Promote Your Business at the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Inspiration Centre - 2024 Season

Thompson Okanagan tourism companies are invited to share adventures and experiences at the Tourism Inspiration Centre on Highway 97C above Peachland, which receives 35,000+ visitors in a regular season.

TOTA operates the Tourism Inspiration Centre, with a team of Tourism Visitor Information Counsellors available to assist visitors en route to or from their Thompson Okanagan destination.

Note: Biosphere Commitment Program members will receive a 25% discount on listed prices.

Promotion Opportunities for the 2024 Season (May-October)

Outdoor Billboard Space: $500+GST / year

Display a poster for 4' x 8' space facing the Tourism Inspiration Centre and parking lot. This includes the opportunity to host an on-site exhibit space for one weekend during the season to meet with and directly promote your experience to visitors; and one social media post on Tourism Inspiration Centre Facebook, Instagram, and Google Business.
Billboard creation and installation not included.

Brochure Racking Space & QR Code Link to Website: $125+GST / year

Display brochures and link to your website in the Tourism Inspiration Centre. Tourism Inspiration Centre ambassadors will familiarize themselves with your company and share it with visitors. Includes one social media post on Tourism Inspiration Centre Facebook, Instagram, and Google Business. Brochure creation not included.

On-Site Exhibit Space: $150+GST / weekend

Host an on-site exhibit space outside the Tourism Inspiration Centre to meet with and directly promote your experience to visitors. Includes one social media post on Tourism Inspiration Centre Facebook, Instagram, and Google Business. Tent/booth not included.

Secure Your Promotion Space

Availability is limited and offered first come, first serve. To secure your promotion space, submit the Promotion Subscription Form or contact Tourism Inspiration Manager, Barbara Bonnough, at Visit@TOTABC.com.

BC Wine Month - Here's how to get involved, including free online certification

The provincial government proclaimed April 2024 as BC Wine Month for the seventh year.

Wineries are excited to welcome guests this spring and summer and share an abundance of 100% BC wines.

Wineries are hosting tastings, tours and paired dining experiences, as well as yoga, painting and concerts. View winery events and start planning a visit at WineBC.com.

Restaurants and wine shops that serve BC wines are listed on the Pour More BC webpage.

Wine Growers BC are offering the Wines of BC Ambassador Program first level, complimentary for the month. Level One is an online certification course with valuable information on BC wine history, varieties, styles, unique climate, and food pairing expertise. Get certified now – $99 value offered complimentary (promo code BCWINE24) for BC Wine Month.

Want to spread the word? Follow along all BC Wine Month on social media @WinesofBC and tag #BCWineMonth in your BC wine adventures this season.

See Wine Growers BC announcement →

go2HR New Safety Basics Health & Safety Orientation Training (Free)

The Safety Basics Orientation Course is a free, online, asynchronous health and safety training for new and young workers, designed to meet the WorkSafeBC regulatory requirement to provide a health and safety orientation.

This newest addition to go2HR's training portfolio will also help employers deliver a positive onboarding experience, showcasing your commitment to creating a healthy and safe work environment.

Learn more and register

New Policy Will Help BC Liquor Manufacturers Enhance Visitor Experiences

In response to industry feedback, the province has implemented a suite of policy changes to enhance visitor experiences at wineries and other liquor-manufacturing sites this summer.

Improvements to the customer experience include:

• Allowing people to sit and enjoy samples while on a guided tour

• Allowing packaged liquor sales in more places on site, including tours

• Allowing more flexibility around sampling so liquor manufacturers can customize sampling experiences for visitors; and

• Allowing manufacturers to sell and promote their products in picnic areas and host visitors more effectively.

Learn more from the official government announcement

Information Communication Technologies at Hotels Symposium: A Route to Sustainable Development event on April 15 in Kamloops and Online

The TRU Faculty Adventure Culinary Arts and Tourism team invites hotel owners, general managers, and supervisory staff in BC to a symposium on April 15. It is free to attend online and $40 with lunch to attend in person. Sessions include a panel with members representing members Thompson Okanagan businesses: Delta Hotel Kamloops, Sandman, Doubletree, Quality Inn Vernon; and a session by FortisBC's Vladimir Kostka, Major Commercial Key Account Manager for Education and Hospitality.

