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Vancouver, Coast & Mountains
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Cherry blossom season marks the start of spring! (Destination BC/Nina Vis)
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Join our webinar for details on the new VCM Sustainabilty Toolkit. (Tourism Whistler/Justa Jeskova)
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New VCM Sustainability Toolkit and Free Webinar on April 25
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We're thrilled to share our latest industry resource, the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Sustainability Toolkit. Packed with checklists, templates, and accessible instructions, the toolkit is designed to help guide sustainability action planning and implementation.
Learn more about the VCM Sustainability Toolkit at a free webinar hosted by VCM and GreenStep Solutions on Thursday, April 25 (3 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. PDT). As well as providing an overview, we’ll show you how to seamlessly pair the toolkit with the existing VCM Sustainability Playbook.
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If your tourism organization and project are eligible under the Program Guidelines, you can apply for a micro-grant starting
May 13. (Destination BC/Andrew Strain)
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Applications Opening May 13 for Second Intake of BC Tourism Climate Resiliency Initiative’s Micro-Grants
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Starting Monday, May 13, tourism businesses and non-profit organizations that provide tourism experiences in BC may be eligible for a micro-grant of up to $15,000. Eligible applicants must already have a sustainability or climate adaptation plan that’s been co-developed in partnership with an expert in the field; they must also be ready to implement the recommendations by purchasing equipment, updating infrastructure, implementing news systems, or pursuing sustainability certification.
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Join a virtual information session on Tuesday, May 7 from 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (PDT) to learn about the application process, eligibility criteria, and more. Register now.
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Read the results of BC Ferries' public survey. (Destination BC/Andrew Strain)
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Charting the Course: A Future Vision for BC Ferries
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BC Ferries has released the results of their Charting the Course public survey, with most respondents asking for improved reliability, affordability, and better travel integration. Nearly 10,000 people shared their opinions. Based on the feedback, BC Ferries will now focus its policy work on five key areas:
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Service levels
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Integration of ferry services in the wider transportation network
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The role of coastal ferries in the movement of goods
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Approaches to pricing and demand management
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Approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions
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Chad Wetsch and Leigh Ratcliff present Rainforest to Rockies to the Vancouver Attractions Group. (Destination BC/Yvonne Chow)
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VCM Presents to Vancouver Attractions Group
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On April 9, Vancouver, Coast & Mountains' Chad Wetsch and Destination BC’s Leigh Ratcliff presented the Rainforest to Rockies (R2R) Iconic to the Vancouver Attractions Group – a marketing cooperative of 26 visitor attractions offering online savings for travellers. Chad and Leigh shared useful resources posted to the DBC Learning Centre, including the R2R toolkit, brand guidelines and a submission form to propose collaborations with the R2R team. The event attracted 54 people representing all member attractions.
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VCM is attending several media events this spring, including a return to the Seattle media market after five years.
(Destination BC/Heather McGillivray)
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Travel Media Relations & Travel Trade Update
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Spring has returned, and so have Destination BC’s annual media events to Seattle, Calgary and Vancouver! VCM will attend the Seattle and Calgary events in May, with Vancouver taking place in the fall. After a five-year absence from the Seattle media market, an essential drive market for VCM communities, this is arguably the most important travel media relations initiative VCM will complete on behalf of the region this year.
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Also in May, VCM will be represented at Rendez-vous Canada (RVC), Destination Canada’s annual international travel trade marketplace, featuring up to 80 scheduled, one-on-one meetings with tour operators from Destination BC’s key markets. For more information about VCM’s travel media relations and travel trade activities, or to share story ideas and new product updates, contact Heather McGillivray at [email protected].
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A new fund supported by the federal government will help to attract major international events to Canada.
(Destination Vancouver/Hubert Kang)
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Destination Canada Launches Multi-Million Dollar International Convention Attraction Fund
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Destination Canada has announced the launch of a three-year International Convention Attraction Fund (ICAF, or “the Fund”) in a strategic move to bolster Canada’s global competitiveness in attracting major international conventions, conferences, and events. The program is expected to inject more than $170 million into the Canadian economy, and includes funding to support eligible Canadian destinations in their bids to host major business events.
