The Airbnb OMG! Fund | Apply by July 22, 2022

The OMG Fund is Airbnb’s program to build the most creative, jaw-dropping places on earth, which can be listed in the OMG! Category on AirBnB. 100 people will receive $100K to fund their off-beat build.

AirBnB considers originality, feasibility, sustainability, and the experience into its decision making when reviewing applications. Accommodation plan would need to pass all required inspections and bylaws and would need to be completed by August 2023.

Applications are due by July 22, 2022.

Learn More →

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TOTA Access & Inclusion Liaison Tour of Boundary Country

In the summer of 2020, TOTA partnered with the Christina Lake Welcome Centre to visit Boundary Country on an Accessible FAM tour, and experience many accessible and inclusive activities and attractions that this beautiful region has to offer.

It was an adventure packed full of endless fun and possibilities, such as:

• Museums in Midway and Greenwood

• Gallery 2 in Grand Forks

• Culinary experiences at the The Wooden Spoon, The Board Room Cafe, Christina Lake Marina Grill & Deli, and the Christina Lake Golf Course

• Adaptive mountain biking adventures on the KVR with Wild Ways

• Glow golf at Cascade Par3 Golf Course

• Discovering Indigenous pictographs on Christina Lake on a boat tour 

With so much to do and see in the Boundary Country, the team stayed for a while and rested between experiences in the comfortable and accessible accommodations at the New Horizon Motel in Christina Lake.

The positive vibes and inclusive energy and atmosphere that we felt on our journey through Boundary Country made it clear that tourism operators are striving to make their experiences and adventures accessible and inclusive for all.

With a team of passionate community leaders, and through the Enabling Accessibility Youth Innovation Component funding opportunity, a Mobi-Mat (wheelchair accessible beach mat) and beach wheelchair was acquired to create and increase accessibility on the beach and to the lake at the Christina Lake Provincial Park.

Beach Wheelchair

Mobi-Mat

To some degree and at some point in everyone’s life, we will all require an accessible feature to continue enjoying adventures alongside family and friends.  

Although all of our physical environments may never be completely accessible, we can create an emotional connection where acceptance, integration, and inclusion can ignite the realization and the understanding of “why” our physical spaces and environments need to be accessible. 

Let’s make it our collective responsibility to support and uplift everyone in our communities regardless of their age, ability, gender, or culture. This can simply begin with an inclusive attitude and mindset, allowing that to be the catalyst towards building and creating physical environments that are accessible for everyone to enjoy.

Whatever your level of adventure is, there are accessible and inclusive experiences waiting to be discovered in Boundary Country!

Sustainable Companies in the Thompson Okanagan Now Listed in Biosphere Search Engine of Sustainable Consumer Choices

Biosphere has launched a new website, BiosphereSustainable.com, allowing people to easily learn about the good practices and sustainable efforts of companies and destinations around the world. The website has listings of companies participating in the global Biosphere Community and transparently shows contributions to the fulfilment of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

Companies that are part of the Biosphere Community, including companies in the Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program, can showcase their sustainability efforts through the new website so people around the world can quickly and easily search and discover their work to improve local life, environment, economy, employment, education, ecosystems, and other sustainability issues.

The Biosphere system is an independent, objective, impartial, and transparent verification methodology with an external auditing team of professionals to validate the sustainable efforts implemented by each entity, based on the indicators, criteria, objectives, and sustainability goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The website is adapted for those with general knowledge in sustainability, to help people make responsible, ethical, and sustainable consumption decisions. With more informed and aware societies, it will become easier for each person's consumption decisions to reflect their values, achieving a real involvement on the part of society to act more responsibly and adopt more sustainable models.

Visit BiosphereSustainable.com Website →

View Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Company Listings →

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For more information about the Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program, visit TOTABC.org/biosphere-commitment or email Biosphere@TOTABC.com.

Interested in Joining the Biosphere Commitment Program?
Book a Biosphere Introduction Presentation →

For Biosphere Committed Companies:
Book a Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle Platform Walkthrough →

Okanagan Valley Nominated for 10Best Readers' Choice Travel Awards | Vote by July 18

The Okanagan Valley has been nominated for USA Today’s 2022 10Best Readers' Choice Travel Awards! An expert panel selected Okanagan Valley as a contender for Best Wine Region category, out of more than 250 North American grapegrowing regions.