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) and TOTA partner to benefit students in TRU’s tourism management program and support the TRU Tourism Innovation Lab

KAMLOOPS – Thompson Rivers University (TRU) and the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to benefit students in TRU’s tourism management program and support the TRU Tourism Innovation Lab.

The partnership prioritizes collaboration between TRU and TOTA to support students entering the tourism field through learning resources and opportunities, industry mentorship and referrals. TOTA’s support for the TRU Tourism Innovation Lab also fuels business development in the tourism sector.

“I am thrilled to affirm our commitment to fostering the next generation of tourism leaders through our partnership with Thompson Rivers University. Together, we are empowering students with invaluable resources, mentorship and opportunities to innovate within the dynamic tourism sector. This collaboration not only enriches the educational experience but also fuels entrepreneurial spirit, driving forward the future of tourism in our region,” said Ellen Walker-Matthews, CEO of TOTA.

TRU, in partnership with Tourism Kamloops and the Kamloops Innovation Centre, launched the TRU Tourism Innovation Lab in February 2020. The entrepreneurship program leverages an existing tourism management course at the university and supports students to develop an innovative tourism product through research and industry mentorship.

Students can further develop their business ideas through the Tourism Venture Acceleration Program with support from the TRU Generator and Kamloops Innovation Centre to produce market-ready tourism products that fill current gaps.

“Industry partnership is critical to the success of our program, students and alumni because it keeps education up to speed with market activity and gaps, especially in BC,” said David Carter, assistant teaching professor and director of the Tourism Innovation Lab. “Our partnership with TOTA ensures students have access to resources that are current and reflect the state of the industry today.”

Success stories from the TRU Tourism Innovation Lab include:

• Pilot tour to the McAbee Fossil Beds Heritage Site with Jada Glen

• Guided hiking in Kamloops with Alex Page

• ShredLoops with Steffen Masaites (watch the video here)

Additionally, TOTA has renewed funding for the Tourism Excellence Award first established in 2014 to provide a $1,500 annual scholarship for the top academic student on the Bachelor of Tourism Management Program.

–30–

---

Contacts:

David Carter, Director, Tourism Innovation Lab
Thompson Rivers University
DCarter@TRU.ca

Ellen Walker Matthews, President and CEO
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
Ellen@TOTABC.com

Up Fore Some Fun? Register for TOTA Golf Tournament, May 30, 2024 in Kamloops

Bighorn Golf & Country Club in Kamloops is playing host to the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association’s 30th Annual Golf Tournament on Thursday, May 30.

Yes, there will be great golf on an award-winning course, but this annual tournament is really about bringing people of the Thompson Okanagan tourism industry together for a day of connection and comradery, and, of course, fun!

The event welcomes staff from tourism and hospitality businesses to come together for an afternoon of mingling, networking, golf, and fun.

Tourism Kamloops is the partnering sponsor of this year’s tournament and will be hosting a Western themed reception with all sorts of fun, including a mechanical bull ride that pays tribute to the area’s ranching history.

The BC Hospitality Foundation is also supporting the tournament, and will be on the green with a raffle to raise funds for the tremendous work of the foundation.

TOTA is thrilled to once again have Corporate Sponsors, TELUS, FortisBC, and Air Canada along with many others contributing to the event through prizing, hole activations, and other donations.

Throughout the day, enjoy sparkling wine tastings from Monte Creek Winery, sips of cider from Privato Winery & Woodward Cider Co, and a delicious “boozsicle” frozen flavour bomb from Ballistic Arts.

To end the day, Mason’s Kitchen + Bar will be serving up dinner, followed by more networking, fun, and prizes.

Register as an individual or put together a team - all skill sets and levels are welcome.

Get the details and register at TOTABC.org/Golf →

---

We hope to see you there and encourage you to invite your colleagues and other industry contacts. This is a great day to connect with individuals from all sectors of the industry and areas of the region, and others from outside the industry are welcome to attend.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Golf@TOTABC.com.

