News & Resources
The latest Thompson Okanagan tourism industry news from TOTA, tourism businesses, and communities.
Canada to Require Vaccination of Federally Regulated Transportation Sector
As soon as possible in the fall and no later than the end of October, the Government of Canada will require employees in the federally regulated air, rail, and marine transportation sectors to be vaccinated. The vaccination requirement will also extend to certain travellers. This includes all commercial air travellers, passengers on interprovincial trains, and passengers on large marine vessels with overnight accommodations, such as cruise ships.
As soon as possible in the fall and no later than the end of October, the Government of Canada will require employees in the federally regulated air, rail, and marine transportation sectors to be vaccinated. The vaccination requirement will also extend to certain travellers. This includes all commercial air travellers, passengers on interprovincial trains, and passengers on large marine vessels with overnight accommodations, such as cruise ships.
The Government of Canada is also calling on all organizations beyond the federally regulated sector to put in place their own vaccination strategies, drawing on the advice and guidance available from public health authorities and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.
Federally Regulated Industries and Workplaces - Tourism Related
air transportation, including airlines, airports, aerodromes and aircraft operations
first Nations band councils (including certain community services on reserve)
port services, ferries, tunnels, canals, and bridges that cross international or provincial borders
railways that cross provincial or international borders and some short-line railways
road transportation services, including trucks and buses, that cross provincial or international borders
any business that is vital, essential or integral to the operation of one of the above activities
Canada Moving Forward with Proof of Vaccination for International Travel
The Government of Canada is collaborating with the provinces and territories to develop a proof of vaccination that will facilitate cross-border travel, while reducing the risk of spread and importation of COVID-19.
The Government of Canada is collaborating with the provinces and territories to develop a proof of vaccination that will facilitate cross-border travel, while reducing the risk of spread and importation of COVID-19.
Proof of vaccination credentials will support the re-opening of societies and economies.
Using a proof of vaccination will provide foreign border officials with the vaccination history needed to assess whether a traveller meets their public health requirements and provide a trusted and verifiable credential for when they return home.
Travellers will be able to submit their proof of vaccination in ArriveCAN (mobile app or Canada.ca/ArriveCAN website) when coming back to Canada.
Destination countries determine if or what type of proof of vaccination is required and the related benefits that may be provided such as reduced or no testing or quarantine requirements.
Canadians who do not have a proof of vaccination can travel outside the country, but they may have to quarantine or meet other requirements at their destination country, and they will be subject to mandatory quarantine and testing upon return to Canada.
Canada continues to participate in the international dialogue on proof of vaccination for international travel, including with the World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization, and through the G7.
Currently, there is no international consensus on an acceptable proof of vaccination, but we are working with international partners to recognize proof of vaccination credentials issued in Canada.
Safeguards are being built into the policies, procedures and technical systems to protect the privacy of Canadians. Provinces, territories and Indigenous organizations are and will remain the custodians of Canadians’ health data.
Canadians who currently need proof they were vaccinated can contact their province or territory for the record or receipt of vaccination if they don’t already have it. More information is available at Canada.ca/vaccine-proof.
Resource Roundup | Advocacy, Funding, and Training Opportunities
A roundup of resources for tourism businesses, including opportunities to share your experience, apply for support funds, and train employees.
Sunset from atop Battle Bluff, Thompson Valley
Credit: Destination BC/Andrew Strain
The TOTA team is here to help with the challenges your business is facing. Through TOTA's Tourism Resiliency Program you can access the following complimentary supports:
1:1 Business Support with a TOTA Resiliency Advisor
Expert Business Mentorship with an Okanagan College business professor
Mental Health Support resource list of guides and training from the Canadian Mental Health Association
As well, we will continue to share resources to help you build resiliency, including the resources below, which includes opportunities to share your experience, receive support funds, and train employees.
TOTA: Voice Your Concerns
The tourism industry must continue to convey real time feedback that explains the actual state of tourism relative to what might be considered recovery.
Organizations like TOTA, TIABC, TIAC, and many others will use this information to further advocate for the needs of the industry, particularly for additional government assistance through the course of the pandemic.
Please take a few minutes to complete any surveys relevant to your interests to help dispel the misconception that business is as usual for the tourism industry.
We invite you to share any challenges your business is facing so we can compile information on the evolving situation and share it with the appropriate parties, such as:
What challenges is your business currently experiencing?
How is this impacting your business?
What would help to improve the situation?
Feel free to share your current experiences at any time through the form at TOTABC.org/recovery or by emailing Recovery@TOTABC.com.
Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) continues to work closely with the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses, working to establish a COVID Tourism and Events Business & Employee Survival Program, in order to provide qualified and limited financial support to tourism and events businesses with significant revenue losses from September 2021 to May 2022.
How You Can Help
Engage with your local MPs/Candidates this summer – whether it’s a meeting, email, phone call, when they come knocking on your door, or a letter. Find your local Member of Parliament.
Download and share the key message guidelines
Send a letter to your local Member of Parliament. It is already written, you simply need to press send on HardestHit.ca.
Spread the word on social media
Keep TIAC in the loop - how did it go? Who did you meet with? What kind of reception did you receive? Use the Advocacy Campaign dashboard to report your meetings and share comments.
Restaurants Canada: Restaurant Survival Coalition
Restaurants Canada is requesting your help to create and inform the messaging that is shared with the Province of BC and provide a clearer picture of what businesses are experiencing here in the Thompson Okanagan region.
Tourism businesses can participate in the Restaurant Survival Coalition by submitting a video story to help amplify voices in the foodservice community, including sharing how the pandemic has impacted life and business.
