New Program Aims To "Spark" New Indigenous Tourism Ideas Across British Columbia | Apply by January 17, 2022

Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC), Destination BC and the Tourism Innovation Lab have partnered to launch the Indigenous Tourism BC “Spark” Program. The initiative will spark new Indigenous tourism ideas and experiences which authentically represent, celebrate, and promote Indigenous cultures, heritage, language, cuisine, and communities in British Columbia

The program works by matching selected applicants with a tourism mentor, providing a $5,000 seed grant as well as additional partner support to help develop new tourism experiences. Applications are encouraged from Indigenous entrepreneurs, small businesses, and non-profit organizations in British Columbia, from November 9 to January 17, 2022. Following a review process, five finalists will be invited to a virtual Pitch Session on January 25, 2022 where three winners will be selected.

The organizers are especially interested in new Indigenous tourism ideas that support and/or offer shoulder season activities in rural areas, opportunities for guided interpretive programs, learning and creating authentic crafts with artists, culinary experiences, and ideas that support truth and reconciliation, sustainability and/or address climate change.

Funders and supporters of the Indigenous Tourism BC “Spark” Program include Destination BC, Indigenous Tourism BC, and TD Bank Group.

Supports for Indigenous Tourism Businesses Continue | BC Gov News

Indigenous tourism businesses will receive another financial boost to aid in pandemic recovery and foster growth through the continued partnership of the Province and Indigenous Tourism BC.

The Province initially provided $5 million to Indigenous Tourism B.C. (ITBC) to create the BC Indigenous Tourism Recovery Fund. It is now is providing an additional $3 million for a second intake.

Launched in February 2021, the fund provides grants to Indigenous tourism businesses, including lodges and resorts, restaurants, outdoor adventure experiences, galleries and gift shops owned by Indigenous people. Recipients can use the funds to keep the lights on and pay rent or employee wages. The intake opening date for the second round of the recovery grant will be announced by ITBC in the coming weeks.

Quick Facts:

• There are more than 480 Indigenous tourism businesses, within the 203 First Nations in British Columbia.

• Prior to the pandemic, Indigenous tourism was the fastest-growing sector of the tourism industry. It generated $705 million in direct gross domestic output and created 7,400 direct full-time jobs.

• 140 Indigenous tourism businesses received grants through the first round of the BC Indigenous Tourism Recovery Fund, which is a partnership with Indigenous Tourism BC.

• These grants have assisted in maintaining nearly 1,200 jobs in communities throughout B.C. in the past year.

• The BC Indigenous Tourism Recovery Fund is part of the Province’s actions to support the recovery of the tourism industry.

Tourism Kamloops CEO, Beverley DeSantis Announces Retirement

Tourism Kamloops CEO and TOTA Director Beverley DeSantis, has given notice of her pending retirement effective January 1st, 2022. DeSantis has offered to continue part time at the Board’s discretion for a period to be determined to assist through the transition period should her support be required.

The Tourism Kamloops Board thanks Beverley for the incredible job she has done since assuming the role of CEO in 2016.

Beverley's tenure as Tourism Kamloops CEO has been busy and transformative. Thanks largely to her work, the city has become a well recognized and desired destination regionally and internationally. Under her leadership, a five-year strategic plan was created and executed in less than three years, the organization went through a significant rebrand, launched a new website, increased its social media and travel trade presence, implemented innovative technologies, built a passionate team of professionals, and garnered significant community support.

Beverley's notice has triggered section 27.2 of Tourism Kamloops’ Board Policy for CEO Succession, which governs the organization’s robust CEO succession selection process. Tourism Kamloops’ Board will begin the process of finding a new CEO effective immediately and expects a new leader to be in place in early 2022.

A confidential email address has been set up by the Board of Directors to manage the CEO recruitment process. All inquiries should be directed to: board@tourismkamloops.com

UPDATED: BC Hotel Association and Tourism Industry Association of BC AGM's

The community of Merritt is currently under evacuation due to extreme weather conditions which is impacting the region and other parts of our province. BC Hotel Association (BCHA), TIABC, Tourism Kamloops, and the Kamloops Hotel Association are currently working alongside Emergency Management BC to secure accommodation for those evacuating and unable to stay with friends and family.

In an effort to ensure that maximum accommodation is made available to those in need, a decision has been made to no longer move forward with the in-person TIABC & BCHA Annual General Meeting/s. Instead, the event will take place online only - Wednesday, November 17, 2021

The BC Hotel Association (BCHA) and Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) are the voices of the provincial hospitality & tourism sectors at the federal, provincial, and community level, advocating for the best interests of BC’s accommodation and tourism communities.