Thank You to the Golf Tournament Sponsors

New Biosphere Commitment Program Member: Sharpe Distillery

Join TOTA in welcoming Sharpe Distillery to the Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program. 

Tracy Sharpe, Amy Jo Sharpe, and CEJ Mussell, the family behind Sharpe Distillery, have always been aware of the well-being of the planet and others, so becoming Biosphere Committed and joining an internationally recognized sustainability management program was a natural next step for them. Sharpe Distillery offers visitors an authentic taste of locally produced spirits. Located in Cawston, BC, Sharpe Distillery combines rich family knowledge with ingredients sourced from their backyard, including water from the Similkameen River, to create craft spirits. These unique products are a tribute to their grandfather, Jack Sharpe, and his impact on their community.  

Natural and local ingredients come together to create Sharpe Distilleries signature line of spirits.

Sustainability Initiatives

While working closely with their program success advisor, the team at Sharpe Distillery were pleased to find that many of their ongoing practices already fit into the measurable actions of the program, which gave them a solid footing that could lead to becoming Biosphere Committed.

Along with utilizing local products in their lineup of products and using recycled materials to build tiny homes, the team at Sharpe is continuing to work towards aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. For example, the team recently attended the TOTA-hosted and Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) run “2SLGBTQI+ Diversity & Inclusion Training: Creating a Welcoming & Accessible Tourism Workplace” and are becoming Rainbow Registered to foster equality and inclusion in their community. 

Biosphere Commitment Program 

The Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program is a sustainability program developed by the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association. The focus is to equip tourism businesses in the region with the necessary tools and resources to continuously measure, manage, and report sustainability management efforts. The program aligns ongoing and future business operations with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Destination Certification to prepare businesses for a globally recognized certification. By accessing the Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle platform, organizations can create customized sustainability plans and utilize dedicated support from industry experts.

Learn more about TOTA’s Biosphere Commitment Program

Book a Biosphere Introduction Presentation

Reintroducing the Biosphere Commitment Program

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is launching the revamped Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program for all tourism companies within the Thompson Okanagan region.

The updated Biosphere Commitment Program builds from a foundation of sustainability programming with a distinct, new focus on the online Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle (BSL) Platform. The BSL platform empowers companies to continuously measure, manage, and report on their sustainability efforts that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while preparing for Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting standards. 

The new webpages for the Biosphere Commitment Program are now live. After carefully considering the community's feedback and analyzing how visitors interact with the site, TOTA has redesigned the Biosphere webpages and implemented changes that enhance navigation and improve functionality.

What’s new?

• The Biosphere Commitment Program Homepage - Discover what makes this program unique and quickly connect to key sections

• Program Overview - Learn more about the program and connect with one of TOTA’s Biosphere Program Success Advisors during your introduction and onboarding process

• Program Success Advisors - Do you want to learn how your actions align with the SDGs? The Program Success Advisors are available to answer any questions

• Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle Platform - Your sustainable actions are uploaded and verified online through the Biosphere sustainability management software

Whether you are an existing Biosphere Commitment Program member or are interested in starting your organization's sustainability journey, TOTA invites you to explore the new webpages to learn more. Feel free to share any feedback with Biosphere@TOTABC.com. or contact a Biosphere Success Advisor to advance your journey towards Biosphere Commitment.

Get Started with the Biosphere Commitment Program

The Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program is a sustainability program developed by the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association. The focus is to equip tourism businesses in the region with the necessary tools and resources to continuously measure, manage, and report sustainability management efforts. The program aligns ongoing and future business operations with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Destination Certification to prepare businesses for a globally recognized certification. By accessing the Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle platform, organizations can create customized sustainability plans and utilize dedicated support from industry experts.

Learn more about TOTA’s Biosphere Commitment Program
Book a Biosphere Introduction Presentation

TOTA Team Represents the Thompson Okanagan Region at the Explore BC

In February, the marketing team of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) attended the Explore BC event, organized by Destination BC. The event catered to Travel Trade professionals based in British Columbia, providing updates on regional developments and cities across the province with a focus on the Travel Trade sector.

