News & Resources
The latest Thompson Okanagan tourism industry news from TOTA, tourism businesses, and communities.
Sustainable Communities | Kanaka Bar Indian Band (T’eqt”aqtn’mux)
Our environment is diminishing everyday and it is our responsibility to take environmentally sustainable and responsible actions today in order to protect tomorrow. The Kanaka Bar Band has been extremely successful in their sustainable efforts and their accomplishments are inspiring.
With a continuously changing world due to the direct impact of the actions of the people living within it, it is our responsibility to act today with our future in mind. We need to be continuously mindful that the steps we take today will leave imprints lasting for many generations. The Kanaka Bar Indian Band prides itself on carrying out its community's mandate and building with this mindfulness at the forefront of everything they do.
“... The future of humanity and indeed, all life on earth, depend on us.”
Fraser River, Taken by @snsusbjwnsk
The Kanaka Bar Indian Band, also known as “T’eqt”aqtn’mux” or “the crossing place people,” is located 18 kilometers South of Lytton in the Fraser Canyon region, on the western border of the Thompson Okanagan. They are one of fifteen Indigenous communities that make up the Nlaka’pamux Nation. Kanaka Bar’s ancestors knew that to survive, one needs air, water, food, shelter, energy, and community certainty. With these elements in mind and connecting today's science with traditional knowledge, Kanaka Bar has developed programs, plans, projects, and initiatives to ensure that they will be self-sustaining and resilient, and thus able to maintain all foundational physiological elements for generations to come.
As temperatures rise, air quality diminishes, and weather patterns become more unpredictable, Kanaka members are observing the effects of global collective actions on the local environment. In short, Kanaka membership is of the view we are all approaching, if we have not already, a point of no return regarding climate change’s adverse impacts. Changes to our day to day life, big or small go a long way. Businesses and communities who share a similar awareness have a unique opportunity to learn, adapt, and then teach environmentally sustainable habits.
Changes to your business that allow you to become self-sustaining and resilient are not only good for the environment, but for your business as well. For example, imagine not having to worry about a power outage shutting down your computer and payment systems, because your power comes from solar power and battery storage!
Aerial of Kanaka Reserve
Making sustainable and resilient changes can be a long road, but these changes will have a lasting and positive impact. While some communities and businesses may have overlooked these initiatives, the community of Kanaka Bar time and time again have been leaders in environmentally sustainable practices that have truly made a difference for their community and our planet. Some of their incredible initiatives consist of weather stations, water gauging stations, solar projects, hydro projects, wind energy with battery storage, and currently in the design phase of a Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) project, to produce fresh fruits and vegetables year-round to phase out field crops and greenhouses over time.
2020-09-02 Excavating the Restaurant lands Parcel 1
Bee Keeping at Kanaka Bar Band
Energy bills constitute a significant portion of everyone's business and community expenses these days. Thanks to Mother Nature’s generous availability of sun, water, wind, and a few low-cost and no-cost strategies implemented at Kanaka, most residential units are now paying year round approximately $60.00 per month and the administration facilities are paying approximately $20.00 per month to BC Hydro, says Chief Patrick Michell.
These energy conservation initiatives are great evidence for cost-saving opportunities that any business or community can incorporate in the same capacity.
To reduce the energy consumption of Kanaka residences, administration, and businesses, the band follows a holistic proactive 5 pillar approach to manage their energy and costs:
Solar at the Band Office, 2020
Community celebrating around Solar Panel
They use an interactive hardware system installed behind their BC Hydro meter at the Band Office and health office, to monitor solar production and minute by minute consumption. This is to inform them about their energy usage trends and “power hogs” so that they can take control of their bills. All Kanaka buildings were inspected for construction deficiencies such as insulation and air leaks. Seventeen of the buildings were upgraded which resulted in a 40%-70% reduction of daily energy use.
With the vision to become self-sufficient, sustainable, and vibrant, the Kanaka community will continue to be one of the first to research and successfully try new sustainable technologies with the end goal of overall community resilience in mind. They have a myriad of renewable energy projects to generate their electricity, which includes at this time twelve separate Solar systems, a run-off river hydro project, and two vertical axis wind turbines. The life span of the Solar Panel projects is easily fifty years and the payback period is around seventeen years. Though the payback period seems long, the benefits that these solar projects generate after the initial seventeen years is worth the wait. Kanaka has learned that payback periods are now less due to the cost decreases in both solar panels and batteries.
