News & Resources
The latest Thompson Okanagan tourism industry news from TOTA, tourism businesses, and communities.
New Biosphere Commitment Member: Song Sparrow Hall
Song Sparrow Hall is a concert hall and event venue located in the historic Newnes Building in downtown Salmon Arm. Operated as a social venture, the team aims to bring people together and inspire them toward a kinder, more inclusive, and regenerative world.
Join TOTA in welcoming Song Sparrow Hall to the Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program.
Song Sparrow Hall is a concert hall and event venue located in the historic Newnes Building in downtown Salmon Arm, BC. This beautiful space was redesigned in 2020 with a focus on performing arts, celebration, and the sharing of ideas. The 235-person capacity venue features a state-of-the-art acoustically designed main hall with an advanced sound system and interactive LED lighting.
Song Sparrow Hall welcomes active community involvement by non-profit groups and individuals seeking to collaborate on innovative events.
Sustainability Initiatives
Operated under Lakeshore Village Limited as a social venture that strives to make sustainable facility and programming decisions, the organisation feels it is a natural fit for Song Sparrow Hall to join the Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program.
With every event they produce, the team is mindful of the intersections between socio-cultural, environmental, and economic sustainability. They believe in the power of the arts to bring people together and inspire them toward a kinder, more inclusive, and regenerative world.
By working toward aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, they are proud to join a global network of change-making organizations.
New Biosphere Committed Company: Travel Penticton
Travel Penticton has become a member of the Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program, joining over 80 other organizations in working towards sustainable and responsible tourism practices.
Read on to learn about Travel Penticton’s role as a destination marketing organization, including their current sustainability initiatives and motivation for joining Biosphere.
Travel Penticton has become a member of the Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program, joining over 80 other organizations in working towards sustainable and responsible tourism practices.
Read on to learn about Travel Penticton’s role as a destination marketing organization, including their current sustainability initiatives and motivation for joining Biosphere.
About Travel Penticton
Travel Penticton is the Destination Marketing Organization for Penticton and area, charged with the task of providing destination marketing and awareness to potential travelers on a regional, provincial, national, and international level. Travel Penticton proudly acknowledges that they work on the traditional unceded territory of the Syilx-Okanagan People.
Tourism is the third largest contributor to the economy in Penticton and a robust and sustainable tourism sector will contribute significantly to the City’s long term prosperity. They have always encouraged members and stakeholders to invest in sustainable initiatives and felt it important to lead by example by joining the Biosphere Commitment Program.
For Travel Penticton, sustainability means they can ensure the longevity of the tourism sector by protecting the natural environment, maintaining a healthy and stable workforce, and creating a community that is welcoming and accessible to all.
Travel Penticton has already made concerted efforts to reduce carbon emissions produced by visitors who drive and fly into Penticton annually through the "Fuel Free…Almost" initiative. This program encourages visitors, once they have arrived, to leave their vehicle keys in the hotel safe and explore the region by foot, pedal, or paddle.
Travel Penticton is also working on several other sustainability initiatives relating to health and wellness of both visitors and employees, including:
Became Rainbow Registered, signifying that visitor centres and offices are deemed safe spaces for members of the LGBTQ2+ community.
Held training and workshops for employees and members covering a wide range of environmental, social and economic topics.
Work closely with the City of Penticton and Penticton Indian Band to address and advocate for policies that have a significant impact on the tourism sector such as diversity, equality, accessibility, affordable housing, and community development.
About the Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program
Biosphere is a Sustainable Tourism System certified by the Responsible Tourism Institute, an international certification body that maintains a Memorandum of Understanding with UNESCO, is affiliated to the World Tourism Organization, and is a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. The system is aligned with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris COP21 Accord to Fight Climate Change.
TOTA’s Biosphere Commitment Program allows tourism industry stakeholders within the Thompson Okanagan to become involved. The Commitment Program follows a simple process in order to be recognized as a Biosphere Committed Company.
New Biosphere Member: Little Straw Vineyards
Little Straw Vineyards is the newest member of the Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program. Read on for information about Little Straw, including their rich history, new ownership, and motivation for joining Biosphere.
Little Straw Vineyards is the newest member of the Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program. Read on for information about Little Straw, including their rich history, new ownership, and motivation for joining Biosphere.
About Little Straw Vineyards
Little Straw Vineyard is a family-owned winery established in 1996. Wines vinted from the hot summer grapes of 1994 made up the first commercial releases. The winery is well known for the remarkably popular white blend “Tapestry” and for producing the only Auxerrois Icewine in Canada.
The majority of grapes come from their own vineyards situated on the lower slopes of Mount Boucherie in West Kelowna, British Columbia. Little Straw offers a wide range of small-lot wines, with something to appeal to almost every palate.
The winery is currently moving towards sustainability and organic.
Reasons for Joining the Biosphere Commitment Program
The ownership changed at the end of 2021 to Karnail Singh Sidhu, who also owns Kalala Organic Estate Winery. Karnail has been always passionate about being organic, sustainable, and eco-friendly. Kalala Organic Estate Winery has been a part of the Biosphere Commitment Program for a while now, and shares the same values as Biosphere.
The central vision of the Little Straw is to be a leader in environmentally sustainable agri-tourism business in BC. Little Straw really values being environmentally sustainable, keeping the environment in mind with every business decision. For instance, the majority of organic waste from the winery is used in the vineyards as nutrient manure.
Little Straw proactively tries to get certified, especially regarding environmental sustainability. For instance, listing certified organic and Biosphere Committed Company logos will stimulate the wine and agriculture industries and consumers.
The new owners have big plans for Little Straw. Joining the Biosphere Commitment Program will be one of the first steps they take for sustainability. The winery is also in the process to become certified organic, which takes approximately three years.
