Whether you come to hike the North Coast Trail, paddle along the rocky shores of neighbouring isles and inlets, or catch a salmon of a lifetime, discovering Port Hardy is truly a wonderful experience. Port Hardy’s pristine environment serves as a gateway to many outdoor activities for both locals and tourists, including sport fishing, world class scuba diving, caving, kayaking, recreational boating, hiking, and nature viewing.

Our annual conference is the tourism industry event of the year on Vancouver Island! Each year 150+ delegates from all areas of our industry convene in one region to network, educate themselves and show their support. These delegates vary from attraction operators and B&B operators to general managers and senior staff of hotels and restaurants to CEOs and managers of marketing organizations. www.tviconference.ca

Why Sponsor?

• Position yourself as an industry leader
• Gain a competitive advantage through market exposure
• Foster relationships in the industry
• Increase your company’s visibility
• Demonstrate a commitment to tourism on Vancouver Island

guided tours across the entire island, providing Leif with in-depth knowledge of attractions and activities in the region. He is also an active board member of the Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association and the Nanaimo Craft Beer Society.

Awards and nominations include: Top 20 under 40 Community Business Achievement Award (finalist); Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence for Emerging Business (winner 2015); Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence for Tourism Award (finalist 2015); and Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce Black Tie Awards for Young Entrepreneur (finalist 2015).

Indigenous Tourism BC and its Stakeholders believe “Indigenous” more clearly captures the story of Indigenous peoples as indigenous to the land. It creates better alignment between the experiences and understanding of Indigenous peoples, which also has broader awareness in the international community. Finally, it recognizes the powerful connection between Indigenous people and stewardship of their land.

“We Raise our Hands” has also been added as a new tag line to further define our Corporate identity. The Indigenous gesture of the raising of hands is a way to acknowledge and honour our ancestors as well as give thanks for the opportunity to live and work within our ancestral lands. Finally, “We Raise our Hands” to welcome the world to show and share our living Indigenous cultures in British Columbia.

Read the full press release here.

The addition of a three per cent tax on accommodations will take effect on May 1, 2018, and the CCCTA is working with the Ministry of Finance to ensure accommodation providers in the CCCTA region (excluding Quesnel and Wells) are aware of how to properly collect and remit the tax. The additional funds will be managed by a local tourism industry marketing committee, and it is expected that the MRDT, which is applicable until 2023, will stimulate an injection of approximately $1 million in new marketing funds annually to drive more visitation to the region.

The addition of the MRDT will provide a much-needed marketing boost, along with other ongoing recovery efforts from last year’s devastating wildfires, being undertaken by the CCCTA; Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture; Emergency Management BC; Destination BC; and the Province of British Columbia.

A recently released report on the economic impact of the 2017 wildfires to the region estimated direct revenue losses to tourism-related businesses at $55 million. Additional economic impact estimates included a total economic impact of $101 million; an estimated GDP loss of $63 million; and some 98 per cent of tourism businesses impacted.

“These funds, along with other generous investments by our tourism industry partners, will go a long way to ensuring our key markets are informed that the exceptional visitor experiences provided by our region are available for the 2018 tourism season and beyond,” says CCCTA CEO Amy Thacker.

In anticipation of a successful MRDT application, the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association applied for cooperative funds under the Destination BC Open Pool competitive program and was awarded $225,000 for the coming fiscal year to also fund the marketing of visitor experiences in the region.

One new experience which will be widely promoted is the June 2018 arrival of BC Ferries’ Northern Seawolf, which will run on the new “Great Bear Rainforest route” connecting Port Hardy and Bella Coola.

This critical connection creates the ultimate B.C. journey: travelling to Vancouver Island through the world-renowned Great Bear Rainforest and Chilcotin Plateau, and along the historic Gold Rush Trail through the CCCTA and Thompson-Okanagan Tourism Association regions.

“While the fires were devastating to our industry, we are resilient and strong in our commitment to continue to showcase our region to the world,” says CCCTA’s board chair, Andre Kuerbis. “We applaud the support of our provincial government and Destination BC in helping us continue to market that the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast is open for the 2018 season with some of the best outdoor and wilderness experiences in the world.”