The conference offered presentations about product updates from various destinations, including the Thompson Okanagan, and facilitated networking opportunities through a marketplace format. Notably, Explore BC 2024 welcomed participants from 40 companies, including 36 Receptive Tour Operators (RTOs), all eager to gain insights into British Columbia's tourism landscape.

TOTA Golf Tournament Save the Date & Call for Sponsors

The 30th Annual Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) Golf Tournament will be hosted at Bighorn Golf & Country Club in Kamloops on Thursday, May 30, 2024, with a full day of food, drink, and fun.

Mingle with CEOs, hospitality pros, and a variety of people that form the heartbeat of the Thompson Okanagan tourism industry.

The TOTA Golf Tournament is an 18-hole Texas Scramble shotgun format, fun for all participants, no matter your expertise on the course. The afternoon of golf will be followed by a delicious dinner, prizes, and awards!

Registration will open shortly - subscribe to the TOTA News Centre for updates.

---

TOTA is currently seeking sponsors. To learn about sponsorship opportunities, email Golf@TOTABC.com.

Tourism Outlook Survey 2024

 The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is conducting a survey to collect current information from Thompson Okanagan tourism businesses about the financial outlook for the coming year, 2024.

A summary of the findings will be presented in March to the TOTA board, Destination BC CEO, BC Ministry of Tourism, Art, Culture, and Sport (MTACS).

Your company's input is critical to understanding the current tourism outlook. The survey will take approximately 5 minutes to complete.

Please complete the survey by Sunday, March 3, 11:59 pm.

To complete the survey, go to https://TOTABC.org/survey/outlook

Register for 2SLGBTQI+ Diversity & Inclusion Online Training for Tourism on March 1

Friday, March 1, 2024 | 9 - 10:30 am

$25 per person

---

Thompson Okanagan tourism professionals are invited to a 90-minute session designed to start a conversation about 2SLGBTQI+ diversity and inclusion in your workplace. The session is hosted by Canada's 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce and the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, as part of the Rainbow Registered program.

As a business, your responsibility to maintain an inclusive and accessible workplace is more important than ever. This session is a great way to start a conversation about how your team can contribute to a work environment that empowers 2SLGBTQI+ colleagues, guests, and other stakeholders.

Topics include:

• 2SLGBTQ+ Intro - terminology, sexuality, orientation & attraction

• Gender Diversity - identity and expression, transition, names & pronouns

• Inclusion Considerations - context, work & employment related experiences

• Inclusive Workplaces - what they look like, benefits & challenges of achieving them

• Putting it into practice - how to demonstrate allyship & contribute to an inclusive workplace and atmosphere

Vote TOTA for North America's Responsible Tourism Award 2024 | Voting Closes April 7

Voting is open for the World Travel Awards North America categories until midnight April 7, 2024.

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) has been nominated for North America's Responsible Tourism Award in the annual World Travel Awards.

We would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few moments to register and vote for TOTA in the category North America's Responsible Tourism Award.

The World Travel Awards acknowledge, reward, and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry.

TOTA received the North America Travel Award for Responsible Tourism in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023 (five consecutive years) and is honoured to be nominated once again in this category. 

Achieving this recognition again would help TOTA spread the word on how the Thompson Okanagan tourism industry and our organization are working to offer tourism services in a responsible and sustainable manner. TOTA would then be in the running to compete in the World Travel Award for Responsible Tourism. TOTA received the global award in 2018, 2019, and 2020; and was nominated in 2022 and 2023.

---

How to Vote

To support TOTA and spread the word about the Thompson Okanagan region, please take a moment to register and vote for TOTA in the category North America's Responsible Tourism Award.

Votes can be cast by travel professionals, media and tourism consumers, with the nominee gaining the most votes in each category announced as the winner.

Votes cast by industry voters will count as two votes (if you check the Travel Industry box when you register, provide your company details, and submit a minimum of 10 votes).

