Recap of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Summit: Biospherology Master Class
On February 21 & 22, the TOTA team hosted the 2022/23 Thompson Okanagan Tourism Summit in Kamloops, with 9 speakers through 6 presentations and 3 immersive sessions, sharing inspiration and key learnings with over 120 attendees.
The Biospherology theme reflected the focus on continuous education for tourism professionals that will ultimately elevate visitor experiences, strengthen businesses, regenerate communities, and reduce impacts within the surrounding environments.
Attendees finished the day with inspiration to take back to their companies and communities. The event was carbon neutral.
In case you missed it (or want to relive it), here are some of the highlights:
Welcome Party
On Tuesday, Tourism Kamloops hosted the Slide Into the Kamloops Social Scene Welcome Party at the Kamloops Curling Club and the Sandman Centre, in conjunction with the Scotties Tournament of Hearts Canadian women’s curling competition.
Attendees got a local taste, with live music by Dave Coalmine appetizers by Black Salt Catering and samples from the following:
The group then ventured to the Sandman Centre to watch provincial teams face off in the tournament.
Biospherology Master Class
On Wednesday, attendees got up bright and early for the Biospherology Master Class at Thompson Rivers University. The day started with breakfast and words of welcome from TOTA CEO Ellen Walker-Matthews.
Attendees ventured to the BC Centre for a Secwépemc welcome from Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc members and drummers. Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir shared her story and her community’s journey from finding the missing children at the Kamloops Residential School in 2020, to seeking reconciliation by visiting the Vatican.
We heard from Inuit artist Angus Cockney about his personal experience in residential school and his inspiring story about how he was able to move forward.
It is important to involve Indigenous communities in tourism and industry events, as they are the First Peoples of the land known today as the Thompson Okanagan. Indigenous people have continuously played an important role as stewards and the very core identity of Canadian places. We look forward to seeing Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc and the 32 other Indigenous communities in the region as they grow and thrive.
Today, all individuals and organizations have a role to play in reconciliation. To learn more how tourism professionals and businesses can support reconciliation, visit Indigenous Tourism BC.
The “Working with Indigenous Communities: Guide to Developing Tourism Relationships” is an excellent resource to get started.
Immersive Master Classes
Then the group split into 1 of 3 Immersive Master Class. Each session was held three times so everyone had the chance to learn from the three industry leaders:
Build it Better led by James Gordon from TRU’s Environmental Programs and Research took professionals behind the scenes, walls, and infrastructure of Thompson Rivers University to demonstrate their commitment to a zero carbon future and how they have built infrastructure, systems, and creating innovations to ensure they meet those targets.
Another Perspective: Accessibility Immersive led by Sonja Gaudet (Thompson Okanagan Access & Inclusion Liaison and Gold Medal Paralympian) and Ginger Brunner (go2HR) shared a first hand experience what employees and guests experience if they have difficulties or impairments of sight, sensory, and mobility.
The Trash Buffet by Ben Liegey, founder of Better Table, shared how to utilize food sources that would normally be tossed. This hands-on session demonstrated a less wasteful approach to cooking and eating habits both at work and at home. Planning, education, and creativity can take cores, stems, and peels, then turn them into zero waste culinary magic.
For example, attendees tried a plant based Banana Bread made with banana peels and aquafaba (chickpea water) instead of eggs.
Attendees heard from Tourism Industry Association BC CEO, Walt Judas, on Emergency Preparedness and the BC Emergency Management Framework, including insights into the structure to support tourism partners and visitors on matters related to the four pillars of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
Over lunch, Rebecca Mackenzie (CEO + President) of the Culinary Tourism Alliance shared her passion about the interconnection between food, agriculture, tourism, arts, and culture. As well, the Culinary Tourism Alliance’s vision is to ensure food tourism is a meaningful and sustainable contributor to local economies in destinations worldwide. The alliance works with communities to grow food tourism by leveraging the history, heritage, and culture behind the food and drink that makes each destination unique.
As the closing keynote, Sonja Gaudet, Canadian Paralympic Gold Medalist, shared her story as the world’s most decorated wheelchair curler with three Paralympic gold medals (2006, 2010, 2014) and Canadian Curling Hall of Fame and BC Sports Hall of Fame inductee.
Born in North Vancouver and now residing in Vernon, Sonja shared how she has always approached challenges with her “can do” attitude and with that she paved the way for wheelchair curling across the nation.
The event ended with a Graduation Party, to celebrate the learnings of the day and a commitment to move forward better. Graduates received a mason jar grad cap, custom 3D printed from recycled material by The Rogerie. The mason jar was filled with goodies, including soap made with captured carbon dioxide from Fortis BC, part of their Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) program.
Future Events
The next TOTA Summit will be held in Penticton in October/November 2023 in conjunction with the TOTA AGM. As well, TOTA hosts an annual golf tournament in August/September.
More details will be available soon through the TOTA News Centre.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors - click to visit their website to learn more about their company:
