Government of Canada announces additional easing of border measures effective April 25

The Government of Canada announced further changes to Canada's border measures for certain eligible travellers. Effective April 25, 2022, the following easing of border measures will come into effect:

• Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children aged 5-11 who are accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent, step-parent, guardian or tutor will no longer be required to complete a pre-entry COVID-19 test for entry to Canada.

• Pre-entry tests will still be required for partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers 12 and older who are currently eligible to travel to Canada. Children under 5 years of age are not required to provide a COVID-19 test result.

• All fully vaccinated travellers will no longer be required to provide a quarantine plan upon entry. This requirement will also be removed for children aged 5-11 who are accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent, step-parent, guardian, or tutor and travellers with a medical contraindication to a COVID-19 vaccine.

Furthermore, fully vaccinated travellers arriving to Canada after April 25, 2022, will no longer be federally required to do the following for 14 days after arriving:

• mask while in public spaces;

• monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms;

• quarantine if another traveller in the same travel group exhibits signs or symptoms or tests positive; and

• maintain a list of close contacts and locations visited.

All travellers are still required to use ArriveCAN (free mobile app or website) to provide mandatory travel information within 72 hours of their arrival to Canada and/or before boarding a plane or cruise ship destined for Canada.

View Announcement →

SASCU supports the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail with $50,000

The Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail celebrated Earth Day with an announcement of a $50,000 donation from Salmon Arm Savings and Credit Union (SASCU) Financial Group toward the construction of the rail trail.

In Splatsin history, the railway represented a division of land and a loss of resources. Projects such as this one provide an opportunity for all involved to partake in reconciliation and to work together towards a common goal.

The economic and land management benefits are the tip of the iceberg; the rail trail will promote a healthy lifestyle and exercise, family outings, the appreciation of nature and knowledge of the land as well as an improved understanding of the Secwepemc values and culture.

The announcement was made at Splatsin Community Centre where the first pilot section will be constructed between Splatsin and Enderby. The second section approved for construction will begin in Sicamous (km 0) to Mara (km 19.8) to address rock scaling, road crossings, bridge decking, safety signage, preliminary grading, and erosion.

The Capital Fundraising Campaign encourages corporate and community donors to support the rail trail project by making donations, as many grant applications require a matching financial commitment to qualify. All contributions are tax-deductible. Every dollar donated is leveraged for grants to construct additional kilometres on the rail trail.

Learn More →

Donate →

go2HR Seeking Board Nominations by April 29, 2022

go2HR is currently seeking nominations for three director positions (2 year term). go2HR is committed to renewing their board with diversified representation and keen to receive nominations from women, Indigenous operators, northern BC employers, and educators.

Are you interested in running for a position on go2HR’s Board of Directors?

The organization needs your expertise and leadership to help them continue the strategic journey to realize strong workforces and safe workplaces that deliver world-class tourism and hospitality experiences in BC.

Now more than ever, go2HR's work is needed to support BC’s tourism and hospitality recovery.

All completed nominations forms must be submitted to go2HR no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, April 29, 2022.

Learn More →

Canadian Documentary Sheds Light on Mass Tourism

A Canadian-made documentary, the Last Tourist, premiered in Vancouver last week with the aim to shine a light on the negative effects travel can have on world cultures and landscapes.

The documentary explains that if done right, travelling can help with wealth distribution, while giving travellers enriching experiences. It also recommends researching tour companies before booking and keeping money in the local economy, whether that means staying in locally-owned hotels, eating at locally-owned restaurants or shopping locally. The Last Tourist is available on Apple TV and Amazon.

Learn More & Watch Preview →

go2HR Employee Training Programs

go2HR offers several online and free/affordable training opportunities to support training and development of the BC tourism industry and to create safe and successful workplaces.

The following courses may be helpful for you and your team members:

• FOODSAFE Level 1 by Distance Education: Self-paced BC food safety course and certification.

• BSAFE™ - BC Safety Assured For Everyone: Free front line worker foundational health and safety course

• Safer Spaces - Course for Employers and Supervisors: Free online course about preventing sexual harassment in tourism and hospitality workplaces.

• Foundations of Workplace Safety Course (includes WHMIS): Free workplace safety training for young or new workers in tourism, including rights and responsibilities, and common hazards.

• SuperHost Customer Service Training: Affordable, relevant and quality customer service training for front-line employees, available online.

• Workplace Wellness CARE Certificate: Free online training to learn to maintain mental health and care for another person experiencing a mental or emotional crisis.

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New Biosphere Committed Company, Codfather’s Seafood Market

Jon and Anne-Marie Crofts, Owners of Codfather’s Seafood Market

Codfather’s Seafood Market has been operating in Kelowna for over 30 years and operates a traditional Fishmongers shop as well as supplying restaurants in the Okanagan and beyond with high quality seafood. Operating out of a small space in the Guisachan Village on Gordon Drive in Kelowna, they are a family run business and pride themselves on making a big impact out of a small space.

“We decided to join the Biosphere Commitment Program because we needed a way to ensure that we take every opportunity to progress and look at every area of our business in terms of sustainability. We felt that this would lead to real and measurable improvement for us.”

- Jon Crofts, Codfather’s Seafood Market

Sustainability for Codfather’s as a seafood business has always been tied closely to the ethics of seafood harvesting and growing, and the way that fisheries are organized and monitored. Sustainability is more than just an eco-label, it also comes from the heart and should never be driven by the desire to profit in any other way than to ensure that a livelihood and thriving ecosystem is still available for all the generations to come.

Lack of equitable access and corporate monopolisation have become huge problems when it comes to sustainability, with “Ocean Grabbing” prevalent throughout the world. Through their work with the Slow Fish organization, they fight against these problems in various guises constantly. They also believe firmly in the value of local co-management of fisheries by Coastal and inland watershed communities. Codfather’s works towards this through their involvement with the “Fisheries for Communities” campaign.

Canada Masking Guidelines for Travel Still in Effect

Canada’s Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said masking guidelines while travelling still apply, as the US moves to drop its national mandate.

Currently in Canada, travellers must wear a mask or face covering while travelling through Canadian airports and for the duration of flights. Air operators are required to notify passengers of the rule and receive confirmation that everyone has a face covering.

Transport Canada says travellers should also wear a mask or face covering while travelling in groups by rail, road, and water.

To support the new border measures in place as of April 1, the Canada Border Services Agency has produced videos to ensure travellers are aware of the current requirements in place and arrive prepared at the border or airport.

The tourism industry is encouraged to share these videos with your network to help facilitate a smooth travel experience for visitors.

Watch Videos →

Flood-Affected Communities Benefit from BC Recovery Funding

Ten BC communities severely affected by the November 2021 floods are receiving $53.6 million in provincial funding to support recovery work and get people back into their communities. Thompson Okanagan communities receiving funds are: Merritt, Princeton and Thompson-Nicola Regional District.

Due to the extreme effects of the flooding on their communities, several local governments are receiving direct grants to assist them in meeting the additional costs pressures of ongoing recovery and infrastructure planning.

This funding is in addition to more than $2.1 billion that Budget 2022 provides to help people recover from last year’s floods and wildfires, and to better protect communities against future climate disasters.

In addition to supporting intermediate temporary housing for displaced residents of Merritt and Princeton, the grants will enable all 10 local governments to:

• take care of initial flood-recovery costs not covered by other assistance programs;

• carry out initial small-scale recovery-related capital projects;

• implement planning, feasibility studies and design work to support resilient infrastructure; and

• restore infrastructure in a way that provides additional resilience to climate events.

Read Announcement →

Apply for BC Trails Day Community Grant by May 9

The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORCBC) has announced that the BC Trails Day Community Small Grants are back. With support from RC Strategies, ORCBC offers a limited number of small grants of up to $500 each to help outdoor organizations organize community-based BC Trails Day events on Saturday, June 4, 2022.

The funds can help pay for various expenses, including tools and gear library products, stewardship supplies, event promotion, equipment rental, and other materials needed to create a fantastic BC Trails Day event experience.

Partnerships and collaborations between different groups is encouraged.

The application deadline is Monday, May 9, 2022.

Apply →

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Wines of BC Vintage Report - 2021

Wine Growers British Columbia (WGBC) released the annual BC Wine Grape 2021 Vintage Report, which reveals another harvest of impressive quality achieved through expert vineyard management during a record-shattering year for wine regions across the province.

Overall, winegrowers throughout British Columbia agree that the 2021 vintage will be remembered for low yields but intensely flavoured fruit resulting in wines of remarkable character, concentrated flavours, and balanced acidity.

The intricacies of such a one-of-a-kind growing season are best reviewed in detail in the full report, with data sourced from industry participants at WGBC’s annual Winemakers and Viticulturists Forum and Vintage Survey.

The BC Wine Grape Vintage Report is available to BC wine lovers and industry professionals alike and an essential tool to understand and promote the exceptional wines that came from the eventful 2021 growing season.

View Report →

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The Value of Tourism: West Kelowna Spotlight

Tourism Kelowna connected with several West Kelowna businesses to find out more about what tourism means to them and how it positively impacts their business and community.

Prior to the pandemic, tourism in the Central Okanagan was a $2.1 billion dollar industry. As a vital economic driver in the region, there is no doubt of the value that tourism brings, generating close to 13,000 jobs, $443 million in visitor spending, and $204 million in tax revenues for local, provincial, and federal programs and infrastructure.