About the Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program
Biosphere is a Sustainable Tourism System certified by the Responsible Tourism Institute, an international certification body that maintains a Memorandum of Understanding with UNESCO, is affiliated to the World Tourism Organization, and is a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. The system is aligned with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris COP21 Accord to Fight Climate Change.
TOTA’s Biosphere Commitment Program allows tourism industry stakeholders within the Thompson Okanagan to become involved. The Commitment Program follows a simple process in order to be recognized as a Biosphere Committed Company.
New Biosphere Committed Member - August
Learn more about the newest Biosphere Committed Company, Manteo at Eldorado Resort!
Manteo is constantly seeking new ways to enrich their local community by creating a safe and healthy environment for all, with an emphasis on diversity and equality.
We are pleased to welcome Manteo at Eldorado Resort to the Biosphere Commitment Program!
Manteo at Eldorado Resort features 102 guest rooms, suites & villas on the shores of Okanagan Lake. At Manteo, they believe it is their duty to set the precedent for sustainability practices through their leadership in the tourism industry.
The team is constantly seeking new ways to enrich the local community by creating a safe and healthy environment for all, with an emphasis on diversity and equality. Manteo is proud to take part in environmental initiatives such as Adopt-A-Stream, Neighbourhood Clean-Ups, Bike to Work Week, and the eradication of invasive species, replacing them with native plants.
Giving back and fostering a strong sense of community is extremely important to Manteo. They focus on farm-to-table dining, partnering with local vendors and organizations, as well as raising funds for local charities.
Learn more about Manteo at Eldorado Resort.
New Biosphere Committed Members - July
We are very pleased to welcome five more amazing companies to the Biosphere Commitment Program: Clos du Soleil Winery, Tightrope Winery, Sperling Vineyards, Quaaout Lodge & Spa at Talking Rock Resort, and Le Vieux Pin Winery.
We are pleased to welcome Clos du Soleil Winery, Tightrope Winery, Sperling Vineyards, Quaaout Lodge & Spa at Talking Rock Resort, and Le Vieux Pin Winery to our Biosphere Community!
Clos du Soleil is a tightly-knit team with a common philosophy: our land and the life it contains is a gift, and as stewards of the land it is our privilege to produce wines which are a reflection of this land. Based in the Similkameen Valley, Clos du Soleil is a small artisan winery and estate vineyard. Managing Director and Winemaker Michael Clark states, “Organic certification is really central to our whole approach at Clos du Soleil. We put a great deal of effort into producing wines of place; wines that speak of the land on which they were grown. Organic practices are a crucial part of that process by encouraging healthy soils, and healthy vines, which make for more expressive wines”.
Learn more about Clos du Soleil here.
From the beginning, Graham & Lyndsay knew they wanted Tightrope Winery to be a sustainable business. After all, the property was also to be the home to their young family, and they wanted to ensure it would be a healthy environment for their family for generations. Graham embarked on a journey to create a framework for sustainability and became one of the founding Directors with Sustainable Winegrowing BC (SWBC). Tightrope’s sustainability efforts go beyond environmental stewardship and they also focus on social equity, economic development and how the greater community is affected.
Learn more about Tightrope Winery here.
Sperling Vineyards has been four generations in the making and they have been certified organic since 2017. Sperling Vineyards also recently became a member of Regeneration Canada, a movement supporting soil regeneration. Ann Sperling explained, "We are part of this organization to help get the word out about farmers who are committed to grasslands, permanent cover crops, and farming that benefits the environment. Our treed perimeters, bushes and permanent cover crops sequester carbon from the atmosphere unlike conventional agriculture with tillage that releases CO2."
Learn more about Sperling Vineyards here.
Quaaout Lodge & Spa at Talking Rock Resort is proudly owned by the Little Shuswap Lake Band. The Resort sits on Skwlax Territory and is home to the Secwepemc people. Little Shuswap Lake Band members conceived the idea of a hotel to spur economic development with a sustainable business venture, offering employment and long term security for the band and its members. Guests can reconnect with nature and the culture of the land, with Secwepemc culture woven into each experience.
Learn more about Quaaout Lodge at Talking Rock Resort here.
Named for the solitary majestic old growth pine of their Oliver estate, Le Vieux Pin sits perched amidst the famed vineyards of the Black Sage Bench. Since releasing their first vintage in 2005, Le Vieux Pin has captured the essence of traditional French winemaking, along with the bold New World character distinct to the region. Le Vieux Pin uses low input viticulture and non-interventionist winemaking to make exclusive vintages that carry with them a sense of time and place. They believe that engaging in sustainable and organic practices should be done for the good of the land for the good of those who work it.
Learn more about Le Vieux Pin here.
New Biosphere Committed Members
We are very pleased to welcome two more amazing companies to the Biosphere Commitment Program: Mission Hill Family Estate Winery and Jojo’s Cafe.
We are pleased to welcome Jojo’s Cafe and Mission Hill Family Estate Winery to the Biosphere Committed Member Community!
One of the philosophies of Jojo’s Café is to support local in everything they do. This means supporting local businesses, local art and artists and supporting the environment. Their dark roast is supplied by Rock Creek Trading Post, and the other roasts and espresso beans are supplied by Max Voets Coffee Roasting in Vernon.
Learn more about Jojo’s Cafe here.
The team at Mission Hill Family Estate relentlessly pursues quality at every turn. After being recognized as Canada’s only five-time winner of Winery of the Year and receiving multiple best varietal awards on the international stage, they continue to draw inspiration from the Okanagan Valley. The culinary team also works closely with local, sustainable farmers to source foods and create regionally-inspired dishes paired with wine cultivated from their estate vineyards.
Learn more about Mission Hill Family Estate Winery here.