The approval of the MRDT funding follows last year’s $200,000 investment announced by Minister Lisa Beare, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. These funds were used specifically to encourage local British Columbians to book a vacation in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region. The “It’s Your Backyard—Come Out and Play” campaign is live now (http://www.landwithoutlimits.com/backyard/).

Destination BC also invested an additional $400,000 to go toward increasing awareness of the fall and winter opportunities for travel and the unique experiences in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region. This support will continue with the spring “Explore BC” campaign, airing on Global TV.

For more information about the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast tourism region, visit www.landwithoutlimits.com.

“Today’s results are yet another reminder of what has been clear for a while now: Canada is back. And more and more, the world wants to come and visit. We are excited to share our vibrant cities, beautiful natural attractions, diverse cultures and proud history with record numbers of visitors,” said the Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Small Business and Tourism and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons. “This is great news for our tourism sector, and the more than 1.8 million jobs that depend on it. We are only just getting started, too. Our government is investing in Canada’s tourism sector and we have a comprehensive plan to increase tourism even further. As we celebrate the Canada-China Year of Tourism this year, I am certain that the record we set in 2017 is just the beginning of the amazing news for this vital sector.”

“This is fantastic news for Canada,” said Ben Cowan-Dewar, Chairperson of Destination Canada’s Board of Directors. “Working with industry partners across the country has given us a competitive edge and positioned Canada as top of mind for travellers from all over the world.”

Since the previous peak year in 2002, the composition of tourists to Canada has changed significantly. Overnight arrivals to Canada from countries other than the United States reached an all-time high of over 31% in 2017, up from 19% in 2002. Overseas tourists typically stay in Canada longer and also spend more, benefiting tourism businesses across Canada, and the Canadian economy.

This record breaking year is due to a number of contributing factors, including Destination Canada’s innovative marketing campaigns in key international markets. The Government of Canada has implemented visa changes for priority markets by introducing the eTA and opening seven new visa application centres in China, Canada’s third largest source market. New flight routes and increased service to Canadian airports have flight capacity soaring by 7% over 2016 to the highest level ever. It’s now easier than ever before for tourists to explore Canada. More information can be found on the December 2017 Tourism Snapshot report.

We have embarked on an extended engagement effort to better understand the important role the terminal plays in your communities and travel experience, and to gather input on how you envision the Horseshoe Bay terminal of the future. We are currently engaging with key stakeholder groups, planning community workshops, and preparing for online engagement this spring. Your voice is important to us so please keep checking back for more information, or sign up to receive project updates below.

Learn more about the engagement process by clicking the blue box below or keep scrolling for answers to some of your frequently asked questions. Have a question that isn’t there yet? Email us at horseshoebayvision@bcferries.com.  For more information and FAQs, visit BCFerries.com.

Employees First Award, sponsored by go2HR

This award recognizes a British Columbia tourism industry employer who has upheld high standards of excellence in human resources and people management practices.

Finalists:

• Ocean River Adventures
• Accent Inns
• Island Lake Lodge

And the winner… Island Lake Lodge!

Customer Service Award, sponsored by Go RVing Canada

This award recognizes frontline employees whose exceptional customer service contributed to outstanding travel experiences for visitors.

Finalists:

• Tourism Kelowna Volunteer Team
• Lalli Randhawa, Comfort Inn & Suites, Merritt
• Bram Bolwijn, Mission Hill Family Estate Winery

And the winner… Bram Bolwijn, Mission Hill Family Estate Winery!

Innovation Award, sponsored by BDC

This award recognizes an individual, organization or consortium that has devised and implemented an outstanding marketing campaign or initiative that is directed at increasing the number of visitors to or within British Columbia.

Finalists:

• Tourism Vancouver
• Island Lake Lodge
• Fairmont Hotels for their World Class Wild Campaign

And the winner… Fairmont Hotels for their World Class Wild Campaign!

This award recognizes a British Columbia tourism business or organization that has developed, delivered, promoted and sold a new or improved tourism product or experience that reflects the essence of British Columbia and contributes to a remarkable visitor experience. Festivals/events, adventure/outdoor, food and beverage, cultural/ heritage, urban/rural and accommodation experiences may all be considered within this category.

Finalists:

• Okanagan Villa Estate Winery
• The Paisley Notebook
• Spirit of the West Adventures

And the winner… Spirit of the West Adventures!