---

Responsible Tourism Initiatives

TOTA's focus on responsible and sustainable tourism has been guided by the Regional Strategy: Embracing Our Potential since 2012, updated in 2020 with a continued focus on:

• Sustainability

• Regional Development projects

• Accessible Tourism

• Indigenous Tourism

• Crisis Management

• Trail Development

• Partnerships

Learn more about these and other initiatives at TOTABC.org.

Risk of Invasive Mussels to Okanagan Lakes & Waterways

The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) has been stepping up calls for action after last September’s announcement of quagga mussels in the Idaho’s Snake River, a tributary to the Columbia River which connects to the Okanagan, and only an 11-hour drive to the BC and Alberta border.

Idaho’s desperate response was to spread toxic copper chelate into the river, killing almost seven tonnes of fish and poisoning a 26 km stretch of the river. The effectiveness won’t be known until this spring.

In October, the OBWB began calling for a temporary moratorium on watercraft coming into BC until results from Idaho’s efforts are known and the Province has closed any gaps in its Invasive Mussel Defence Program. Support for the moratorium has been gathering steam with letters coming in from BC municipalities, chambers of commerce, the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, and others.

Tourism businesses and residents can review the Don't Move a Mussel campaign website to learn more about risks and prevention, and access resources to raise awareness.

TOTA Team Represents the Thompson Okanagan Region at the International Media Marketplace (IMM)

The TOTA marketing team represented the Thompson Okanagan region at the International Media Marketplace (IMM) in New York in January 2024. There, along with 525 North American media and 390 international travel brands, they attended a full day educational summit, discussing topics such as AI best practices, the relevance of podcasts, the changing media landscape, and a panel with travel editors.

As well, the team met with 25 top tier media in the media marketplace where they got to know the individual writers and creators and discussed various topics related to the key pillars TOTA’s media team works to amplify. These pillars are Accessibility, Indigenous Culture, Year-round Travel, the Variety of Activities and Adventures in the Region, Wellness Travel, and Road Trips.

These conferences are important to create connections with top tier media in the hopes of eventually inviting them to the region for excellent media coverage. Team Canada had one of the largest turnouts at the conference with the BC team being the largest province represented.

Learn more about the International Media Marketplace.

Team BC - DMO Representatives from throughout BC

IMM Marketplace

TOTA Team Represents the Region at CITAP+

The TOTA team represented the Thompson Okanagan region at the Canadian Inbound Tourism Association (CITAP+) Winter Function on December 5 in Richmond, BC. CITAP+ works to improve the business environment for Reciprocal Tour Operators (RTO’s) and their partners specializing in inbound tourism in order to create a robust and varied tour and travel economy in Canada to foster global prospects for inbound tourism in the long run. At this event, TOTA met with RTO’s from British Columbia based in Vancouver to discuss new and existing trade-ready products in hopes of bringing more visitors to the TOTA region.

Learn more about CITAP+ at CITAP.ca

View Market Updates from CITAP+.

New Hotel and Parkade Coming to Kelowna

Kelowna International Airport (YLW) will welcome the Sutton Place Hotel and a new parking structure next to the airport terminal in the next couple of years. The new Sutton Place Hotel will be six stories, adding 245 hotel rooms to the region.

Among the amenities planned, the hotel dining room will offer locally inspired cuisine, offering guests a taste of the Thompson Okanagan. It will also feature a penthouse lounge, a fitness centre, and conference rooms. The Sutton Place Hotel plans to offer valet, bell-hop, and concierge services. The parking structure beside the hotel will add 1,000 parking spots to the airport campus.

Conceptual Mockup of the Sutton Place Hotel and Parkade at YLW

The Sutton Place Hotel project is overseen and managed by Northland Properties, a Canadian-owned hospitality company. The completed Sutton Place Hotel at Kelowna International Airport will be their fifth addition to the Sutton Place Hotel brand, joining Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, and Revelstoke Mountain Resort. 

The addition of this hotel to the Thompson Okanagan will provide different advantages to travellers coming to the region. The close proximity to YLW will make things like connection flights and early or late flight times much more convenient to get to for those travelling for business purposes, while the amenities of the planned Sutton Place Hotel will offer a luxurious experience for tourist travel, setting the Thompson Okanagan apart as a premier destination.