Restaurant Canada wants to know:
How many days has dining been shut down or reduced?
How many staff did your business employ before the pandemic and how have they been impacted by this crisis?
How has your business and employees benefited from the federal rent and wage subsidies?
Restaurant Canada's Restaurant Survival Coalition will share these videos on social media to help shine a light on the support that restaurants continue to need as they recover from the COVID-19 crisis. Stories will be leveraged in discussions with the government to advocate for continued sector-specific support.
Propel Tourism and Hospitality Student Work Placement & Wage Subsidy Program
Tourism HR Canada announced the launch of a federally funded Student Work Placement Program, Propel, offering paid work-integrated learning opportunities in the tourism and hospitality sector.
Propel offers employers a wage subsidy of up to 75% of a qualifying student’s wages, to a maximum of $7,500. Students enrolled at a recognized post-secondary institution can apply for a paid position to fulfil the co-op or internship component of their program.
Jobs and Growth Fund in Western Canada
The Jobs and Growth Fund provides funding to businesses and organizations to help create jobs and position local economies for long-term growth. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is investing $217 million to help job creators and the organizations that support them to future-proof their businesses, build resiliency, and prepare for growth by transitioning to a green economy, fostering an inclusive recovery, enhancing competitiveness and creating jobs in every corner of the country.
Eligible companies could receive interest-free repayable contributions for up to 50% for businesses, 90% for non-profits, and 100% for Indigenous clients.
Free Digital Marketing Skills Training Program
The Alacrity Canada Digital Marketing Bootcamp is a virtual skills-training program valued at $6,000 per seat and offered to eligible B.C. small and medium-sized businesses at no cost by the Province of B.C. The eight-week course covers 40 key topics offered by 10 expert mentors to provide a foundation of digital marketing, search-engine optimization (SEO), paid advertising, analytics, content marketing, and other skills.
go2HR Scripts: Responding to Difficult Guest Situations During a Pandemic
go2HR has developed a document for frontline staff to review in order to prepare for various scenarios which workers could encounter in their workplace and suggested scripts on how to respond to challenging interactions.
Examples:
Guest is not wearing a mask when required
Guest does not sanitize hands upon entry
Guest inquiries about employee vaccination status
Guest or employee shows signs of being unwell
Export Navigator
Exporting allows tourism businesses to expand beyond local markets. Export Navigator offers many resources, including a free course about the export process and how to grow business beyond B.C.
Register for Free Online Course
Export Navigator’s community-based advisors provide support and ongoing guidance to help tourism businesses grow outside of B.C.
Advisors offer:
An export readiness assessment
A business readiness assessment
Market entry strategy support
Market tools and information
Streamlined service connections to support services
Advocacy Efforts: Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) continues to work closely with the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses, working to establish a COVID Tourism and Events Business & Employee Survival Program, in order to provide qualified and limited financial support to tourism and events businesses with significant revenue losses from September 2021 to May 2022. Tourism businesses can get involved by sharing key messages with local MPs, and community and social networks.
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) continues to work closely with the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses, working to establish a COVID Tourism and Events Business & Employee Survival Program, in order to provide qualified and limited financial support to tourism and events businesses with significant revenue losses from September 2021 to May 2022.
How You Can Help
Engage with your local MPs/Candidates this summer – whether it’s a meeting, email, phone call, when they come knocking on your door, or a letter. Find your local Member of Parliament.
Download and share the key message guidelines
Send a letter to your local Member of Parliament. It is already written, you simply need to press send on HardestHit.ca.
Spread the word on social media
Keep TIAC in the loop - how did it go? Who did you meet with? What kind of reception did you receive? Use the Advocacy Campaign dashboard to report your meetings and share comments.
Voice Your Concerns
We invite Thompson Okanagan tourism businesses to share any challenges so we can compile information on the evolving situation and share it with the appropriate parties.
The tourism industry must continue to convey real time feedback that explains the actual state of tourism relative to what might be considered recovery.
Organizations like TOTA, TIABC, TIAC, and many others will use this information to further advocate for the needs of the industry, particularly for additional government assistance through the course of the pandemic.
Please take a few minutes to complete any surveys relevant to your interests to help dispel the misconception that business is as usual for the tourism industry.
We invite Thompson Okanagan tourism businesses to share any challenges so we can compile information on the evolving situation and share it with the appropriate parties, such as:
What challenges is your business currently experiencing?
How is this impacting your business?
What would help to improve the situation?
Feel free to share your current experiences at any time through the form at TOTABC.org/recovery or by emailing Recovery@TOTABC.com.
Free Digital Marketing Skills Training Program: Applications Open
The Alacrity Canada Digital Marketing Bootcamp is a virtual skills-training program valued at $6,000 per seat and offered to eligible B.C. small and medium-sized businesses at no cost by the Province of B.C. The eight-week course covers 40 key topics offered by 10 expert mentors to provide a foundation of digital marketing, search-engine optimization (SEO), paid advertising, analytics, content marketing, and other skills.
The Alacrity Canada Digital Marketing Bootcamp is a virtual skills-training program valued at $6,000 per seat and offered to eligible B.C. small and medium-sized businesses at no cost by the Province of B.C. The eight-week course covers 40 key topics offered by 10 expert mentors to provide a foundation of digital marketing, search-engine optimization (SEO), paid advertising, analytics, content marketing, and other skills.
Eligibility:
A BC resident or residents own the business;
The business’s sole or primary operations are located in BC;
The business is currently operating;
The business is registered in BC;
The business employs less than 149 BC residents