Voting ends Monday, July 18 and winners will be announced on 10Best on July 29 at 9AM PT.

Vote for Okanagan Valley as Best Wine Region →

Promote Safe Travel this Summer

With the arrival of summer and many people looking to Explore BC, Destination BC is encouraging all operators to remind visitors how to enjoy our beautiful province safely and responsibly.

This summer, help spread the word about safe travel practices by sharing responsible travel graphics on your social media channels. Access updated responsible travel graphics below

Learn More →

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Emergency Preparedness Resources

With the changing weather and greater risk of natural disasters, now is a timely opportunity to review emergency preparedness resources. Destination BC has a page dedicated to these resources, including preparedness guides, key agencies, and newly updated messaging & action guidance with shareable responsible travel graphics.

The updated Emergency Messaging Guidance document outlines official emergency information resources for British Columbia, as well as suggested messaging, visuals, and actions for BC’s tourism industry during emergencies. It can help tourism businesses navigate questions, mitigate visitor concerns, and proactively manage perceptions during emergencies.

Learn More →

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Universal Design Washroom Renovation at Thompson Okanagan Tourism Inspiration Centre

Renovations are well underway at the TOTA Tourism Inspiration Centre, and Access and Inclusion are top of mind. 

TOTA is excited to announce the Accessible and Universal Design Washroom Renovation for the Tourism Inspiration Centre above Peachland on the Highway 97C Connector. 

The visitor centre has been operating in this location since 1986 and has undergone significant renovations and additions that began in the fall of 2021. Included in these renovations is the creation of a new single use fully accessible and universal washroom, from a pre-existing storage room. The washroom was completed by the centre’s opening day, May 18, 2022, to welcome ALL visitors and offer yet another valuable accessible feature to the building. 

The renovation project was made possible through funding from the Enabling Accessibility Fund Youth Stream, as well as funding from the BC Rehab Foundation. TOTA put forward the remainder of the renovation costs to complete the project. 

TOTA collaborated with Access & Inclusion Liaison, Sonja Gaudet, to ensure the washroom design meets best practices and accessibility guidelines. The project construction was awarded to local construction contractors, Wolverine Industries from Kelowna.

Creating accessible spaces and environments allows equal opportunity and full inclusion for EVERYONE - regardless of age, size, ability, culture, or gender - and it nurtures a sense of belonging and wellbeing for ALL.

Welcoming everyone to participate in the services, products, and experiences that you have to offer, starts with addressing the following three key priority accessible features:

• Designated accessible parking spaces with an access aisle

• Easy and safe access from the parking area to the main entrance

• Accessible and/or universally designed washroom

Here is a document that will get you started on your accessibility journey one accessible feature at a time:

Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Experiences - Key Priorities

Wheelchair Accessibility Consultations

TOTA’s Biosphere Commitment Program includes a wheelchair accessibility consultation and resources to assist in creating better access and inclusion within your tourism experiences.

Register for Biosphere Commitment Program →

Access and Inclusion are not only 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 welcoming 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.

Humans long for integration and full participation - to live, work, play and travel with and alongside family and friends!

Electric Vehicle Charger Rebates for British Columbians

The Province and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) are making it more affordable for people to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in their homes, businesses, and communities. BC residents, businesses, and municipalities can receive rebates for EV charging stations through the CleanBC Go Electric EV Charger Rebate and Fleets programs.

For a limited time, funding will cover as much as 75% of eligible purchase and installation costs for EV charging stations.

Businesses can apply for a rebate of up to $5,000 per station, as well as 5 hours of free support services from an EV Charging Station Advisor.

Fleet operators can get combined rebates from NRCan and the Province for a Level 2 charging station as much as 75% to a maximum of $5,000 of purchase and installation costs, and 75% to a maximum of $75,000 for a direct-current, fast-charging station.

View Announcement →

Learn More →

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Host an Event at the Indigenous Artisan’s Trail (IArT) Venue near Peachland

The Indigenous Artisan’s Trail (IArT) Venue is now available to companies and entrepreneurs to reserve for events, free of charge, from July to October 2022.

Operated by the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) Indigenous Tourism Program, IArT is located at the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Inspiration Centre on Route 97, above Peachland (3960 BC-97C).