Ski the Thompson Okanagan Press Release

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association is encouraging Canadians and Americans to plan a visit to a Thompson Okanagan ski resorts to experience the wonders of winter by sharing a roundup of information with media.

Hatch Comms on behalf of TOTA, shared a press release with Canadian and American media on February 7, 2024, that included a list of ski resorts and information related to their winter offerings and pass programs to raise awareness about the current snowy winter conditions. TOTA's social media continues to share winter themed posts on ThompsonOkanagan.com and social media.

The press release is designed to raise awareness of ski resorts in the Thompson Okanagan, inspiring them to plan a trip, with the target audiences in BC, Alberta, and Washington. Information included downhill ski information, unique indoor and outdoor experiences, pass programs, upcoming events, and travel times from the closest airports.

Release:

The Thompson Okanagan is home to world class skiing and snowboarding along with a variety of other snow activities at eight mountain resorts with some reporting bases close to 160cm. The region’s well-known winter conditions and diverse terrain promises snow sport lovers the best time ever. Adventures include skiing, snowboarding, tubing, skating, fat biking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and more. Snow pursuits aside, visitors can enjoy all kinds of mountain, recreation, culinary and cultural activities, festivals and events in the months ahead.

Affordable alpine adventures await thanks to the region’s numerous global reciprocal pass programs and wallet-friendly day passes. The Indy Pass grants two days access at each of the following mountains: Apex Mountain Resort, Baldy Mountain Resort, and Big White Ski Resort, Manning Park, along with 180+ resorts spanning three continents. Sun Peaks Resort is included in the IKON Pass, giving skiers and riders access to 50+ destinations worldwide. SilverStar is home to MY1PASS, an inclusive ticket that provides access to seven activities: downhill skiing, cross country skiing (XC), night skiing, tubing, snowshoeing, skating and fat biking. Family-owned resort Harper Mountain’s day passes are under $70 per day. 

Continue to follow mountain conditions and updates by visiting the resort websites and social media along with OnTheSnow.com.

Explore the Slopes 

Apex Mountain Resort

Nestled in the heart of the Okanagan Valley at an impressive 7,200 feet above sea level, Apex is an awesome destination for every skill level from novice to intermediate to advanced. Some say, Apex’s post-ski experiences are the best part with its popular Gunbarrel Saloon earning the title of Best Apres Ski Bar by Ski Canada for ten consecutive years. The resort also boasts an enchanting kilometre-long Adventure Skating Loop through the forest, as well as nordic skiing, snowshoeing and tubing. 

Upcoming events: Western Day, Brewski, and Retro Day.  

Baldy Mountain Resort

Elevate winter expeditions at British Columbia’s third-highest elevation ski resort. Located where the Nk’mip Desert meets the inland rainforest of the West Kootenays, Baldy Mountain Resort was a dream turned reality for its committed winter enthusiasts in 1968. The South Okanagan locale offers 35 runs with 600 acres of skiable terrain and an additional 240 acres dedicated to exhilarating gladed tree skiing. Off the slopes, Baldy offers 13 kilometres of snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, disc golf, and tubing. 

Upcoming events: KR Academy Snowboard Camp, 16th Annual Winemakers Cup, and Slackcountry Cup. 

Big White Ski Resort

An icon in the Thompson Okanagan skyline, the resort resides in British Columbia's famed powder belt. Encompassing a vast ski area of 7,355 acres of diverse terrain with 119 designated trails and vertical drop of 2,550 feet, the second-largest lift system in BC keeps skiers moving. The slopes at Big White Ski Resort cater to every skill level - from beginner to extreme and everything in between. The ski hill has been ranked 10th on The Times UK’s list of “best ski resorts for beginners,” boasts Western Canada’s largest night area and Canada’s largest ski-in, ski-out village. Big White is more than just alpine thrills with its access to Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, dog sledding, snowmobiling, horse-drawn sleigh rides, and Canada's highest elevation skating rink in Happy Valley.

