Registration for BCTCRI Project 4 is Now Open - Climate Resilience and Indigenous Knowledge

The Community Destination Stewardship Initiative's Project 4, Climate Resilience and Indigenous Knowledge, aims to create a provincial network across BC to enhance climate resiliency and sustainability in community destinations and the broader tourism industry. The program provides comprehensive learning opportunities through workshops, discussions, and peer-to-peer engagements, offering essential knowledge and tools. It emphasizes sharing successes and lessons learned to promote collaborative growth and connects communities to resources, programs, and initiatives supporting sustainable business practices and community engagement.

This initiative helps advance BC’s sustainable tourism development by equipping communities to adopt sustainable practices, support local businesses in climate emergency preparedness, and reduce impacts from extreme weather events. Participants can join workshops on topics such as Climate Resilience, Sustainable Tourism, and Decarbonization, that you can choose to join based on your community’s needs. The program is available in various formats to accommodate different schedules, and encourages networking with other communities to exchange successes and practical solutions for sustainability challenges.

Eligible Participants for Joining the Destination Stewardship Network:

• Any community or community organization that manages visitors as a destination

• BC-based Community Destination Management Organizations (CDMOs)

• Municipal government staff

• First Nations and First Nation Economic Development Corporations

• Communities with any level of experience in managing climate change resiliency, adaptation, mitigation, or sustainability in tourism are encouraged to participate, regardless of their experience level

Learn more about the course at www.destinationbc.ca

Register for the Workshop Today!

New Grant and Mentorship Program to "Spark" Innovative Tourism Ideas Along Rainforest to Rockies Iconic Route | Apply by March 1

A new program aimed at sparking and supporting innovative tourism ideas along the Rainforest to Rockies iconic route across southern British Columbia was announced by Destination BC, in partnership with Tourism Innovation Lab, TOTA, and other tourism partners.

The Rainforest to Rockies “Spark” Mentorships & Grants Program will match selected applicants with a tourism mentor and provide a $3,000 grant and additional partner support to help take their new tourism ideas to the next level of development.

The goal of the program is to find, advance, and support new tourism ideas that will enhance the road trip experience along British Columbia’s Rainforest to Rockies corridors by motivating travellers to stop and explore a unique tourism experience, encouraging them to stay longer, and visit more communities along the way.

Eligible Projects

Rainforest to Rockies is the first Iconic brand to launch from Destination BC’s Invest in Iconics Strategy and takes visitors from the Pacific Coast to the Canadian Rockies, through the Thompson Okanagan through Highways 1, 3, 5, and 99, to Gold Country, Thompson Valley, Similkameen, South Okanagan, Boundary Country, and Shuswap areas.

The Spark Program is seeking new tourism ideas that enhance the experience of the road-trip traveller along British Columbia’s Rainforest to Rockies corridors in one or more of the following ways:

• Motivate travellers to stop their vehicle and explore a unique tourism experience along the Iconic Route

• Motivate visitors to stay longer or visit more communities along the way, 

• Address gaps in tourism products and services by offering something that does not yet exist or is in demand along the route or in the area 

• Share or convey captivating stories about the place, providing an opportunity for the visitor to connect with the destination in a meaningful way

Preference will be given to applications that demonstrate how your tourism idea supports economic, social, and/or environmental sustainability. Ideas that support or advance principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are encouraged.

Learn More and Apply

Applications are open to tourism entrepreneurs, small businesses, and non-profit organizations based in BC until March 1, 2024.

Following a review process, 20 finalists will be invited to four virtual pitch sessions, resulting in a total of 12 “Spark” Program winners.

For more information about the Rainforest to Rockies “Spark” Mentorships & Grants Program and upcoming info sessions, visit TourismInnovation.ca/R2R.

Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association and Okanagan College Announce Fall Intake for Fully Funded Virtual Hospitality Certificate Program

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) and Okanagan College are once again investing in the future of regional tourism and hospitality with the third intake of the fully funded Hospitality Professional Program. The initiative is open to current professionals looking to elevate their career path, and those interested in securing skills and experience to land a job in the region’s vibrant tourism and hospitality sectors.

The Hospitality Professional Program comes with no financial burden, ensuring students can focus on gaining the skills and experience needed to unlock new and elevated roles. The partnership between TOTA and Okanagan College is made possible through federal funding in order to address major industry downturns and the ongoing skilled labour shortage facing tourism and hospitality businesses across the country.

“This is an exceptional opportunity for current and hopeful hospitality professionals to level up their skill set - at no personal expense,” shared Ellen Walker-Matthews, TOTA CEO. “Okanagan College offers timely, relevant, and meaningful education and skills that can quickly elevate a career. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for career change and advancement.”

This comprehensive part-time program has been specially designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the dynamic world of tourism hospitality. The blend of live online learning sessions rapidly covers many topics of the evolving landscape, providing an introduction to marketing, social media, accounting, project management, human resources, and management. This is coupled with self-led online industry certifications including WHMIS; FoodSafe; and Serving It Right.

The first 30 - 34 weeks are spent in a virtual classroom and is followed by 10 weeks of on-site work experience, mentorship, and a job placement at a local business. From guest services to event management and beyond, students will receive top-notch training, networking opportunities and on-the-job training that will open many doors to tourism careers in the Thompson Okanagan.

Participants can choose from one of two part-time live online training schedules:

• Schedule 1: Monday to Friday mornings from October 2023 to May 2024

• Schedule 2: Evenings and Saturdays from October 2023 to June 2024

• Both schedules include work experience & mentorship: May – July 2024

Two information sessions will happen on September 15 at 1pm and September 21 at 7pm.

Interested participants can register at TOTABC.org/training. The deadline for program intake is Friday, September 29, 2023. Students will be interviewed and accepted as applications are received until the program is filled.

Don't miss out on this chance to jumpstart a career in tourism and hospitality. Interested individuals are invited to embark on a journey of growth, excellence, and success. Learn more and apply at TOTABC.org/Training.

*Applicants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or protected persons legally able to work in Canada. The virtual portion of the program can be taken from anywhere across Canada, but participants must be in, or relocating to, the Thompson Okanagan for the work experience and job placement portion of the program.