The session will include:

• Updates on advocacy efforts both provincially and federally

• Information on emerging issues and strategies to mitigate risk

• Tools, resources, and benefits available to our members

• Recovery strategies for the tourism and hospitality sector

• Special guest speakers and dignitaries

• A townhall Q&A session

AGENDA

The run of show will remain as initially planned apart from the networking and reception event which will no longer take place:

• 1pm – 2pm | TIABC AGM

• 2pm – 2:45pm | Keynote Speaker, Emile Gourieux of STR on global trends and recovery

• 3pm - 3:15pm | Remarks by Hon. Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport

• 3:15pm – 4pm | BCHA AGM & Live Industry Update presentation

• 4pm – 5pm | Industry Town Hall and Q&A presented by Rising Tide Consulting

Developing Winter and Shoulder Season Tourism - Elevating Canadian Experiences

TIAC launched its Elevating Canadian Experience (ECE) program to provide tourism stakeholders with free learning resources in culinary tourism and tools for the winter/shoulder seasons.

The ECE program provides content ranging from strategy development to practical tools and tips - all designed to help grow and adapt your tourism business as an operator and build tourism capacity in your region as a destination partner.

The latest module "Embracing Canada’s Winter and Shoulder Season" has been developed to assist tourism operators and destination partners in broadening the shoulders of your tourism season and provides valuable insights, worksheets, tips and strategies.

November is Fall Prevention Month

Fall Prevention Month encourages organizations to coordinate their efforts for a larger impact. Canadian organizations participate by planning initiatives and sharing evidence-based information on fall prevention. Together we can raise the profile of fall prevention and encourage everyone to see their role in preventing falls and fall-related injuries across the lifespan.

Does your workplace have preventative measures in place to avoid slips and falls? Not sure where to start? go2HR has a resource in place for preventing slips, trips and falls in the workplace. Learn more about how you can avoid slips and falls in the workplace.

There are many ways to get involved in Fall Prevention Month and showcase the great work of your organization. Find out more here.

Okanagan College Hospitality Professional Program for Unemployed Workers - Applications Now Open

The Province is providing more than $450,000 to the Okanagan College Kelowna campus to deliver two intakes of its hospitality professional program for people on EI.

Participants will receive 17 weeks of occupational and employability skills training, 10 weeks of on-the-job work experience with local employers and three weeks of follow-up support to assist in their job search. Courses will include computer software, marketing and sales, soft skills, COVID-19 health and safety training, human resources and management, project management and accounting. Participants will also receive certification courses in FoodSafe, Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System and Serving it Right, as well as basic accounting or hospitality service training.

The hospitality professional program project is recruiting eligible applicants living in and around Salmon Arm, Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton and Revelstoke.

Full-time online and classroom learning for the first intake will start on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, and project activities will run until June 17, 2022.

Applications Open for Arts Infrastructure Program

Arts and culture groups throughout B.C. can look forward to new and enhanced spaces with $4 million to support the Arts Infrastructure Program.

This is the second year this funding has been made available in response to the needs of arts and culture groups. In 2020-21, the program had an initial budget of $2 million. However, an additional $2 million of one-time funding was made available, resulting in funding for 97 organizations and $4 million in support.

The Arts Infrastructure Program dedicates money that allows arts and cultural organizations to improve infrastructure, enhance safety features, increase accessibility, buy equipment and continue to offer virtual programming to contribute to B.C.’s economic recovery.

The application deadline January 14, 2022.

Quick Facts:

• Through the next intake of the Arts Infrastructure Program, arts and cultural organizations can receive these grants:

  • an increased limit from $75,000 to $250,000 to improve arts and culture spaces;

  • $40,000 to buy special equipment to support art programming; and

  • $25,000 to support capital planning and consultation.

• The BC Arts Council administers the Arts Infrastructure Program and a peer committee reviews the funding applications.

• Budget 2021 committed $6 million over three years to expand the Arts Infrastructure Program.

• As part of StrongerBC: BC’s Economic Recovery Plan, the Province provided $35 million to support arts and culture organization's recovery through the BC Arts Council.

Excerpts from News Conference with Dr. Henry & Health Minister Dix on Ski Resorts, Holiday Travel & Music Events (Nov. 9, 2021)

Originally published in a TIABC Newsletter on November 12, 2021

November 9, 2021:

Dr. Henry: So, here's what I'm asking you to think about as we head towards the coming holiday season. Keep your indoor groups small. We know that indoors is more risky than outdoors. And, it's really important that if you do have an indoor group that people are vaccinated. That helps mitigate the risk of transmission.

You can spend time with your loved ones, and indeed you must spend time. We need to have that time together. But have a smaller gathering this year, perhaps with one or two of your family members, or other families, rather than the full big family reunion. And make sure everyone is vaccinated.

If you're wanting to spend time with your broader family and friends, then plan an outdoor activity instead of gathering inside where it's riskier. Go sledding or snowshoeing or hiking. We have many, many wonderful things that we can do outdoors safely, even in the winter months.

And if you're travelling to another community, whether for a day trip, for exercise, a holiday getaway, we need you to be a respectful traveller. We know how to do this. We have been through this now together for the last 20 months. We need to continue to be aware of the impact we are having on communities we're going to and the risks that we're bringing with us, and of course, the risks we bring home.

We must recognize that there are some communities right now that are dealing with very serious outbreaks of this virus still, particularly in the North, but also on Vancouver Island, in the Interior and in some areas of the Lower Mainland. And they may not be ready to accept visitors right now, so check before you go. That also includes following all of the public health orders. Just because things look different in a different community doesn't mean you can let your guard down.

Here in BC, respectful travel means being fully vaccinated, using your vaccine card if you're going in to access services or going to events in any community; wearing a mask in all indoor public venues, including local stores, ski hills. All of those areas where we know that extra layer protection is so important at this time of year as we're moving into respiratory season.

Reporter: I know you've been asked about this before, but different ski hills are now putting in different policies around vaccine cards. Some are requiring vaccine to ride the gondolas or chairlifts. Others are not. Is there any change in guidance around whether the vaccine card may be used at ski hills considering people are in close contact in these gondolas?

Dr. Henry: just around ski hills, I know we have been working with the local public health, so my colleagues in each of the areas where we have ski hills have been reviewing the safety plans with each individual ski hill and there's a couple of things that all of them must adhere to, regardless of where their headquarters are.

One of them is we have an indoor mask mandate and gondolas are like a public transit, for example, an area where mask wearing is required, absolutely, and that is the same across the board. As well, we know that most ski hills have a vaccine mandate for their workers, which is something that protects all of the workers on the hill. That's important as well. And the BC vaccine card is required in all of those settings where you have either a licensed premise, where you're serving food, restaurants, sit down restaurants, etc. So we know that there's very strong protection plans and my colleagues have been working with each of the ski hills to make sure that they are robust.

We also know -- we've seen this from last year when we didn't have immunization -- that skiing is not necessarily a higher risk activity. We're not seeing transmission outdoors, we're not seeing transmission in gondolas, even in the absence of vaccination. So it is very important to have those safety plans. It is a requirement to wear masks on gondolas, on ski lifts, in lineups when you're close to people, and are more and more important this year, of course, but we also encourage everybody who's going there to be vaccinated.

We know that traveling into the country you need to be vaccinated. We know that travel within the country now you need to be vaccinated. So those are all things that will protect us and I think that's a really important consideration as we go into this ski season, too.

Minister Dix: I'll just add to that, that Mayor Jack Crompton of Whistler called me today and we spent some time talking about this issue. He's advocating forcefully for his community, and I think it's also important for the employer, in that case, to respond to the wishes of the community, as well, and we're hopeful they'll do so. I know other ski hills across BC have done that.

Reporter: Small music venues in BC are wondering when the ban will be lifted on standing and dancing in their establishments. Fans in BC can stand, dance and sing at larger events. What is the difference between that and the smaller venue? BC will soon be the only place in Canada with these types of restrictions in place.

Dr. Henry: I actually don't agree that we're the only place in Canada, but we do know that those indoor events where you have people crowding together and dancing and singing, so the general admission, it is the same across the board for all venues. Those large venues, they must have seated areas in front of the stage. They cannot have the general admission mosh pit in front of a concert, and the application of that is the same across the board.

We are doing this incrementally. We know that indoor settings are riskier than outdoor settings. We know that the vaccine card is one of the ways that we can reduce and mitigate that risk, but it's not the same everywhere. We have to be mindful that some of these settings are riskier.

We are doing things in an incremental way. We're looking at things like the vaccination rates in the community, like the amount of virus that's circulating in the community, the ability of people to wear masks. Those are all things that I'm working with my colleagues across the province. We spent quite a bit of time this week, and we'll be looking at how do we harmonize these and make these stronger, but this is not the time to make major changes that increase risk dramatically.

It affects all of those venues across the board, where we are requiring people to have access to a seat, because when people are seated, the risk is that much lower than when you're mingling with people.

Okanagan Food and Innovation Hub

The District of Summerland has issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) for a party to provide a location and/or building for the planned Okanagan Food and Innovation Hub (OFIH) in Summerland.  The OFIH is a regional collaborative project that focuses on expanding the local agri-food economy by providing facilities, equipment, and services that improve the economics of local food producers and processors.

If your organization, or any organization in your network is potentially interested in responding to this RFEOI, we encourage you to go to the District of Summerland website to learn more about this exciting initiative. The Deadline for submissions is November 25, 2021 at 2:00 pm.

Ready to E-Market Program

The British Columbia Tourism Resiliency Network’s Ready to E-Market program is available for B.C. tourism businesses who require digital assistance.

Ready to E-Market (previously called “Digital Support Services”) focuses on small tourism operators who need hands-on help with foundational digital skills, managing your own online presence, and digital advertising. A Digital Expert will work with you one-on-one. There is no cost to participate. You must be registered in the Tourism Resiliency Program.

There are packages available in three categories: Presence, Purchase, and Promote (see infographic below)

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To sign-up for a package, please contact your Program Advisor

Not yet registered? It’s quick, easy and free! Please visit TourismResiliency.ca/TOTA

Skift IDEA Awards 2021 Finalist

The British Columbia Tourism Resiliency Network has been named a finalist in the Skift IDEA Awards 2021 in the Pandemic Response category. Tourism Vancouver Island is the recipient of the award on behalf of our British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat (BCRTS) partners. 

Each year, Skift IDEA Awards celebrate brands and businesses designing new and better ways to travel in 14 categories. All finalists in the Pandemic Response category, include:

• Accor –  ALL Heartist Fund 

• Aparium Hotel Group – Innovative Dining Suites

• Bahrain Airport Company – Pandemic Response 

• Business Iceland – Looks Like You Need to Let it Out 

• Global Rescue – Coronavirus Intelligence Center

• Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board – Start Your Comeback in Los Angeles

• OYO – VaccinAid

• Tourism Vancouver Island (on behalf of BCRTS) – Tourism Resiliency Network

• WELL Health – Safety Rating 

Winners will be announced later this month and celebrated December 9th.

Regulation Urged for Short-Term Accommodations Industry

The Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) has made 13 requests of the province to consider in order to establish a regulatory framework for the short-term accommodations industry, similar to those in place for ride-hailing and other regulated industries.

While local governments in BC have tools to regulate short-term rentals for vacationers and others, most lack the capacity to enforce them.

The ever-expanding online accommodation bookings industry has reduced long-term rental housing capacity at a time when housing availability and costs are already under pressure. At the same time, a property’s earning potential from short-term rental use leads to higher prices in the market than local incomes can support.

On top of this, local governments are unable to obtain complete and accurate data needed to understand exactly what is happening with short-term rentals in their own community.

At the province’s request, a Joint UBCM-Province Advisory Group conducted an analysis and asked local governments to make recommendations for the province’s further consideration.

2021 Biosphere Awards - Nominations Close December 1st

Biosphere Hall of Fame

The Biosphere Hall of Fame was created by the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) to recognize and celebrate the organizations that make the region a more sustainable destination.

The Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program recognizes tourism organizations within the Thompson Okanagan region and gets them involved through TOTA’s Biosphere Certified Gold Destination status.

Biosphere Committed Companies are already taking steps to participate in the value-added programs to working towards the Sustainable Development Goals and are working together to make the destination more sustainable and resilient.

The Biosphere Hall of Fame recognizes Biosphere Committed Companies that have gone above and beyond.

2021 Awards Are Open for Nominations

We want to acknowledge the hard work and sustainable efforts of our Biosphere Committed Companies.

We have created the three awards to further recognize Biosphere Committed Companies:

• Sustainable Project of the Year Award

• Pioneer Award

• Eco Efficiency Excellence Award

Do you know a Biosphere Committed Company that has gone above and beyond? Nominate this business so their work can be recognized.

Winners will receive an award certificate, featured blog post, additional marketing coverage on TOTA social channels, and a feature in the monthly Biosphere Commitment Newsletter.

Nomination Details

There are no entry fees.

Self nominations welcomed.

Nominations are anonymous.

Nominations close December 1, 2021

Travel Advisory: REMINDER – Travelling to the U.S.? COVID-19 Border Measures and Testing Requirements Remain in Place when You Come Home

While Canadians have been welcoming US residents for what's deemed non-essential travel since early August, the US began allowing fully vaccinated travellers from Canada to enter their country at land and ferry points of entry for discretionary (non-essential) reasons, such as tourism on Monday, November 8th.

Travellers are reminded that border measures remain in place for travellers entering or returning to Canada and that they should get informed and understand their obligations as they make their travel plans.

Fully vaccinated travellers coming or returning to Canada must complete the mandatory pre-arrival molecular COVID-19 test and submit their information, including their digital proof of vaccination in English or French using the free ArriveCAN (App or website) within 72 hours before arriving in Canada. Antigen tests, often called “rapid tests,” are not accepted. Fully vaccinated travellers who are eligible to enter Canada continue to be subject to mandatory random testing on arrival.

For short trips that are less than 72 hours, Canadian citizens, people registered under the Indian Act, permanent residents and protected persons travelling to the United States are allowed to take their pre-arrival molecular test before they leave Canada. If the test is more than 72 hours old when they re-enter Canada, they will be required to get a new pre-arrival molecular test in the United States.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers who are eligible to enter Canada must continue to follow pre-arrival, arrival and Day-8 molecular COVID-19 testing requirements, and quarantine for 14 days.

Resources:

• Full details on the current measures in place for travellers entering or returning to Canada

• Information on Canada's proof of vaccination for travel.

• ArriveCAN

Destination BC - Tourism Digital Academy, Registration Now Open

Registration is now open for the next two intakes of the Tourism Digital Academy, which will run on January 10 and 17. It is a free, eight-week digital marketing program for BC tourism businesses interested in building their knowledge and skills in digital marketing to an intermediate level.

Designed for business owners or marketing team members, this comprehensive program provides actionable guidance that includes building a better understanding of SEO, website usability, content, email marketing and analytics.

This Online Program Includes:

• 8 weeks of interactive sessions led by digital marketing experts and ongoing access to the video recordings (Tuesdays & Thursdays each week for a total of four hours per week)

• Technical tutorials to dig deeper into specific areas and share experiences with other participants (Wednesdays each week for one hour)

• One-to-one coaching available, on demand, to answer your sticky questions

• Audits of your business website, SEO and social media channels, to assess your current situation

• A marketing plan template to guide development of your own plan

• Opportunities for peer support and networking

Eligibility and Application:

The application-based program is free for all participants. To be eligible for the program you must:

• Be a BC-based tourism business, whose product or service is regularly available for purchase within BC (community tourism and sector organizations are also eligible);

• Have an active business website;

• Demonstrate, through the application form, a minimum level of digital marketing experience; and

• Be able to dedicate up to 10 hours per week to the program: five hours to attend classes and tutorial sessions during business hours, and up to five hours to apply the learning to your marketing plan as you go.

If you have any questions, please email: IndustryDevelopment@DestinationBC.ca

TOTA Award Remembers George Hanson, Supports Okanagan College Viticulture Student

Winemaker George Hanson, who passed away in February 2021, was widely acknowledged for his efforts to grow the B.C. wine scene. A new award funded by the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) will commemorate his legacy, while helping a viticulture student at Okanagan College to cultivate their future in the industry Hanson so dearly loved.

In honour of Hanson, TOTA donated $1,500 to create the George Hanson Memorial Bursary, which will be open to students in the college’s Viticulture Certificate program starting in January.

“We are very pleased to be able to support this award in memory of George Hanson,” said Ellen Walker-Matthews, CEO of TOTA. “George’s legacy of excellence will live on in the high bar he set for future grape growers and winemakers, such as those coming out of Okanagan College. George is dearly missed, and we hope this award will plant a seed of inspiration in the heart of a budding viticulturist.”

“George Hanson was truly larger than life and will be remembered as someone who left an inspirational legacy in the Okanagan wine and tourism industry,” said Jonathan Rouse, Associate Dean for the School of Business and Director of Food, Wine and Tourism at Okanagan College. “We're deeply grateful to the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association for this meaningful tribute to George, which will aid and inspire an Okanagan College viticulture student as they step out into the industry and carry on the tradition and passion of winemaking, creativity, and excellence that he embodied.”

About George Hanson

After a career in telecommunications, George Hanson arrived in the Similkameen Valley in 1999 with the goal of following his dream of winemaking. The rest is B.C. wine history.

