News & Resources

The latest Thompson Okanagan tourism industry news from TOTA, tourism businesses, and communities.

 
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Board Director Election Voting Begins October 1, 2024

The TOTA board director election will be open October 1 to 14, 2024. Learn about the candidates and how voting members can vote.

 

Electronic voting for the TOTA Board Election will be open from October 1 to October 14, 4:30 pm.

Voting stakeholders received an email invite on October 1 from TOTA through Election Runner (noreply@electionrunner.com) with a link and instructions to vote for the board of directors.

There are a total of 12 board candidates for the 10 open positions. Each individual would be a tremendous asset to the TOTA board.

Candidates

For profiles of each candidate, go to TOTABC.org/agm.

Current directors, running for an additional term:

AJ Bachhal, Best Western Plus Gateway to the Falls
North Thompson
Accommodation

Mandi Carroll, Westbank First Nation
Central Okanagan
Other: Community

Kelley Glazer, Destination Osoyoos
South Okanagan
DMO

Kimo Linders, ERTCU Travel Group
All sub regions
Other: Receptive tour operator

Morgen Matheson, Tourism Shuswap / Columbia Shuswap Regional District
Shuswap
DMO

Ed Ratuski, YKA Kamloops Airport
South Thompson
Other - Transportation

Cassandra Zerebeski, Destination Silver Star
North Okanagan
DMO

New candidates:

Vicki Dalgleish, Sandman Hotel Group
North Thompson, South Thompson, Gold Country, North Okanagan, Central Okanagan, South Okanagan, and Similkameen
Accommodation

Lumin McCutcheon, Trails to the Boundary Society
Boundary Country
Other

Lara Pethybridge, Andrew Peller Ltd (Gray Monk, Sandhill, Black Hills, Tinhorn Creek, Red Rooster)
Central Okanagan, South Okanagan
Wine & Culinary

Natasha Rojas, Wine Tours Gone South
South Okanagan
Other - Tour operator

Colin Ross, Peak Cellars
Central Okanagan
Wine & Culinary

This is an outstanding list of candidates, and we look forward to announcing and welcoming the new board directors at the TOTA AGM on October 29.


More Information

For questions, please email the TOTA Board Liaison at BoardLiaison@TOTABC.com.

 
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AGM & Board Director Call for Nominations

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) will hold the 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on October 29, 2024, at 3:30-4:30 pm, in the Prestige Vernon Lodge & Conference Centre.

We invite Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association voting stakeholders to put their name forward or to nominate a qualified candidate to serve as a member of the TOTA Board of Directors for a two-year term, effective October 29, 2024, to the 2026 AGM.

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) will hold the 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on October 29, 2024, at 3:30-4:30 pm, in the Prestige Vernon Lodge & Conference Centre in Vernon, home of the Okanagan Indian Band and the unceded, traditional territory of the Syilx People.

On behalf of TOTA Vice-Chair and Governance Committee Chair, Sandra Oldfield, we invite Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association voting stakeholders to put their name forward or to nominate a qualified candidate to serve as a member of the TOTA Board of Directors for a two-year term, effective October 29, 2024, to the 2026 AGM.

Leading up to the AGM, the Board Election will take place as follows:

  • Deadline to become a Voting Member: August 29

  • Call for Nominations: August 30 - September 20 (3 weeks)

  • Electronic Voting: October 1 - 15 (2 weeks)

  • Election results announced at TOTA AGM and first board meeting: October 29

TOTA is committed to assisting and supporting tourism stakeholders and working closely with Destination BC to put the Thompson Okanagan region and the Province of BC at the forefront of innovation as we maneuver through the tourism industry’s changing landscape.

This year, there are 10 openings. 7 directors are letting their names stand for re-election. 4 directors moving into the second year of their 2-year term.

 

Directors continuing their term:


Monica Seys

Owner & Manager

Shuswap Marina

Blind Bay | Shuswap

Thom Tischik

Executive Director, Travel Penticton Society

Penticton | South Okanagan

Sandra Oldfield, Vice-Chair

Founder

Elysian Projects & Fortify Conference & Tradeshow

South Okanagan

Dale Sivucha

General Manager, Coast Capri Hotel

Kelowna | Central Okanagan

 

Current directors standing for re-election:

Mandi Carroll

Economic Development & Communications

Westbank First Nation

Westbank | Central Okanagan

Kimo Linders

Co-Founder / Director, Business Development

ERTCU Travel Group

Penticton | South Okanagan

Ed Ratuski

Managing Director

YKA Kamloops Airport

Kamloops | Thompson Valleay

AJ Bachhal

General Manager, Best Western Plus Gateway to the Falls

Clearwater | North Thompson

Kelley Glazer

Executive Director

Destination Osoyoos

Osoyoos | South Okanagan

Morgen Matheson

Team Leader, Tourism and Film

Tourism Shuswap / Columbia Shuswap Regional District

Salmon Arm | Shuswap

Cassandra Zerebeski

Executive Director

Destination Silver Star / Silver Star Resort Association

Vernon | North Okanagan

Thank you to the exiting directors:

Michael J. Ballingall, Chair (moving into position of Past Chair)

Senior Vice President

Big White Ski Resort

Boundary Country

Michael Eibl

Business Development Officer

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc

Kamloops | South Thompson

Patricia Leslie, Secretary-Treasurer

National People & Culture Business Partner, for the Estate Wine Group of Andrew Peller properties

Okanagan Valley


Submit a Nomination

We look forward to having candidates representing various communities and sectors, with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences.

Voting members are eligible to put a name forward as a candidate in the election. Candidates must complete the nomination form which includes signatures from 4 voting stakeholders - see details below.

If you or someone you know is interested to run in the TOTA board election and is on the current Voting Stakeholder List, please:

  1. Review the process to Become a TOTA Board Director

  2. Collect signatures for the nomination form 

  3. Submit the nomination form to TOTABC.org/AGM/election by 11:59 pm,  September 20, 2024

For questions, please email BoardLiaison@TOTABC.com.

Register for the TOTA AGM & Summit

October 29 - 30, 2024

Hosted with Tourism Vernon & Destination Silver Star


 
 
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