Thank You to Supporters of the Agri-Tourism Entrepreneur Skills Training Program

Written By Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
 

On May 28, 2021, the first cohort of graduates from TOTA’s Agri-Tourism Entrepreneur Skills Training Program came together to celebrate with a virtual graduation ceremony. After two months of online class sessions from 20+ facilitators, mentorship meetings, and employment coaching, 16 participants graduated, ready to launch an agri-tourism product in the Thompson Okanagan region.

The program was a great success, with the online format enabling TOTA, UVIC, and industry guest speakers to connect with participants safely through a time of social distancing.

Students learned to develop a market-ready, shelf-stable product to offer in local retail, domestic, and international markets. Developed in response to the need to invest in locally derived, grown, processed, packaged, and distributed food supply to support the local economy, the program combined small business, export/market-ready training, and practical food-processing training.

The program came at a time when many of the participants were in search of next steps, resources, and a sense of connection, due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism industry. The Agri-Tourism Entrepreneur Skill Training Program was delivered free of charge by the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) in cooperation with the University of Victoria-Peter B. Gustavson School of Business and supported by the Government of Canada through the Canada-British Columbia Workforce Development Agreement.

Thank You To The Program Supporters

We would like to express a heartfelt 'thank you' to the facilitators, guests speakers, and mentors who supported this program and the participants:

Facilitators & Industry Guests

Participants received 200+ hours of instruction from 20+ facilitators and industry guests with expertise in agri-tourism product development, sales, and marketing, and other required areas of knowledge to help entrepreneurs enter the retail market and online platforms with confidence.

 

University of Victoria: Peter B. Gustavson School of Business

  • Rob Inkster

  • Kimball Ketsa

  • Dr. Brent Mainprize

  • Martin Rissley

  • Christian Van Buskirk

Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA)

  • Ellen Walker-Matthews

  • Terrina Barsalou

  • Barbara Bonnough

  • Jenna Labossiere

  • Chelsea McGonigal

Symphony Tourism Services, a subsidiary of TOTA

  • Kelly Galaski

Agri-Tourism Industry & Economic Development Organizations

 

Mentorship Program

Industry support is essential to help up and coming entrepreneurs achieve success. Over several weeks, mentors connected with budding entrepreneurs to share business insights and encouraging words.

 
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
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