Association, The News Group, and the Victoria Symphony Society.

Being congenial, listening carefully to hotel guests' needs, making numerous arrangements and handling complaints are just a few of the tasks that a hotel front desk manager may handle in a given day. Joanne Kennedy works in Guest Services at the front desk of the Dominion Grand Hotel and knows only too well what it takes to make hotel guests comfortable. Her genuine gift of congeniality has earned her many nominations for the monthly Victoria Hospitality award.

Three random ballots attesting to her service excellence were submitted over the course of three months. The last ballot was entered by Kirsten Snowdon, a resident of Locust Hill Ontario and a Tour Director who brings visitors to Victoria on a regular basis. Kirsten wrote about Joanne: "I stay regularly at the Dominion Hotel and have for three years been dealing with Joanne's efficiency and calm nature, even under extreme circumstances.
What is outstanding is the consistency of good service."

Joanne was recognized for her contribution to the Visitor Industry at a ceremony held at the Dominion Hotel. Family members, hotel management, fellow staff and friends from the community offered congratulations and gifts of thanks. Recognition came from the BC & Yukon Hotel Association, Best Western Inner Harbor Hotel, Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria Conference Center, Tourism Victoria, Rogers Chocolates, Victoria Business Improvement Association, Tourism BC, Victoria AM, Where Victoria Magazine, Amelia Street Bistro, the Vancouver Island News Group and BC Restaurant Association. Councilor Jane Lunt represented the City of Victoria by presenting Joanne an engraved pin and certificate.