Destination Marketing Organisation (DMO) Professional Excellence Award, sponsored by TIAC & Andrew Peller Limited

Recognizes community DMOs for outstanding performance, accountability and commitment to the tourism industry in British Columbia.

Finalists:

• Tourism Kamloops
• Tourism Chilliwack

And the winner… Tourism Chilliwack!

As one of the three founders of the Craft Distillers Guild of British Columbia in 2008, Merridale initiated lobbying the government to create the current regulatory environment which has led to the boom in craft distilleries throughout BC. “A truly craft distillery makes products which represent the terroir of the region,” said distiller and owner Rick Pipes. “We start with 100% BC grown raw materials, then we process, ferment, distill, age and blend all at our farm distillery. This way, it truly represents the character of our region, Cowichan.”

Merridale is passionate about making products they are proud of. They will not hurry anything to the market. All their gins and vodkas are made from spirits aged for more than 2 years in stainless steel tanks, and their brandies are aged in oak barrels for at least 6 years – more than double the industry standard for craft. Some of their spirits have now been aged for over 10 years.

Accompanying Rick Pipes in the distillery is Laurent Lafuente, Master Blender and Distiller, on the Merridale team. Laurent defines the work he does with the aged spirits as a “balancing act between the oak, spice and raw materials resulting in an exquisite expression of timeless age that inspires when consumed, and evokes memories to last”. The Cowichan Copper Gin, winner of a gold medal and best in class at CASC, bears evidence to this with 90% of the botanicals coming from the Merridale orchard and surrounding forest.

“Everything Merridale makes is from BC agricultural products”, said Janet Docherty, co-owner of Merridale and spouse to Rick Pipes. “We follow that same philosophy in everything we do – Our kitchen is farm to table and our cider has been farm to bottle since 2000.”

To celebrate their win, Merridale will host MEET THE MAKERS on February 24th. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the makers to hear and to taste their passion while sampling spirits and indulging in appetizers.
When asked what’s next? “We have a new green project on the horizon,” said Janet Docherty. “We are building a distillery, brewery and pizzeria at Dockside in Victoria linking urban Victoria to our agricultural roots in Cowichan. We hope to open in the spring of 2019.”

Awards from the Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition

• Cowichan Copper Gin *BEST IN CLASS & GOLD in Aged Gin Class
• Cowichan Cider Brandy *GOLD in Brandy Class
• Cowichan XXO Brandy *GOLD in Brandy Class
• Cowichan Pear Brandy *BRONZE in Brandy Class
• Cowichan Gin *SILVER in Gin Class
• Cowichan Vodka *GOLD in Vodka Class

If you would like more information, please contact:
Janet Docherty, co-owner | janet@merridale.ca | (250) 920-9453

proximity to everything an Island visitor would want to see and the affordability of a city that also offers local colour and stories. The campaign made use of residents’ perspectives on what to do in Nanaimo, a city resident’s own 360° view. The campaign asks potential visitors to stop, look around, become present while also discovering all of the wonderful things that lie within reach and in every direction from Nanaimo.

“Nanaimo is such an amazing tourism destination but is often overshadowed by other Island spots” says Dan Dagg, President of Hot House Marketing. “We knew if we could reach our most likely prospects and show them the range of magnificent things to do and see here, it would work. So, our approach was to simply present the destination through the authentic lens of a local and digital let us do that better than anything else.”

“The Hot House Marketing team has done great work with the Discover Your 360° campaign and we are delighted to have this effort recognized by these awards” says Anthony Everett, President and CEO of Tourism Vancouver Island. “This is a new campaign for Tourism Nanaimo and the website, as well as the accompanying digital campaign that Hot House Marketing developed, has been positively received by stakeholders and visitors alike.”

AVA Digital Awards is an international competition that recognizes outstanding work by creative professionals involved in the concept, direction, design and production of media that is part of the evolution of digital communication. Work ranges from audio and video productions to interactive social media. AVA Digital Awards is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP).

For over 20 years, AMCP has been the industry’s preeminent third-party evaluator of creative work. Each entry is evaluated and scored by judges from AMCP. Entries receiving scores of 90-100 are Platinum Winners; scores of 80-89 are Gold Winners.

To see the award submission, please click here. For more information on the AVA awards, please visit avaawards.com.

