News & Resources
The latest Thompson Okanagan tourism industry news from TOTA, tourism businesses, and communities.
Outdoor Recreation BC Guidance Toolkit for Engagement with Indigenous Communities
The Outdoor Recreation Council released a new guide offering recreation organizations a roadmap for advancing reconciliation objectives and tools for recreation organizations embarking on discussions and relationship building with First Nations at the community level.
The Outdoor Recreation Council released a new guide offering recreation organizations a roadmap for advancing reconciliation objectives and tools for recreation organizations embarking on discussions and relationship building with First Nations at the community level.
The toolkit is part of an ongoing effort to provide guidance and resources to the outdoor recreation sector on working cooperatively with Indigenous governments and communities on outdoor recreation projects. The hope for the guide is to spark dialogue within groups and to help foster genuine collaboration within Indigenous communities.
Tips for Working with Travel Media, Influencers, and Content Creators | Tourism Kelowna
Tourism Kelowna has compiled a guide on working with media, influencers, and content creators. Determining what type of creator to work with depends on several factors including your goals, budget, and resources. Understanding the difference between the types of creators and what they offer, and if it aligns with your goals, will help you decide if they are the right advertising/marketing option for your business.
Tourism Kelowna has compiled a guide on working with media, influencers, and content creators.
Determining what type of creator to work with depends on several factors including your goals, budget, and resources. Understanding the difference between the types of creators and what they offer, and if it aligns with your goals, will help you decide if they are the right advertising/marketing option for your business.
Guide for Developing Tourism & Media Relationships in Indigenous Communities | Indigenous Tourism BC
As many non-Indigenous tourism & media organizations look to develop respectful partnerships with Indigenous communities, Indigenous Tourism BC has compiled an information toolkit to help individuals understand and build relationships with the First Peoples of BC.
It is important to note that each Indigenous Nation and Community differs in their approach to partnership. The document was developed to the best of Indigenous Tourism BC's knowledge to respond to common themes and questions received from partners. It is not a substitute for proper communication with Indigenous Nations and Communities.
As many non-Indigenous tourism & media organizations look to develop respectful partnerships with Indigenous communities, Indigenous Tourism BC has compiled an information toolkit to help individuals understand and build relationships with the First Peoples of BC.
It is important to note that each Indigenous Nation and Community differs in their approach to partnership. The document was developed to the best of Indigenous Tourism BC's knowledge to respond to common themes and questions received from partners. It is not a substitute for proper communication with Indigenous Nations and Communities.
Food Tourism 101 Guide | Culinary Tourism Alliance
The aim of this 3-class program is to provide food entrepreneurs the knowledge, skills and networking opportunities to elevate their food businesses (restaurants, food retail stores, and or food products) in their local communities with the aim of repositioning themselves and attracting tourists to their regions and identifying new products and/or services to promote future growth.
If you want to learn more about culinary and food tourism, and how to elevate experiences in your business, check out the Food Tourism 101 resource by the Culinary Tourism Alliance.
The Culinary Tourism 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.
Culinary tourism includes the active pursuit of unique and memorable eating and drinking experiences, as well as agritourism experiences that connect what is being grown and produced in an area to what is being prepared and enjoyed by locals.
Tips for Onboarding New Staff | go2HR
go2HR has put together a guide for employee onboarding.
The value of properly onboarding new employees shouldn’t be underestimated. The time is an investment to have and retain well-trained employees. Given the current labour shortage, it just makes good business sense to nurture your relationship with your newest employees. go2HR has some great tips for helping you onboard new staff.
go2HR has put together a guide for employee onboarding.
The value of properly onboarding new employees shouldn’t be underestimated. The time is an investment to have and retain well-trained employees. Given the current labour shortage, it just makes good business sense to nurture your relationship with your newest employees. go2HR has some great tips for helping you onboard new staff.
Post-Pandemic HR Guide for Employers - Tourism HR Canada
Tourism HR Canada has put together a helpful guide to help attract and retain tourism and hospitality workers, called Now Hiring, which covers a range of essential HR practices, tips to implement, and practical checklists and forms to help tackle key issues.