IArT can be reserved for single or multiple days to be used for public or private events, such as:

• Meetings

• Workshops

• Markets

• Artist studio, gallery, and retail space

• Performance art with music and dancing

• Food and beverage tastings

• And more…

The IArT Venue comes with a secure, air conditioned, accessible indoor space with an outdoor stage facing the Tourism Inspiration Centre patio and seating area. The Tourism Inspiration Centre has a parking, bathrooms, and storage.

Public events will be featured on the ThompsonOkanagan.com and social channels.

To schedule your event, submit an Expression of Interest form or email Indigenous@TOTABC.com with any questions.

About IArT

Indigenous Artisan’s Trail (IArT) is a collaboration between TOTA and Indigenous Tourism BC launched in 2019 to connect visitors to Interior Salish arts and culture in the Thompson Okanagan. IArT has hosted exhibits in partnership with the Rotary Centre of the Arts and UBC Okanagan, as well as art and jewelry created by Indigenous artists outside the Kelowna Art Gallery.

In 2022, IArT is available to rent to host events related to tourism, arts, and culture at the Tourism Inspiration Centre.

About the Tourism Inspiration Centre

The Tourism Inspiration Centre is the second busiest visitor centre in the Thompson Okanagan region, attracting over 45,000 people traveling to and from the Okanagan Valley. The venue is a perfect destination for connecting people from various communities in the Thompson Okanagan, enabling groups to meet in the middle.

The Tourism Inspiration Centre and IArT Venue are a short drive from several Thompson Okanagan communities, such as:

• 10 minutes from Peachland

• 30 minutes from Kelowna and Westbank First Nation

• 45 minutes from Penticton and Penticton Indian Band

• 1.25 hours from Merritt and Lower Nicola Indian Band

• 1.5 hours from Vernon and and Okanagan Indian Band

• 1.5 hours from Osoyoos and Osoyoos Indian Band

• 1.5 hours from Princeton and Upper Similkameen Indian Band

• 2 hours from Kamloops and Tk'emlups te Secwepemc

• 2 hours from Salmon Arm and Splatsin First Nation

To get a quote and schedule your event, submit an Expression of Interest form or email Indigenous@TOTABC.com with any questions.

Bridge to Culinary Arts Program

Gain the practical skills and knowledge required for an entry-level position in a large kitchen or restaurant setting.  Students will become familiar with kitchen layouts, menu planning, food orders and equipment used in everyday cooking for large numbers.  This 6-week course offers both classroom and hands-on experience cooking and preparing food.  The program is free for those who meet the eligibility requirements.

This cohort runs from July 25 – Sept 2, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday from 9:30-2:30 in person cohort at the Okanagan College, Kelowna campus, for Culinary Arts.

Eligibility:

• Identifies as having a disability (Cognitive, Mental Health, Physical, Sensory or Developmental),

• Unemployed or underemployed (working less than 20 hours per week or precariously employed)

• Legally eligible to work in Canada

If interested, please contact 1-866-377-3670 or email oppsfund@opendoorgroup.org.

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Border Restrictions to Enter Canada Extended to Sept. 30

The federal government announced Wednesday all existing border restrictions to enter Canada will remain in place until at least Sept. 30.

That means foreign travellers will still need to provide proof of being fully vaccinated to enter the country and unvaccinated Canadians or permanent residents will need to provide a molecular COVID-19 test taken prior to entering and quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. The government is also still requiring all travellers, regardless of citizenship, to upload their vaccine information and travel documents to the ArriveCan app. The restrictions were last extended on May 31.

Learn More →

Watch Recording of Destination Canada’s Annual Public Meeting

On June 23, 2022, Destination Canada hosted their Annual Public Meeting, where the executive team reflected on the challenges and learnings of the past year and shared our forward-looking strategy, which focuses on the best opportunities to support the recovery and resilience of the tourism sector.

Watch Now →

Harbour Air Announces Summer Flights from Vancouver to Eldorado Resort Marina

Flights resume on Saturday, July 9th and there are promotional rates as low as $299 all summer long. This seasonal service will feature one round-trip flight twice a week (Saturday & Tuesday) through September 6th.

Learn More →

Pour More BC Program

Wine Growers British Columbia is relaunching the Pour More BC program to support our local BC restaurant industry and connect you with consumers craving local wine and food experiences.