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Premier David Eby and Tamara Vrooman, president and CEO of YVR, sign a memorandum of understanding.
(Government of British Columbia)
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Province and YVR Collaborate to Fight Pollution in the Aviation Sector
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Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and the Province of BC, in collaboration with Indigenous partners, communities, and aviation and aerospace stakeholders, have agreed to deliver new products, projects, and activities that support sustainability in aviation, promote workforce development, and more.
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Dive into the heart of Richmond with the new Richmond Specialist Training Program. (Tourism Richmond)
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Tourism Richmond Launches Richmond Specialist Program
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Tourism Richmond’s new Richmond Specialist Program is a travel trade training initiative that imparts essential information about the city and its diverse experiences. Participants will learn how to sell this great destination while inspiring others to discover its authenticity.
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VCM and DBC teams recently explored Surrey, and it did not disappoint! (Discover Surrey/Redwood Park)
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Community Profile: Surrey
Vancouver, Coast & Mountains and Destination BC representatives recently spent time with the Discover Surrey team – and we saw and ate A LOT! Here are our top recommendations, based on our journey:
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Get a bird’s-eye view of Surrey from the Civic Hotel’s rooftop deck.
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Follow the North Surrey Public Artwalk. Bonus: check out The Black Arts Centre, a Black youth owned-and-operated gallery and community site.
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Wander around the Surrey Nature Centre. Its Environmental Extravaganza runs April 19 – June 9, with 130 free programs and events.
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Share a meal at Kerala Kitchen, where Chef Sujith Raj prepares delicious South Indian cuisine (tip: go big with your dosa order!).
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Check out charming Cloverdale, with its small-town feel and beautiful boutiques.
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Stretch your legs at Redwood Park, which features five kilometres of nature trails, a fairy forest, and a wheelchair-accessible playground.
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Cap off the day at Skye Avenue Kitchen and Lounge, Surrey’s latest fine dining experience. The restaurant boasts Canada’s largest whisky collection – over 4,500 bottles!
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Mark your calendars for June 21 for the National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration & Wellness Eventat the Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre in Cloverdale. This free, family-friendly event is hosted by the Semiahmoo First Nation, Katzie First Nation, and Kwantlen First Nation and will showcase and celebrate the diverse Indigenous cultures of these lands. Surrey has the highest urban Indigenous population in British Columbia.
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Take the Don't Love it to Death Responsible Recreation Survey today. (Bruce Kirkby)
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Don’t Love it to Death Survey: Please Complete and Share!
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The Don't Love It To Death team is running a survey to understand attitudes and behaviours around responsible recreation, with a target audience of outdoor recreationists in the VCM region. Please complete the survey and share the opportunity with your networks – as a bonus, you could win a great prize! Thank you in advance for helping us spread the word.
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Bouquets and Barrels (Abbotsford): Experience spring and summer in Abbotsford, complete with blossoming flowers and awakening vineyards. Date: April – August
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Food Truck Wars (Langley City): Dust off your boots and mark your calendars for Food Truck Wars, which returns for its third year at KPU Langley Campus. The event turns up the heat with 45 food trucks competing in a fun and flavourful face-off. Date: April 19-21
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Botanica Flower Festival (Chilliwack): At the Botanica Flower Festival, you can marvel at a mesmerizing display of 1.5 million tulip bulbs spanning 13 acres and showcasing 59 unique varieties. Date: April 12 – mid-May
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Hotel Morado (Chilliwack): Hotel Morado, District 1881’s new 12-room boutique hotel, is set to open later this month! The property promises an unforgettable stay with stylish accommodations, an unbeatable location, and impeccable service.
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Supports and opportunities available to tourism businesses and communities in VCM.
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go2HR's Safety Basics Orientation Course was designed for new and young workers. (Destination BC/Reuben Krabbe)
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go2HR Introduces Safety Basics Orientation Course
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go2HR’s new Safety Basics Orientation Course is a free health and safety training program for new and young workers, designed to meet the WorkSafeBC regulatory requirement to provide a health and safety orientation. The program uses interactive activities, relevant examples from a variety of tourism and hospitality settings, and short knowledge tests to help employers deliver a positive onboarding experience and showcase their commitment to creating a healthy and safe work environment.
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