Tourism HR Canada has put together a helpful guide to help attract and retain tourism and hospitality workers, called Now Hiring, which covers a range of essential HR practices, tips to implement, and practical checklists and forms to help tackle key issues.
Restaurants Canada Positive & Inclusive Workplace Guide
If you are in the foodservice industry and looking to foster a healthy workplace environment for your employees, download this in-depth guide from Restaurants Canada.
This guide provides information on:
Building a Culture of Inclusion
Hiring Practices to Build a Vibrant Labour Force
Racial, Cultural and Gender Diversity
Mental Health
Sexual Harassment
Sick Leave/Parental Leave
If you are in the foodservice industry and looking to foster a healthy workplace environment for your employees, download this in-depth guide from Restaurants Canada.
This guide provides information on:
Building a Culture of Inclusion
Hiring Practices to Build a Vibrant Labour Force
Racial, Cultural and Gender Diversity
Mental Health
Sexual Harassment
Sick Leave/Parental Leave
COVID-19 What to Do | BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC)
The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has guidance for what to do in various scenarios if someone has COVID or has been in contact with COVID. As of January 2022, the guidance is:
If tested positive:
If fully vaccinated, self-isolate for at least 5 days since the start of symptoms. Wear a mask even in settings where a mask isn’t required and avoid higher risk settings, such as long term care facilities and gatherings, for another 5 days after ending isolation.
If unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, self-isolate for at least 10 days since the start of symptoms.
If not better after the 5 or 10 days, keep self-isolating until feeling better and fever is gone (without taking medicine that reduces fever).
If you feel worse, call 8-1-1 or your medical care provider.
Public health will let you know if you need to self-isolate for more than 10 days.
If you tested negative:
Self-isolate until symptoms improve and you feel well enough to return to regular activities.
If there's a fever, stay home until the fever is gone (without taking medicine that reduces fever).
Close contacts: If you were identified as a close contact and need to self-isolate, you still need to complete your self-isolation.
The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has guidance for what to do in various scenarios if someone has COVID or has been in contact with COVID.
As of January 2022, the guidance is:
If tested positive:
If fully vaccinated, self-isolate for at least 5 days since the start of symptoms. Wear a mask even in settings where a mask isn’t required and avoid higher risk settings, such as long term care facilities and gatherings, for another 5 days after ending isolation.
If unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, self-isolate for at least 10 days since the start of symptoms.
If not better after the 5 or 10 days, keep self-isolating until feeling better and fever is gone (without taking medicine that reduces fever).
If you feel worse, call 8-1-1 or your medical care provider.
Public health will let you know if you need to self-isolate for more than 10 days.
If you tested negative:
Self-isolate until symptoms improve and you feel well enough to return to regular activities.
If there's a fever, stay home until the fever is gone (without taking medicine that reduces fever).
Close contacts: If you were identified as a close contact and need to self-isolate, you still need to complete your self-isolation.
2022 Drivers License ID Checking Guides Now Available from ABLE BC
The 2022 North American ID Checking Guide Book and 14th Edition International ID Checking Guide Book are now available to order through the ABLE BC office.
The ID Checking Guide Books help you and your staff make accurate, on-the-spot verification of driver's licenses and ID cards - your best protection against ID fraud. These books also help ensure you are kept updated on the latest versions of all ID formats.
The North American Guide has been updated for 2022. The International Guide has not been updated since 2021 but is valid through 2022.
Place your order for the ID Checking Guide Book by Friday, January 21, 2022 to access the group buying discount.
The 2022 North American ID Checking Guide Book and 14th Edition International ID Checking Guide Book are now available to order through the ABLE BC office.
The ID Checking Guide Books help you and your staff make accurate, on-the-spot verification of driver's licenses and ID cards - your best protection against ID fraud. These books also help ensure you are kept updated on the latest versions of all ID formats.
The North American Guide has been updated for 2022. The International Guide has not been updated since 2021 but is valid through 2022.
Place your order for the ID Checking Guide Book by Friday, January 21, 2022 to access the group buying discount.
For more information on the ID Checking Guide Books, including pricing, download the FAQ produced by ABLE BC.