He purchased a 20-acre parcel of land near Cawston and planted Bordeaux varietals. Four years later, he released his first vintage. A few years after that, he formalized and built what would become Seven Stones Winery. By the time he retired in 2019, Hanson and his wines had garnered international attention and awards—cementing his place as a pioneer in the industry and a respected name among B.C.’s acclaimed winemakers.

George Hanson served as a TOTA board member from 2013 to 2018, and as a Symphony Tourism Services (a subsidiary of TOTA) board member from 2019 to 2021.

About Okanagan College Viticulture Certificate

Those future viticulturists looking to follow in his footsteps can learn more about the College’s Viticulture Certificate at www.Okanagan.BC.ca/viticulture-certificate. The popular program starts in January at the Penticton campus. Students gain the skills and knowledge needed to master the art and science of grape growing, and gain vineyard operation and management skills needed to start and thrive in the industry.

Viticulture students interested in applying for the award are encouraged to do so through the College’s Financial Aid and Awards application portal on their myOkanagan account. General information for applying for awards at OC can be found at www.Okanagan.BC.ca/awards.  

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For more information:

Tyler Finley, Interim Director, Public Affairs

Okanagan College


250-762-5445, ext. 4211

TFinley@Okanagan.BC.ca

Accessible Graphic Design - Destination British Columbia

Destination BC has published an article to help provide information on Accessible Graphic Designing.

While it’s easy to get hung up on the visual details, graphic design is first and foremost a visual communication method used to convey information with a specific objective. Ease of understanding is the main goal. Everything else – colour, layout, and typography, etc. – is the means designers use to communicate messages more effectively.

So, if getting a message across is the goal, then shouldn’t it be accessible to everyone – or at least to the widest audience possible? To that end, it’s important to consider the diversity of peoples’ abilities, needs, and preferences; What works for one person, may not work for everyone. Some people may perceive colour differently. Others might find it hard to see very light fonts with thin strokes. Many find busy layouts and too much information overwhelming. The more we consider these things when making design decisions, the more likely we are to reach a wider audience with our message.

Whether the design is for print or online, every format has its own considerations and complexities. There are some general rules you can follow regardless of whether you’re creating a website, social media post, digital ad, poster, or slide deck.

Indoor Mask Mandate Extended | BC Gov News

On October 29th, the Provincial Health officer extended the mask mandate that requires masks to be worn in all indoor public spaces throughout British Columbia.

The previous order, which was set to expire on October 31st, has been extended to continue to slow the transmission of COVID-19.

Masks are required in all public indoor settings for all people five and older, regardless of vaccination status. These settings include:

• Malls, shopping centres, coffee shops and retail and grocery stores, liquor and drug stores

  Airports, city halls, libraries, community and recreation centres

• Restaurants, pubs and bars (unless seated)

• On public transportation, in a taxi or ride-sharing vehicle

• Areas of office buildings where services to the public are provided

• Common areas of sport and fitness centres when not engaged in physical activity

• Common areas of post-secondary institutions and non-profit organizations

• Inside schools for all K-12 staff, visitors and students

Masks may be removed temporarily in indoor public places:

• To identify the individual wearing the mask

• To consume food or beverage at a location designated for this purpose

  While participating in a sport or fitness activity in a sport facility

• While receiving a personal or health service that requires the mask to be removed

People who cannot wear a mask or who cannot put on or remove a mask without the assistance of others are exempt. A person may not be able to wear a mask for a psychological, behavioural or health condition or due to a physical, cognitive or mental impairment.

Operators of indoor public spaces, schools, and post-secondary institutions and organizers of inside events must post signage at the entrance to all indoor areas covered by this order notifying that face coverings are required to be worn in accordance with this order.

Nothing in this order prevents an operator, school or post-secondary institution or organizer of an inside event from having additional requirements in relation to face coverings.

Indigenous Tourism Infrastructure Survey

The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) partnered with iTOTEM Analytics to assess the economic and societal benefits of investment in Indigenous tourism infrastructure. This survey is asking Indigenous tourism operators from across Canada to participate and provide information about their operations.

Aligned with the ITAC’s strategic recovery plan and vision for the industry, the results from the initiative will be invaluable for ITAC’s advocacy efforts as they push for increased investment and program supports to be made available to Indigenous tourism operators between 2022-2024.

The insights will help inform the action plan by highlighting how our industry has sustainably thrived in the past and help us understand the adjustments needed to get back on track.