The value of tourism, however, is not only economic, as the industry contributes positively to the quality of life of our region’s residents, who can enjoy world-class amenities, events, and attractions year-round, alongside visitors.

Read Tourism Kelowna’s Value of Tourism Spotlight on West Kelowna →

Invest in our Planet - Earth Day is April 22, 2022

Earth Day was first celebrated in the United States on April 22, 1970. Over the years, Earth Day in Canada has grown beyond a major day of environmental action, celebrated in many countries around the world. It also inspired organizations, such as Earth Day Canada, a charitable organization that inspires and supports citizens and organizations across the country to reduce their impact on the environment.

This year, Earth Day Canada’s campaign is focused on eco-anxiety, the mental health impacts of climate change. The most effective way to fight this issue is through collective action. Companies are invited to host events that bring people together to #RemedyTogether.

Earth Day Canada will offer a virtual workshop on April 22 to educate about the mental health issue, its effects, and the ways that taking collective action can help.

Thompson Okanagan Earth Day

As a Biosphere Certified Destination, TOTA encourages and challenges residents and professionals in the region to participate on April 22 and improve sustainability throughout the year.

Here’s some tips on how to participate on Earth Day:

• Participate in a Cleanup - Organize your own cleanup or join a community cleanup.

• Support eco-conscious businesses - See who is a Biosphere Committed Company in your community.

• Schedule a free energy assessment available to all Thompson Okanagan tourism companies.

• Start or expand a composting program with a one or a combination of: green bin, compost bin/tumbler, compost pickup/drop up, and foodcycler.

• Plant bee friendly plants and create bee homes. Pollinators are vital for the environment/agriculture and need help.

• Support sustainable fashion - The fashion industry is responsible for over 8% of total greenhouse gas emissions.

• Avoid single use plastics - Offer reusable cups, containers, water bottles, and cutlery to customers and remember to bring your own to work or activities.

• Recycling - Place recycling bins near garbage bins.

• Support local producers - Choose local products, organic foods, and seasonal produce.

Federal Budget 2022 Highlights

The Government of Canada unveiled its 2022 federal budget on April 7. Spending was largely focused on housing and defense and notably excluded targeted support for the tourism industry by means of wage and fixed-cost support, and an extension of the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program. It also did not include amendments to the Tourism Relief Fund, nor extensions and amendments to debt relief such as the RRRF and CEBA programs.

The Office of the Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development spoke to Budget 2022 and noted that it is an innovation-forward budget that is focused on fiscal responsibility as Canada recovers.

Many initiatives in the budget are designed to support Canadian businesses as they scale up, including investments in the Canada Growth Fund, the Canada Innovation and Investment Agency, and the Coordinated Accessible National (CAN) Health Network.

Other commitments include investments to build a world-class IP regime, grow global innovation clusters, and ensure the resilience and stability of supply chains.

View Recording → (Password: ZtWrptm2)

To learn more about how the federal budget relates to the tourism industry, view the following summaries:

• Government of Canada: Budget 2022

• Destination BC

• Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC)

• Hotel Association of Canada (HAC)

• Canadian Ski Council (via Capital Hill Group)

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Post a Job on the go2HR Job Board

The go2HR job board is free for tourism and hospitality employers operating in British Columbia. Post jobs and hiring events to find quality employees in Accommodation, Food and Beverage Services, Recreation and Entertainment, Transportation, and Travel Services.

The go2HR Job Board receives 20,000 monthly visits from qualified candidates looking for front-line, supervisory, management or executive positions.

Learn More & Post a Job →

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go2HR Support for Communicable Disease Prevention Plans

Recently approved WorkSafeBC legislation requires employers to implement communicable disease prevention measures in the workplace. go2HR’s health and safety professionals are available to support tourism and hospitality businesses do just that.

To make the transition to Communicable Disease Prevention Plans as easy as possible, go2HR has developed detailed resources (including a downloadable checklist) for businesses to use to help ensure you have factored in all of the key prevention measures.

• Use the checklist to assess the risks in your workplace and record the steps that you are taking to protect workers.

• Request a free consultation with a member of go2HR's health and safety team to discuss appropriate measures for your business and answer your questions.

• Upload your completed checklist or prevention plan and go2HR will review it for you and provide tailored feedback.

Access Resources →

Sustainable Energy Tips for Tourism Businesses

Energy is used every day to modulate temperature, light indoor and outdoor environments, heat water, and run appliances.

According to Natural Resource Canada more than 60% of the total energy consumption in a building is utilized for space heating.

The following energy efficiency tips can help in reducing your business’ energy consumption and will bring added benefits of cost saving and reducing your carbon footprint:

• Regularly maintain and replace worn caulking and weatherstripping around windows and doors to seal gaps and cracks. 

