News & Resources
The latest Thompson Okanagan tourism industry news from TOTA, tourism businesses, and communities.
Reintroducing the Biosphere Commitment Program
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is launching the revamped Biosphere Commitment Program. The updated program has a new focus on the online Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle (BSL) Platform, which allows organizations to measure, manage, and report on their sustainability efforts that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is launching the revamped Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program for all tourism companies within the Thompson Okanagan region.
The updated Biosphere Commitment Program builds from a foundation of sustainability programming with a distinct, new focus on the online Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle (BSL) Platform. The BSL platform empowers companies to continuously measure, manage, and report on their sustainability efforts that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while preparing for Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting standards.
The new webpages for the Biosphere Commitment Program are now live. After carefully considering the community's feedback and analyzing how visitors interact with the site, TOTA has redesigned the Biosphere webpages and implemented changes that enhance navigation and improve functionality.
What’s new?
The Biosphere Commitment Program Homepage - Discover what makes this program unique and quickly connect to key sections
Program Overview - Learn more about the program and connect with one of TOTA’s Biosphere Program Success Advisors during your introduction and onboarding process
Program Success Advisors - Do you want to learn how your actions align with the SDGs? The Program Success Advisors are available to answer any questions
Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle Platform - Your sustainable actions are uploaded and verified online through the Biosphere sustainability management software
Whether you are an existing Biosphere Commitment Program member or are interested in starting your organization's sustainability journey, TOTA invites you to explore the new webpages to learn more. Feel free to share any feedback with Biosphere@TOTABC.com. or contact a Biosphere Success Advisor to advance your journey towards Biosphere Commitment.
Get Started with the Biosphere Commitment Program
The Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program is a sustainability program developed by the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association. The focus is to equip tourism businesses in the region with the necessary tools and resources to continuously measure, manage, and report sustainability management efforts. The program aligns ongoing and future business operations with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Destination Certification to prepare businesses for a globally recognized certification. By accessing the Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle platform, organizations can create customized sustainability plans and utilize dedicated support from industry experts.
Learn more about TOTA’s Biosphere Commitment Program
Book a Biosphere Introduction Presentation
Quality Inn and Suites Vernon Becomes First Biosphere Certified Hotel in the Thompson Okanagan
Quality Inn and Suites Vernon has achieved Biosphere Certification, becoming the first hotel within the Thompson Okanagan region to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability management. With the Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle Platform, the certification was completed in six months. TOTA’s Biosphere Commitment Program is available to help organizations.
Quality Inn and Suites Vernon has achieved Biosphere Certification, the first hotel within the Thompson Okanagan region to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability management by fulfilling all 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in the Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle Platform.
For Quality Inn and Suites Vernon and their Biosphere lead, Vinil Sood, the journey towards certification took six months. The hotel joined TOTA’s Biosphere Commitment Program in April 2023, began uploading evidence, and, in October 2023, the hotel was officially Biosphere Certified. The team found this process to be approachable because of the many sustainability initiatives that Quality Inn already had in place.
“At Quality Inn and Suites Vernon, sustainability is more than just a buzzword or a set of practices,” said Vinil. “It's a core belief that shapes everything we do, from our daily operations to our interactions with the local community and environment. We believe that sustainability means adopting responsible and ethical practices that benefit our business in the short term and contribute positively to the broader ecosystem in which we operate.”
While Quality Inn and Suites Vernon has verified sustainable practices in all 17 SDGs, they have shown an outstanding commitment towards SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. Some actions towards commitment to SDG 7 include:
Awareness campaigns on the use of clean energy
Adopting energy efficient practices in their facilities
Prioritizing the use of more renewable and green energy sources, like the solar-powered lighting used in their courtyard
Quality Inn and Suites Vernon’s solar-powered courtyard
Biosphere Commitment Program
Biosphere Commitment is the first achievement an organization works towards after joining the Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program. To achieve Biosphere Committed status, an organization must pick three SDGs to work towards, from each area of sustainable development: Environment and Climate Change; Society and Culture; and Governance and Economy.
After an organization becomes committed, they can continue to work through the 17 SDGs and show continued improvement towards sustainability management. Once an organization has verified sustainable actions towards all 17 Sustainable Development Goals, they become Biosphere Certified.
Learn more about TOTA’s Biosphere Commitment Program.
Book a Biosphere Presentation.
Okanagan Crush Pad Switches to 100% Renewable Natural Gas
Okanagan Crush Pad Group of Wineries Transition to 100% Renewable Natural Gas
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association Initiative Significantly Reduces Industry Carbon Footprint
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association Initiative Significantly Reduces Industry Carbon Footprint
Kelowna, B.C. - In an industry leading shift towards a more sustainable future, Summerland’s Okanagan Crush Pad Winery, parent company to Haywire and Garnet Valley Ranch Winery, has joined forces with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) and FortisBC to transition to 100% Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). This partnership underlines an ongoing and unwavering commitment to sustainability, adding another chapter to its legacy of responsible winemaking.
Owned by Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie, Okanagan Crush Pad’s group of wineries have long been a beacon of sustainability and land stewardship. Okanagan Crush Pad has been an organic winemaking facility since 2011 and was the first Canadian winery to join International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) in 2022. By partnering with TOTA and FortisBC, the wineries are taking their commitment to sustainability further by integrating RNG into all aspects of their business.