Reasons to Register:

1. Participating restaurants will be rewarded and supported with WGBC led marketing initiatives such as sponsored social media posts, targeted Google Ad words, influencer blog features, The Vine consumer e-newsletter (25K+) and WineBC.com landing page. All designed to help promote your BC wine listings at no cost to you.

2. Quality content reaching a wide audience, with your restaurant named (and tagged) directly.

3. S​potlight listing on our global award winning Wines of BC Explorer App. The geo-location feature connects the (15K+) users directly with participating restaurants within their radius, which means BC wine lovers looking for a place to enjoy a great meal will find themselves being recommended to your venue.

4. Trade certified education tools will be available under the Pour More BC banner for restaurants to engage, educate and encourage their staff to become leading experts and ambassadors for BC wine.

5. Social media and print assets to use on your own channels and in store

6. Best of all-support your local wineries while supporting your own business!

Learn More →

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B.C. Wine Industry Welcomes Six New Sub-Geographical Indicators

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food announced the approval of six new sub-Geographical Indications (sub-GIs) located in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia. The sub-GIs, recognized as Summerland Valleys, Summerland Lakefront, Summerland Bench, East Kelowna Slopes, South Kelowna Slopes, and Lake Country, are now protected terms under BC law representing a geographical area of origin for 100% BC VQA wine.

The Okanagan Valley is B.C.’s largest winegrowing region (175 km north to south), comprising 86% of B.C.’s vineyards (9,617 planted acres) and offers a range of diverse soil types, climatic conditions, and resulting styles of wine.

The wine regions of B.C. are identified by ‘Geographical Indications’ (GIs), furthermore by ‘sub Geographical Indications’ (sub-GIs). With a focus on terroir-driven wines, the B.C. wine industry is looking towards recognizing unique growing areas within larger regions as ‘sub-GIs’ to further identify and understand B.C.’s diverse terroir, and to help tell the story of B.C. wine. Once approved, these sub-GIs can then be noted on wine labels to indicate a minimum of 95% of the grapes were grown from the specified region.

British Columbia now features 21 Geographical Indications (10 GIs; 12 sub-GIs):

• British Columbia

• Vancouver Island (1 sub-GI)

  • Cowichan Valley

• Gulf Islands

• Fraser Valley

• Lillooet

• Thompson Valley

• Shuswap

• Okanagan Valley (11 sub-GIs)

  • Lake Country

  • East Kelowna Slopes

  • South Kelowna Slopes

  • Summerland Valleys

  • Summerland Lakefront

  • Summerland Bench

  • Naramata Bench

  • Skaha Bench

  • Okanagan Falls

  • Golden Mile Slopes

  • Golden Mile Bench

• Similkameen Valley

• Kootenays

The creation of a sub-GI is determined based on the science of terroir. Soils, climate conditions, landforms, bodies of water, geographical boundaries are all studied, with results comprised and included in a detailed technical report submitted to the BC Wine Authority. This regulatory process involves collaboration among regional producers to source and submit the proposal to prove defined boundaries and distinct terroir.

British Columbia is becoming globally recognized as a quality wine region producing world-class wines renowned for having bright natural acidity and intense ripe fruit flavours.

As growers and winemakers gain more experience with British Columbian terroir, the nuances and qualities of each unique area starts to become apparent, and the wines continue to gain in complexity and excellence. The approval of these new sub-GIs is a win for both winegrowers and consumers alike.

Read the proposals and technical reports behind each new BC sub-GI at BCVQA.com.

Learn more about each of the wine regions of British Columbia at WineBC.com.

Quick facts:

• This year, British Columbia’s Vintners Quality Alliance (BC VQA) designation celebrates 32 years of quality assurance and 100% BC grown and produced grape wine.

• BC’s wine industry has grown from just 19 grape wineries in 1990 to 284 today.

• There are 11,086 acres (4,486 hectares) of wine grapes in British Columbia’s ten Geographical Indications (GIs): British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Similkameen Valley, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, Thompson Valley, Lillooet, Shuswap and Kootenays.

• The Okanagan Valley is the largest wine producing region in B.C., with 11 sub-GIs, 186 licensed grape wineries, and 9,617 acres of wine grapes planted.

• The Golden Mile Bench in the Okanagan Valley was B.C.’s first sub-GI established in 2015.