• Install programmable thermostat to turn down the heat to about 17 degree Celsius after business hours and in unoccupied or less frequently used areas. 

• Upgrade to LED lighting to enhance your indoor atmosphere and save energy costs. 

• Replace standard incandescent bulbs with Energy Star rated LED bulbs and T12 fluorescent lamps and high performance T8 or LED lighting. 

• Have appliances serviced regularly to keep them operating safely and efficiently.

Schedule a Complimentary Energy Assessment →

Modernized BC Bid Site Open for Registration & Onboarding

The Province is inviting businesses and public-sector organizations to register on the new, modernized BC Bid site.

BC Bid is an online marketplace where public-sector organizations such as municipalities, school districts, health authorities, Crown corporations and the B.C. government can advertise contract opportunities for work in a wide range of sectors and services.

Businesses and suppliers can begin registering on the new BC Bid site effective today. Broader public-sector buyers can begin onboarding and creating their accounts on April 28, 2022.

The new BC Bid is a web-based tool that streamlines the way users view and bid on opportunities. The new system is also more transparent, and makes it easier for users to post opportunities and for suppliers to respond quickly.

BC Bid anticipates contract opportunities will be posted on the new site as early as June 2022. Users are invited to register earlier, so they are ready to bid when opportunities are posted.

View Announcement →

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ITAC announces 2022-23 Action Plan - Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada

The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) has launched their 2022-23 Action Plan for the continued resurgence of Indigenous tourism across Canada.

ITAC’s 2022-23 Action Plan supports the sustainable restoration of Indigenous tourism in Canada as the sector leader to support annual growth in jobs, marketing, GDP contributions and the creation of new Indigenous tourism businesses.

ITAC’s 2022-23 Action Plan focuses on a four-pillar approach to business that includes; Leadership, Partnerships, Development & Marketing.

Learn More →

BC Lodging & Campground Survey Reveal Most Bookings Come from Repeat Customers

British Columbia Lodging and Campgrounds Association’s (Canada) Annual Occupancy and Rate Survey Results have revealed that most bookings (52.2%) come from repeat customers.

The survey was conducted on BCLCA members with ten or more campsites in January 2022. The goal of the survey was to gain a better understanding of the performance of all private sector campgrounds in 2021.

The research objectives were to understand the bookings in 2021 compared to 2020, to gauge the occupancy rate for 2021 compared to 2020, to identify the market origin for 2021 compared to 2020, to measure changes in average rates in 2022 compared with 2021, and, to determine the outlook for 2022. Highlights of the survey include:

Efforts to minimize cancellations start with cancellation policies; (42%) characterize their policy as flexible, while 40% say their policy is moderately flexible.

In 2020, the pandemic drove visitors’ average length of stay notably higher than pre-pandemic.

In 2021, visitors continued staying longer in one location and increased the length of stay up to 5.0 nights.

Average Maximum nightly rates are increasing for all site types in 2022, with Full Service and Tent sites increasing the most (up 5.5% and 8.2%, respectively, over 2021 rates).

Learn More →

Special Press Event for the Green Wine Future Conference on April 20, 2022

Wednesday, April 20, 2022 | 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Reception: 2:30 PM
Presentation: 3:00 PM

BC Wine Information Centre
553 Vees Dr, Unit 101, Penticton

Hosted by
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) and Green Wine Future

Guest Speaker: Pancho Campo

Pancho Campo is a world renowned wine expert, environmental activist and entrepreneur who has worked with celebrities such as President Obama, Sting, VP Al Gore, Enrique Iglesias, and many others.

Limited Availability. Attendance by Registration Only.

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) together with our partners at Destination BC and several regional stakeholders are very pleased to be part of Green Wine Future Conference 2022, taking place virtually on May 23-26. Recognizing the challenges and undeniable impacts of climate change worldwide, this conference, now in its eight year, will bring multiple leaders from around the globe together to discuss how each is working to address the issues.

As part of the conference, this month TOTA is hosting Pancho Campo, founder of Wine for the Planet and the Green Wine Future event, in the Thompson Okanagan region to film a documentary highlighting the dedication of our wine, culinary, and tourism industry to implementing strategies and business practices to help combat the climate crisis.

TOTA and Wine for the Planet invite you to join us for the Canadian Press Event officially launching our participation in this May conference on April 20, 2022 at 2:30 PM.

At the press conference, you will hear directly from Pancho and learn of his work around the world. He will offer insights of what to expect at this year's Green Wine Future Conference.

You will also have the opportunity to hear from several industry leaders and enjoy a small sampling of some of the area's various wine varietals.

We look forward to your attendance. Please RSVP as soon as possible as numbers will be limited.