“TOTA’s RNG initiative takes meaningful and measurable steps to reduce the region's carbon footprint. It enables stakeholders like Okanagan Crush Pad to make an immediate change to a more sustainable fuel source, and is a practical step towards a cleaner future for British Columbia,” said Ellen Walker-Matthews, TOTA CEO. “In the face of escalating climate crises, RNG is a vital tool that businesses and individuals can adopt today to lessen their current carbon footprints.”
By embracing RNG, Okanagan Crush Pad is putting their climate change goals into measurable action. And in this one move alone, they are drastically reducing their C02 emissions from 30,000 kilograms to 100 kilograms.
This huge reduction in CO2 emissions also contributes to the province’s commitment to the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030. With results like this, the team at Okanagan Crush Pad seeks to inspire industry leadership and actively encourage the entire region to reduce their harmful emissions.
“We are proud to make the switch to RNG and are especially excited to see an immediate positive impact that is very much in line with our commitment to reduce our greenhouse gas footprint,” said Craig Pingle, General Manager, Okanagan Crush Pad Winery, the parent company to Haywire Winery and Garnet Valley Ranch Winery. “This simple action supports our commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Making the move to RNG required no new infrastructure and yields an enormous drop in our annual emissions.”
To inspire action and raise awareness about this crucial climate action initiative, Okanagan Crush Pad is offering a two-night stay at the new Garnet Valley Ranch Winery. Learn more and enter to win.
Signing up for RNG is a straightforward process that does not require any new equipment, upgrades, or installations. Existing FortisBC customers can log in to their account, navigate to 'manage services,' and choose the percentage of natural gas to be switched to RNG (5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, or 100%).
Tourism businesses interested in learning more about the benefits of making the switch have been invited to schedule an energy audit with TOTA’s Energy Analyst, Harshit Srivastava at Harshit@TOTABC.com
Funding provided by Natural Resources Canada
Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN) is the department of the Government of Canada responsible for natural resources, energy, minerals and metals, forests, earth sciences, mapping, and remote sensing. NRCAN is committed to improving the quality of life for Canadians by ensuring the country’s abundant natural resources are developed sustainably, competitively, and inclusively. NRCAN develops policies and programs that enhance the contribution of the natural resources sector to the economy and conducts innovative science in facilities across Canada to generate ideas and transfer technologies. Natural Resources Canada has provided TOTA with funding to spread awareness about the benefits, availability, and accessibility of Renewable Natural Gas to regional tourism stakeholders.
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About Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is a not-for-profit society that represents a geographic area nestled in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. The region’s name is derived from two major geographic features: the Thompson River and Okanagan Lake. TOTA plays a support, leadership and growth role in the tourism industry for this region. It aims to stimulate ongoing sustainable growth by embracing the value of tourism through community engagement, innovative leadership in promoting authentic experiences, and inspiring creative collaboration. Key TOTA initiatives include: Biosphere Certified Gold Destination, 7 Generations Pledge, and Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism.
For more information about TOTA visit TOTABC.org, or visit the consumer facing website ThompsonOkanagan.com. Connect socially on Instagram at @Thompson_Okanagan
Media Contact:
Krista Lochhead
778.227.2396
Okanagan Crush Pad in Summerland Becomes First in Canada to Join International Wineries for Climate Action
Okanagan Crush Pad in Summerland has become the first in Canada to join an international community of winemakers dedicated to reducing carbon emissions in the industry.
Okanagan Crush Pad in Summerland has become the first in Canada to join an international community of winemakers dedicated to reducing carbon emissions in the industry.
Okanagan Crush Pad in Summerland has been accepted into International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) as an applicant member and it now has one year to meet the requirements to become a gold or silver member.
The International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) was founded in 2019. The main goal of IWCA is to create "a standardized approach for wine companies to measure and report publicly their greenhouse gas emissions”.
Christine Colletta, one of the founders of Okanagan Crush Pad, said they moved away from heavier bottles to alternative packaging, which uses less energy, and overall it has tried to reduce water usage.
Monte Creek Winery Invests 10 Million Dollars
Monte Creek Winery in the Thompson Valley has been making big moves in the BC wine industry. Determined to offer one of the best wine experiences in BC, they recently completed a refinement to their brand packaging, and finished construction on two stunning new buildings. All the enhancements are intended to improve and better reflect the team’s commitment to quality, ongoing innovation, and sustainable practices
On June 15, Monte Creek Winery hosted media to unveil and celebrate the winery’s new commitments to the Thompson Valley.
Monte Creek shared their new state of the art gravity flow production facility with media at the event. The new custom 15,000 square foot facility boasts 52 feet of vertical space, allowing gravity to process fruit gently, instead of pumps. The belief is that this enables the winery to produce more elegant, premium red wines. The new facility allows Monte Creek to have a more delicate handprint on the wines, but it will also triple the number of cases the winery can produce.
“Today is about celebrating the success of wine in the Thompson Valley, and about unveiling Monte Creek Winery’s commitment to this amazing valley with the addition of 10 million dollars in infrastructure,” said Erik Fisher, General Manager of Monte Creek Winery. “The inspiration behind our core values which are quality, sustainability, and innovation transcend from each and every person on this dynamic team.”