Brighten your day with some good news from the Thompson Okanagan region, British Columbia, Canada, and around the globe.
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Brighten your day with some good news from the Thompson Okanagan region, British Columbia, Canada, and around the globe.
Thompson Okanagan
Two Okanagan Wine Aficionados honoured by Provincial Organization
A pair of South Okanagan women were recognized this week when Wine Growers British Columbia handed out its annual awards to acknowledge outstanding achievements and contributions to the B.C. wine industry.
Penticton’s Marjorie King captured the WGBC’s Industry Recognition Award, while Oliver’s Josie Tyabji took home the organization’s Award of Distinction.
New Kamloops Kekuli Café Barely Keeping Up With Demand
A bannock restaurant that opened its doors last month has so many customers, you probably have to get in line.
Kekuli Café owner Elijah Mack-Stirling said the first month of open business has been a whirlwind. “We are serving hundreds of gourmet bannock dishes every day,” he said.
Outdoor Tours of Syilx Cultural Garden in High Demand
Tours of a busy cultural garden in Syilx homelands are increasing awareness about syilx plants, medicines, and stories among both Indigenous and non-Indigenous visitors.
Cultural tours offered at k’nmaĺka? sÉ™nqâĺtÉ™n (Kalamalka Garden) have helped give the public a better understanding of the culture and history of the Syilx Nation since 2018.
Summerland Resort Ranked One of the Best in Canada
Summerland Waterfront Resort & Spa has been recognized by Tripadvisor as a 2022 Travelers’ Choice award winner for Best of the Best. The award celebrates businesses that have received great reviews from travellers around the globe on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months. As challenging as the past year was, Summerland Waterfront Resort & Spa stood out by consistently delivering positive experiences to guests.
B.C.'s First Wine Tasting Room Paved the Way for Penticton Wineries
There are over 170 wineries operating and producing more than 75 grape varietals near Penticton within the wine regions of Naramata, Okanagan Falls, and Summerland, according to Visit Penticton.
But what led to Penticton’s area becoming a destination for wine aficionados and thirsty tourists? Some would say it was all thanks to a pair of brothers from Vancouver being brought out by the town in the 1950's and opening the province’s first-ever tasting room.
Congratulations are in order to this family-owned winery with a strong commitment to organic farming. Cedar Creek Estate Winery is the 2022 WineAlign National Wine Awards winery of the year.
The winery received the prestigious award at the recent WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada, besting more than 250 other wineries.
For more than 40 years, CedarCreek has been producing wines in an area with unique soil characteristics that overlooks Okanagan Lake, in the sub-geographical indication (sub-GI) of South Kelowna Slopes. (Sub-GIs are an official protected term under BC law, used to help consumers identify BC wines’ origins.)
Six other BC wineries were also ranked in the top 10 at the awards:
Spearhead Winery, Kelowna: third (and awarded Best-Performing Small Winery)
Mission Hill Family Estate Winery, Kelowna: fourth
Sandra Oldfield Elected Board Chair for BC Hospitality Foundation 2022/2023 Board of Directors
The BC Hospitality Foundation has a new board chair, and she hails from the Thompson Okanagan. Oliver’s Sandra Oldfield was elected chair of the board for the 2022-23 term. She is taking over from Jeff Guignard, who has been in the role for the past eight years.
Oldfield, a California native, moved to B.C. in 1995 and started Tinhorn Creek Vineyards in Oliver. She was the first in Canada to use Stelvin screw top caps, she expanded the marketability of Cabernet Franc, and Tinhorn became a hub for South Okanagan events. She also backed the drive to create B.C.’s first sub-appellation, the Golden Mile Bench, and established Tinhorn Creek as Canada’s only carbon-neutral winery.
Sandra Oldfield is also currently a TOTA Board Director.
Armstrong will Host the 2023 Women’s and Open BC Stick Curling Championships
Armstrong will play host to the Women’s and Open BC Stick Curling Championships from Feb. 17 to Feb. 19, 2023. The sport became an official part of the Curl BC Championship in 2019.
The Armstrong Curling Club regularly offers mixed, men’s, women’s and open-stick leagues. In addition, the club hosts multiple stick bonspiels in the fall and winter months that are focused on recreational and competitive stick curlers.
Revelstoke to host Colour the Slopes Summit for BIPoC Adventurers
Colour the Trails, Tourism Revelstoke, and Revelstoke Mountain Resort are working together to host the first annual Colour the Slopes Summit this December. The 4 day summit is a celebration of winter pursuits and a gathering of BIPoC adventure seekers.