• The B.C. wine industry contributes $2.8 billion annually to British Columbia’s economy.

• Each year, B.C.’s wineries welcome more than 1,000,000 visitors.

Monte Creek Winery Invests 10 Million Dollars

On June 15, Monte Creek Winery hosted media to unveil and celebrate the winery’s new commitments to the Thompson Valley.

Monte Creek shared their new state of the art gravity flow production facility with media at the event. The new custom 15,000 square foot facility boasts 52 feet of vertical space, allowing gravity to process fruit gently, instead of pumps. The belief is that this enables the winery to produce more elegant, premium red wines. The new facility allows Monte Creek to have a more delicate handprint on the wines, but it will also triple the number of cases the winery can produce.

“Today is about celebrating the success of wine in the Thompson Valley, and about unveiling Monte Creek Winery’s commitment to this amazing valley with the addition of 10 million dollars in infrastructure,” said Erik Fisher, General Manager of Monte Creek Winery. “The inspiration behind our core values which are quality, sustainability, and innovation transcend from each and every person on this dynamic team.”

BCHA Participates in Fully Funded Hotel Operations Services Skills Training Project

BCHA has partnered with the Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS) and Western Community College to offer a 23 week online “Hotel Operations Services Skills Training Program”.

This program is designed to train 30 candidates who are currently unemployed or under employed in the Okanagan area and deliver them to industry trained and ready to work. The training is fully funded and will focus on readying the candidate for meaningful work in the hotel industry.

Eligibility

• Unemployed or part-time employed (working less than 30 hours per week) or precariously employed

• High school graduate or 19+

• Be a resident in BC and be a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or Refugee Protected person with authorization to work

• Proof of English language proficiency

• Currently living in British Columbia

Benefits & Certificates

• Pandemic Awareness

• PPE

• Food Safe

• Privacy Awareness

• Serving It Right

• BSAFE Certificate

• Heart of Hospitality Certificate

• OFA Level 1

• WHMIS

• Super Host

• GBA+

• Safe Lifting

For registration and more information please contact Claudia Tran at 604.596.7722 ext. 177; claudia.tran@pics.bc.ca

For hotels who may be interested in candidate recruitment during the final phase of the 23 week program, please contact Alison Langford at alison@bcha.com

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Register in TOTA's Emergency Contact Database

Tourism companies in the Thompson Okanagan region can complete the Emergency Contact form to help TOTA's Crisis Management Coordinator support you and other communities in a crisis situation.

Donate to the Lytton Rebuild Fund

On June 30, 2021, the beautiful Village of Lytton was destroyed by a fire that swept through the town with such speed and fury, most residents didn’t have time to grab much, if anything. Nearly the entire village was destroyed.

To assist with rebuilding a sustainable Lytton, the village has created a Rebuild Fund to enable people to help through donations.

Donate Now →

Claim Your Sustainable Life App™ Listing

TOTA and Sustainable Life App™ are collaborating to help Thompson Okanagan tourism companies connect with eco-conscious customers online.

Sustainable Life App™ is a downloadable mobile map-based app that connects eco-conscious consumers with sustainable businesses and brands from where they are. People can use the app while planning a trip or while traveling, making it easy to live a life in line with their core values.

The app is free to download on Android and Apple. With 4,000+ listings, 10,000+ downloads, and 6,000+ users, the app is growing in popularity across Canada and internationally.

Sustainable Life App™ Business Listings

Businesses can register with Sustainable Life App™ to create a listing and get access to sustainable tourism marketing tools, including:

• Customizable Listing: Update your listing anytime, including Social Media Profiles, Photos & Videos

• Local Deals: Share local & online deals with customers 

• Industry Accreditations: Showcase your industry accreditations, including Biosphere Commitment, and sustainable brands that you sell

• Custom User Profile: Connect with users based on dietary and purchase preferences that are trending on your profile

• Printable Window Decal

• Website Widget

• Option to upgrade to a user data analytics premium features plan at any time.

Get Listed

To get your listing, there is a one-time setup fee of $10 USD.

Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Committed Companies receive a free listing with the referral code from Biosphere@TOTABC.com.

You can also sign up for Premium Features to get user analytics, quarterly planning calls to maximize ROI, $50 of social media ads (annual only), and unlimited deal listings.

Register Now →