Upcoming events: Saturday Fireworks, Jr Chef Challenge, TELUS Kelowna Cup, Family Day Weekend, and AltiTunes Music Festival. 

Harper Mountain

A winter wonderland awaits at this South Thompson ski hill. Celebrating 50 years, the traditional ski area offers 16 runs with 1,400 vertical feet of elevation across 400 acres of terrain all adorned by champagne powder. The resort also offers 16 kilometres of dog-friendly snowshoe trails, a 3 kilometre nordic loop, and tubing. 

Pro-tip: try the poutine and Gluhwein in the cozy Log Day Lodge.   

Manning Park

Adventure starts in the heart of the Cascade Mountains. Winter enthusiasts will enjoy the fresh mountain air and all kinds of exciting activities surrounded by majestic peaks. The laid back resort offers more than 346 acres of skiable terrain, 64 kilometres of nordic terrain, 300 kilometres of snowshoe trails, tubing and ice skating.

Upcoming events: Guided Snowshoe Tours: S'mores, Wine & Cheese, and Fondue. 

SilverStar 

The Monashee Mountain resort’s bottomless champagne powder is a hit with snow lovers. Its 3,282 acres of skiable terrain over 4 distinct mountain faces, features 132 runs with a 760m vertical drop. There’s a reason Canadian ski pioneers, Olympians, and world champions across the globe call Silver Star home. In addition to all the downhill fun it also has the most expansive cross-country trail network in North America with 105km of nordic trails that connect the peak of SilverStar Mountain Resort to Sovereign Lake’s subalpine. What else? Mini snowmobiles, ice skating, fat baking, snowshoeing, tubing and lots of fun and delicious apres.

Upcoming events: SEISMIC Spring Festival, and Sovereign2SilverStar Ski Marathon. 

Sun Peaks

Canada’s 2nd largest ski area spans 4,270 acres of winter paradise featuring an  impressive 882 metres of skiable vertical descent and - wait for it - 2,000 annual hours of sunshine. Winter warriors enjoy its 3 skiable peaks, 139 trails, 19 glades, the record-setting 8 kilometre run, and 13 lifts.. Beyond the slopes, Sun Peaks is known for its charming alpine village, diverse dining offerings and fun activities like yoga, axe throwing, horse-drawn sleigh rides and more than 34 kilometres of Nordic trails for snowmobiling, fat biking and snowshoeing.

Upcoming events: Sun Peaks Demo Days, Peak Pride, Elleboard All Girls Snowboard Camp, Sip, Savour & Ski Culinary Festival, Easter Extravaganza, and Slush Cup. 

Phoenix Mountain

A not-for-profit, community-run ski area carved into the hills of Southern British Columbia, Phoenix Mountain is a haven for snow sport lovers offering 800 feet of vertical. The iconic T-bar  gives riders a breathtaking bird’s eye view of the winter wonderland on the 6-minute ride up to access its 17 official downhill runs.

All mountain villages are all accessible within under an hour from the nearest city and under two hours from the nearest airports: Penticton Airport (YYF), Kelowna International Airport (YLW) and Kamloops Airport (YKA). 

Applications open for Fairs, Festivals and Events Fund | Apply by February 25, 2024

The Province of BC opened applications for the 2024 Fairs, Festivals and Events Fund. BC-based events can apply for one-time grants, up to about 20% of the total event budget, up to a maximum of $250,000 per event.  

Event organizers will be able to tackle ongoing challenges the sector faces, such as reduced revenue and sponsorships, and rising costs of equipment and services.

Event funding will also support those areas affected by the 2023 wildfires and will help boost visitation and generate economic activity for those communities.

Eligibility

Eligible events include sporting events, arts and culture events, community celebrations, agricultural fairs and rodeos with a budget of  at least $10,000, between April 1, 2024, and Sept. 30, 2025.

Examples of eligible expenses include operational costs, Indigenous consultation and honorariums, venue rental, marketing, wages, and promotion.

Application Details

Applications will be accepted until Feb. 25, 2024. Organizations are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible.

Learn more & apply →

View announcement →