Food Forest Aerial Image Sept 21 2020
““It is not a loss to Kanaka today when we invest in our children and grandchildren’s future. We invest in the long term at the expense of the short term by proactively installing legacy assets… We have rebranded our thinking.””
For any community, resilient food sufficiency can be defined as finding alternatives to retail and trade by utilizing local land and resources to produce what you need to live. New permaculture initiatives and the coming of the pilot Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) project at Kanaka will provide ideal conditions for any kind of fruit or vegetable to be able to grow all year round. Transferrable anywhere, Kanaka learnings will allow for farmers to develop control over variables normally unavoidable and uncertain, for example, bugs, rain, excessive heat, drought, wind events, humidity, and growth lighting. Kanaka Bar plans to transition from working field crops and greenhouses into new, or used shipping containers and to produce, process, and distribute fresh and preserved foods throughout Kanaka, sell the food at their future visitor center, The Must Stop Rest Stop (for people passing through), and incorporate an e-commerce market for organic wind/sun-dried products. By using repurposed shipping containers they will take up less land and can be moved to wherever and whenever.
Current Raised Garden Beds
Pilot Project potential Design
Current Greenhouse, July 2020
The tipping point for our environment is nearing. Kanaka believes it will be sooner than later, which is why the Kanaka community does their best to create strategies with an extensive long term vision. If we do not get ahead of climate change now, the world will be 2 degrees Celsius higher and then 4 degrees Celsius by 2100, millions of people will suffer from dehydration and starvation, and millions of people will be displaced.
Taken by @snsusbjwnsk
Businesses and communities have a unique opportunity to set the stage and then educate other people on how they can make a difference to themselves and the environment. Taking on environmentally sustainable endeavors is not always an easy thing to do, but in the end, the short term pain will be worth the long term gain. What we do today impacts tomorrow, so let's start making a difference today to ensure our tomorrow.
“What affects one affects all – we are part of a greater whole – the body of the planet.”
About the Author
Born and raised in Kelowna, Jenna Labossiere loves to learn about and experience new places. She feels so lucky to live in such a beautiful place with so much to explore. As a Brand Ambassador for the Thompson Okanagan region, she hopes to be able to showcase the region’s local businesses and natural attractions to encourage others to come and enjoy them in a safe and sustainable way.
About the Author
Thivya Viswanathan is TOTA’s Energy Analyst. She is passionate about energy efficiency & renewable energy and works with the tourism businesses in the Thompson Okanagan to help them understand their energy consumption. She manages TOTA’s energy assessments for small businesses and a few areas of the Eco Efficiency Program.
Making Your Space Accessible to All
Creating an accessible and inclusive space doesn't need to be a daunting or expensive task. Upside Cidery quickly made their already inclusive space even more so by creating tables that are accessible to all in their cidery. Included are some tips on where and how to start making your space accessible.
Accessible Business Feature: Upside Cidery
Creating a space for all was the inspiration behind the opening of Upside Cidery. A space that welcomes anyone from families with children to business professionals, and everyone in between. They even welcome dogs into their space.
Upside Cidery is an organic cidery located on 18 acres of land on Gale Road behind Route 97 in Kelowna. This land was originally used to crush gravel for the building of the highway when it was first purchased in 1970 by the co-owner, Mike Large’s father. Both owners, Mike Large and Isaac Potash, grew up farming with Isaac’s family farm being one of the first organic farms.
The building that houses Upside Cidery was created in a way that upon arrival, is easy for everyone to access and move around. They have a paved and flat parking lot with a designated accessible stall and three stalls along the side of the building that can accommodate a vehicle with a side lift or ramp. Their open floor concept allows for lots of space to maneuver around in the cidery and the washrooms are very accessible.
Isaac Potach
Having only opened in June of 2019, the cidery is very successful and has become a very popular hangout for locals. The atmosphere is extremely welcoming and the staff are very friendly and accommodating. With the vision of everyone being welcome and able to enjoy Upside Cidery, Isaac was eager to do what he could when TOTA Accessibility specialist, Sonja Gaudet, brought to his attention, on her visit to the cidery, that there was no accessible seating in the building, only high tops and picnic tables.