The plan to reach $15 an hour provides for an immediate increase of $1.30 an hour on June 1, 2018, to a new minimum wage of $12.65 an hour. Additional increases will take place on June 1 of each year for three more years. By June 2021, B.C.’s minimum wage will rise to at least $15.20 an hour.

The next wage increase, on June 1, 2018, will benefit 94,000 minimum-wage earners, while increasing the minimum wage to over $15 an hour on June 1, 2021, will benefit 400,000 workers throughout the province. The commission’s scaled approach will allow businesses and employers to plan for predictable and stable increases to wages over time.

“Freezing the minimum wage for 10 years hurt people, and then increasing it in a sporadic and unplanned way hurt businesses. We are taking a balanced approach that will work better for everyone, by bringing in measured and predictable increases over time,” said Harry Bains, Minister of Labour. “I’m thankful for the incredible work done by the members of the Fair Wages Commission, who worked together to come up with a fair path forward.”

The Fair Wages Commission was established in October 2017 as an arm’s-length government body to help guide public engagement on how B.C. should achieve a $15-an-hour minimum wage, and also the timeline for implementation. In a report delivered to government in January 2018, following public consultations and receipt of research and submissions, the commission recommended four minimum wage increases over four years.

The Fair Wages Commission recommended the following schedule of increases:

• June 1, 2018: $12.65 an hour ($1.30 increase)
• June 1, 2019: $13.85 ($1.20 increase)
• June 1, 2020: $14.60 ($0.75 increase)
• June 1, 2021: $15.20 ($0.60 increase)

Depending on economic conditions, the commission recommended that government consider of an additional hourly increase of up to $.20, to $15.40 an hour in 2021.

The Fair Wages Commission report with recommendations can be found here: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/sites/237/2018/02/Report-1_BC-Fair-Wages-Commission_Jan-2018.pdf

For more information and quick facts, visit news.gov.bc.ca.

Launched in 2011, the awards are managed and delivered by the Small Business Roundtable Secretariat, encompassing four categories:

• Small Communities (<5,000 residents)
• Medium Communities (5,000 to 25,000 residents)
• Large Communities (>25,000 residents)
• First Nations Communities (all sizes)

More information and FAQs can be found at Open For Business Awards.

“The Government of Canada takes that relationship seriously. It’s a priority for our government and this is how we will help grow on our commitment for reconciliation,” she said in an interview. “We want these communities to be sustainable, to be able to grow opportunities for future generations and this $2.25 million will make sure these businesses are market ready and are able to develop Aboriginal tourism and create capacity.”

The money is intended to support more than 400 Aboriginal cultural tourism businesses in B.C. by helping establish new products and marketing campaigns.

Learn more here: http://www.timescolonist.com/business/aboriginal-tourism-gets-2-25m-infusion-from-federal-government-1.23151793 

local and destination golfers a challenging, yet inclusive 18-hole championship course for all skill levels.

The Campbell River Golf & Country Club will open the first tee and driving range in summer 2018 with innovative technology and features. The golf course has been completely rebuilt from tee to green and the driving range will be the first in Canada to employ Toptracer range technology. Toptracer is the same technology used to track golf ball trajectories on major golf tournament sportscasts. Using Toptracer, golfers can get accurate views of their shots for analysis and comparison, or just for fun. For those that don’t golf, the driving range will be a fun place to hang out; where you can grab a cold drink, watch some sport highlights or step up to the mats and play virtual golf courses from around the world.

Golf enthusiasts can check out the development progress of the Campbell River Golf & Country Club on their new website crgolf.ca, including a course overlay of the old to the new course and a timeline of the course’s history and future. The website is designed to be easy to read, feature rich and allow the user to follow along with the construction of the golf course as it gets closer to opening. The Sandtrap Restaurant & Lounge at the Campbell River Golf & Country Club is already open so you can check out the progress firsthand over a meal.

2018 indeed promises to be exciting for the Campbell River Golf & Country Club and the Vancouver Island Golf Trail, however it doesn’t stop there. Coming for 2019 and beyond are a new hotel, spa, restaurant, clubhouse, and event centre.

Visit crgolf.ca to learn more about the Campbell River Golf & Country Club, and to plan a Vancouver Island golf vacation to include this or any of the other 12 amazing golf courses on the Vancouver Island Golf Trail, visit golfvancouverisland.ca.