Over 4 days, participants will gather in Revelstoke to ski, snowboard, snowshoe, snowmobile, nordic ski, and ski tour. In the evenings, there will be a film night, an apres featuring special guest speakers, and a gala featuring dinner, music, and dancing. Participants will have an opportunity to get to know Revelstoke, try new sports or hone their skills, and come together to create and bolster community.
The first summit will take place from December 8-11, 2022.. At this time the event is for Black, Indigenous and racialized people but should spots be available, registration will open up to allies at a later date.
Vancouver Joins Toronto as a Canadian MICHELIN Guide Destination
MICHELIN and Destination Vancouver announced that the MICHELIN Guide is coming to Vancouver. It is exciting to see Vancouver’s thriving culinary scene recognized through its induction into the MICHELIN Guide network. Culinary experiences are a significant contributor to the tourism economy and a top activity for travellers to Canada. Vancouver is now the second Canadian city to join the MICHELIN Guide network, following the announcement of the Toronto MICHELIN Guide this spring. This is a testament to Canada’s exceptional culinary experiences and will drive future visitation, support economic development, attract culinary talent and showcase Canada to the global audience of food lovers.
Vancouver council approves next step in 2030 Indigenous-led Olympic bid
A council committee in Vancouver voted Wednesday 8 to 2 in favour of allowing an Indigenous-led bid for the 2030 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games to proceed to the next step.
Chiefs and council members from the Squamish, Lil'wat, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam nations attended Wednesday's vote, along with representatives from the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic committees. The Indigenous delegation told the standing council that backing their efforts to bring the games back to B.C. was a chance to act on government commitments to reconciliation.
Destination BC & Tourism Fernie Celebrate Community Feature on The Amazing Race Canada
On July 19, the nation’s eyes were on Fernie, BC, as the town was featured on CTV’s The Amazing Race Canada (Season 8, Episode 803)! To celebrate the incredible exposure opportunity for the local tourism industry, Destination BC and Tourism Fernie hosted a live viewing event for the airing of the episode.
Destination BC provides support to the Amazing Race Canada team, as the show provides significant opportunity to showcase BC’s stunning natural assets, outdoor adventures, and world-class hospitality to viewers across Canada.
The team will be travelling to Kelowna, Lumby, and Vernon in the next episode, airing August 9 on CTV.
Peace by Chocolate Launch Trans Canada Trail Themed Chocolate Bars
Trans Canada Trail is partnering with Peace by Chocolate in the creation of One Trail, One Love: a collection of four Trans Canada Trail–themed chocolate bars inspired by community spirit, connectedness and the natural beauty of the land we’re lucky enough to inhabit. This partnership is a win-win for Trail and chocolate lovers: $1 from each bar sold supports the important work of Trans Canada Trail.
The Beaverton: European relatives visiting Toronto say they’d love to drive and see the Rocky Mountains while they’re here
After unpacking their bags in the guest room they’ll be using for their five day stay in Toronto, Hans and Heidi Bergmann have casually mentioned that they’re interested in popping over to see the Rocky Mountains at some time during their stay. “Yes, we’d very much love to go see the big Rockies, whenever you have the chance to maybe drive us over. We have been told it is a part of Canada not to be missed,” said Hans.
The Bergmanns, whose Munich home is within six hours of Paris, Prague, Vienna, and other hubs of European culture, are excited to see everything Canada has to offer in the 14 days they are in Southwestern Ontario. A hastily scrawled itinerary viewed among their belongings includes: “Calgary Stampede”, “Whistler”, “Halifax”, “Yukon gold mines” and “Igloos?”. Conversations with them on the car from the airport suggest that they are happy to wake up a little earlier in order to fit more landmarks into the day.
Hawaii Turns Over Tourism Marketing to Group Rooted in Local Culture
In June 2022, the Hawaiian Tourism Authority awarded a multiyear contract to the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, a local nonprofit, to help market the islands to the U.S.
By choosing a community-centered nonprofit to help craft Hawaii's tourism marketing, the state's tourism authority made a bold statement, severing a century-old relationship with the conventions and visitors bureau. It's sparking controversy, but this is the uneasy path to redefining the future of tourism.
The U.S. Travel Association announced the launch of its new Sustainable Travel Coalition, which aims to align the travel, transportation and technology sectors to develop a more sustainable future.
The Sustainable Travel Coalition launched with nearly 60 member organizations and will serve as an advisory body to inform U.S. Travel on sustainability issues, opportunities and concerns within member organizations and destinations.
