BC Ski Promotion Debuts in Germany with SKI KANADA

Destination BC has partnered with online magazine SKI KANADA to promote BC ski product to German consumers. The online campaign, which is hosted on SKI-KANADA.net and will be promoted to the publication’s extensive audience via e-newsletter, includes a prizing component to increase traffic to the landing page while boosting signups for partner e-newsletters.

The prize draw will run until April 15, 2022, with the winner scooping up a BC heli-skiing trip courtesy of Mike Wiegele Heli-Skiing Resort. The activity will be cross promoted on SKI-USA.net.

Wiegele’s donation to TRU benefits North Thompson students

Source: Thompson Rivers University

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

KAMLOOPS—Mike Wiegele, the founder of Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing, has funded several new awards at TRU for students from the North Thompson and the Simpcw First Nation.

Wiegele donated $50,000 to fund 14 awards for students in the Faculty of Adventure, Culinary Arts and Tourism. The donation contributes to TRU’s Limitless Campaign to raise $50 million, coinciding with TRU’s 50th anniversary this year.

TRU Dean of Adventure Studies, Culinary Arts and Tourism Management Douglas Booth (left) shares a moment with Mike Wiegele (right).

“I believe the future of the North Thompson Valley is tourism,” Wiegele said. “Tourism needs more financial support and better access to professional development. It’s important to develop and create a source of employment for young people, to be structured in hospitality, business and economics, and to aid young people in the North Thompson to achieve a high level of service and international standards.”

Just like TRU, Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing is also celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2020. Wiegele established the premier heli-ski resort in Blue River in 1970 and is marking five decades of operations with the community that made it possible. While the North Thompson faces economic struggles with the downturn in BC’s forest industry, it’s important to provide access to education for those who will enhance the future of tourism.

This year, two $8,000 scholarships for students from the Simpcw First Nation, and four entrance awards and four scholarships of $2,000 for students from the North Thompson will be awarded.

“We employ up to 240 people at the highest level of tourism with good-paying jobs,” Wiegele said.

“We would not be here today without the backing of the local community and we want to continue to give back to and support its residents.

“We greatly value our friendship with the Simpcw First Nation, with whom we share not only the mountains in which we work and play, but also the vision of sustainable and environmentally responsible economic development,” he added.

The donation also funds two Adventure Studies scholarships and two Adventure Studies leadership awards and provides additional funding for the program to purchase avalanche training equipment.

“The Faculty of Adventure, Culinary Arts and Tourism gratefully acknowledges the generous donation by Mike Wiegele,” said Dean Douglas Booth.

“This donation will have an enormous impact on the lives of those students who receive scholarships. In addition to the financial support, the scholarships will also give students an introduction, and point of connection, to the Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing resort, a world-leading tourism operation in British Columbia. Through connections like this, TRU helps students find their way in the world while also assisting local tourism operators.”

Call Me Crazy, a film chronicling Mike Wiegele’s legendary life, is featured during the Kamloops Film Festival on Friday, March 6, at the Paramount Theatre.

So far, TRU’s Limitless Campaign has raised $43 million for student support, research, capital projects and equipment, and community initiatives. For more information, go to tru.ca/limitless

Contact:

Matic Vecko, General Manager, Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing

250-673-2415 | matic@wiegele.com

Douglas Booth, Dean, Faculty of Adventure Studies, Culinary Arts and Tourism Management

250-852-7138 | dobooth@tru.ca

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Michele Young

Content Specialist

Marketing and Communications

Thompson Rivers University

Clocktower CT203

805 TRU Way

Kamloops, BC V2XC 0C8

250-828-5361

micyoung@tru.ca

tru.ca/marcom