“Making your space accessible doesn’t have to be expensive or daunting.”
Isaac immediately called up his builder to create two tables that were wheelchair accessible and comfortable for anyone that struggles to sit at high top tables. One of these tables is able to be moved inside and out.
Without hesitation and within a couple of weeks, Upside was able to create a space that truly is for everyone. Along with the accessible seating, they are now planning to design a tasting bar that will be at an accessible height for seated tastings by next year.
Creating a space for all, although may seem initially overwhelming, is not a complicated task. In order for people with mobility requirements to participate and experience the services and products available in the tourism space, there are three accessible features to address first. These features will help to ensure an enjoyable and memorable experience, worthy of several repeat visits and recommendations to MANY friends and family members! Keep it simple and start with these aspects to make your space accessible to all.
Simple, but Key Priorities
Accessible Parking
Paved or hard packed crush grade gravel surface.
Designate accessible parking spaces with:
Clearly marked lines.
Accessible parking signage on a post at the front of the parking space.
Ensure spaces are wide enough to accommodate a vehicle that may have a side lift or ramp - 3.9 meters wide.
For gravel surface parking lots:
Designate accessible parking closest to the main entrance access route.
Using spray paint is very effective for marking parking space lines.
When your able to re-paint your parking lot lines, here are best practice recommendations - Accessible Parking Stall
Main Entrance Access
Level/minimal slope access route to the main entrance.
Curb cut access from the parking area to the main entrance access route
If main entrance access is via stairs - ramp access is required.
Automatic/low touch/no touch main entrance door - minimum width 81.5 cm
OR easy push/pull main entrance door.
If applicable, loosen tension on overhead automatic door tension bar/closer unit.
Weather permitting, keeping the main entrance door in the open position is a temporary option.
Level/no step door thresholds.
Threshold ramps are a very inexpensive and easy way to eliminate a step-up door threshold that you may have anywhere throughout your site.
Accessible Washrooms
Ensure your washroom is wheelchair accessible.
Automatic, low touch or easy push/pull door - minimum width 81.5 cm.
Grab bars beside the toilet.
Roll under sink vanity height - minimum 68.5 cm / maximum 86.5 cm
152 cm floor space free of any obstruction.
An easy initial adjustment to allow for more space inside the washroom, is to ensure that the swing of the door swings out. This is also for safety reasons, in case someone were to fall up against the door inside the washroom and access was required.
Until a full renovation is possible, work with the washroom you presently have to re-configure, adjust and modify as best as possible to the best practice recommendations found here - Accessible Washroom
Further Recommendations
If your experience offers food & beverage service - ensure you have lower height tasting bars & table options for wheelchair users and individuals who require or prefer to be seated while eating and/or tasting.
Minimum height - 68.5 cm / floor to bottom of surface
Maximum height - 86.5 cm / floor to bottom of surface
Learn more about Accessibility Recommendations
Remember, accessibility and inclusion is so much more than what we build into our physical environment. It is a collective positive energy and attitude that can be felt upon entering any environment. It transcends directly from the heart and creates a feeling of belonging and freedom. This powerful and open mindset towards full integration inspires meaningful and authentic connections with one another, enriching the lives of EVERYONE along its path.
TOTA’s Accessibility video, Accessibility in a New Light, gives us a better understanding of the importance and positive impact accessibility and inclusivity in our community can have on individuals.
About the Author
Born and raised in Kelowna, Jenna loves being able to be a tourist in her own backyard. As a Brand Ambassador for the Thompson Okanagan region, she hopes to be able to showcase the region’s local businesses and natural attractions to encourage others to come and enjoy them in a safe and sustainable way.
About the Author
Sonja Gaudet is a retired 3 X Paralympic Gold Medalist and most recently a Canadian Order of Sport Inductee 2020/21. She lives in Vernon with her husband Dan and two adult children, Alysha and Colten. Sonja has a passion in locating and creating accessible experiences in the Okanagan region. Some of her adventures include kayaking, exploring the accessible hiking trails with her dog Lina, and enjoying Charcuterie with her most recently discovered favorite glass of red wine, more than likely from somewhere in the South Okanagan or Similkameen region.