Visit the Super, Natural British Columbia Booth at the Invictus Village in Vancouver

Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 is well underway, but there's more to the games than watching sporting events. The Invictus Village locations at the Vancouver Convention Centre and in Whistler are open to the public, offering free fun such as interactive exhibits, competitor meet-and-greets, live entertainment, and more.

The Super, Natural British Columbia booth in Vancouver offers a space to pause, breathe, and reconnect. This immersive installation transports visitors into BC's landscapes—not just to see them, but to feel them. Inside the booth, guests will find themselves in an ancient Haida Gwaii forest, surrounded by towering cedars and filtered sunlight; they may even glimpse a bear, a curious coyote, or an owl soaring overhead.

Come visit us! The Invictus Village will remain open until February 16.

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FIFA Update: Introducing the British Columbia Tourism Football Club

With less than 500 days until the FIFA World Cup 2026™, the BC Tourism Football Club (FC) is hard at work maximizing the benefits of this global event for BC’s tourism industry. As we approach 2026, Destination BC will share resources and opportunities for tourism businesses that will help us collectively showcase BC on the global stage and create lasting opportunities for communities.

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ITBC Enhances Authentic Indigenous Program and Introduces Indigenous-Owned Designation

Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC) has introduced the Indigenous-Owned designation, helping visitors identify and engage with Indigenous-owned tourism businesses that contribute to the wellbeing of Indigenous communities in BC. ITBC has also enhanced its Authentic Indigenous designation, which is awarded to Indigenous-owned businesses that offer an engaging tourism experience and demonstrate their commitment to environmental sustainability, cultural preservation, and community wellbeing.

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shíshálh Nation and BC Government Renew Reconciliation Agreement

shíshálh Nation and the Province of BC have reaffirmed their shared commitment to long-term reconciliation by renewing a landmark agreement created to strengthen economic, cultural, and environmental initiatives. The agreement involves strengthening government-to-government relations, recognizing shíshálh Nation inherent rights and title, and formalizing decision-making structures.

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Province of BC Funds Disaster-Risk Reduction and Climate Adaptation Projects

To help communities better defend against climate change, the Province of BC is funding disaster-risk reduction and climate adaptation projects throughout BC. Thirty-nine communities will receive more than $19 million for 46 projects through the Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation (DRR-CA) stream of the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF). The funding will reduce the impact of future climate disasters by helping communities address current vulnerabilities and supporting informed planning and decision-making.

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Travel Media Relations & Travel Trade Update

VCM kicked off the new year by participating in IMM North America, the leading U.S. media marketplace connecting the travel industry with editors, journalists, broadcasters, and influencers. VCM’s Travel Media Relations and Travel Trade representative, Heather McGillivray, shared story ideas from across the region with a full appointment schedule of media from the U.S. and Canada. VCM was well represented with Tourism Whistler and Tourism Richmond in attendance amongst the 1,200 participants.

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 heather.mcgillivray@destinationbc.ca.

Sunshine Coast Tourism Announces First-Ever Flavour Festival

The new Sunshine Coast Flavour Festival (Feb. 28 – Mar. 9) invites visitors to a 10-day celebration of delicious food, warm hospitality, and the vibrant culture that defines the region. Experience the charm of the Sunshine Coast’s evolving food scene through prix-fixe menus, special offers, and unique culinary events. 

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Molly's Reach in Gibsons is Reopening

If you saw the TV show The Beachcombers, then you know Molly’s Reach in Gibsons. The building, which used to be a set piece, evolved into a working restaurant that received flocks of visitors eager to be a part of cinema history. While the restaurant shut down twice, a Gibson-based business—Black Bean Café—has shared plans to take over and revitalize the iconic tourist destination and eatery. The new Molly’s Reach will open in February.

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Congratulations “Spark” Winners!

A heartfelt round of applause to the winners of the Sunshine Coast/qathet Region "Spark" program! Five finalists presented their pitches to a panel of judges last month. Three winning projects were selected, with each receiving $3,000 in seed funding, mentorship, and resources to bring their exciting tourism ideas to life.

The Sunshine Coast/qathet winning projects are:

• Ryan Barfoot – Lake Haven Sauna: Wellness on the Water
• Johanna Jackson – Ride Mount Mahony
• Adriana Lademann – This Tournament has Everything Dance

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Have Your Say on a Proposed All-Seasons Mountain Resort near Chilliwack

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport has received an Expression of Interest for a proposed all-seasons resort east of Chilliwack. Referred to as the Bridal Veil Mountain Resort, the project is envisioned to be Canada’s first all-seasons mountain resort that’s jointly planned, constructed, and majority-owned by First Nations, the Stó꞉lō Peoples. The public is invited to complete a questionnaire indicating their interest and potential uses for the resort. The questionnaire takes approximately 5 – 10 minutes to complete and must be submitted by Feb. 28, 2025 at 4pm.

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Business Feature: Richmond Olympic Experience

The Richmond Olympic Experience, located in the Richmond Olympic Oval, features hands-on virtual sport simulations, physical challenges, digital media displays, and more. The thoughtful design welcomes people of all abilities.

"Highlighting the successes of para-athletes is essential to telling the story of Canada's sports history," says Gerry De Cicco, managing director of the Richmond Olympic Oval. "It is important for the Olympic Experience to incorporate accessible features in the facility's design, ensuring that everyone can fully engage with the museum, take part in high and low-tech exhibits and learn about the impact of Canadian sport heroes."

Spinal Cord Injury BC (SCI BC) assessed the Richmond Olympic Experience and were delighted by the thoughtful design.

“Exhibit signage is lowered and in large font so that it is easily legible from seated height,” says Nancy Harris, SCI BC Regional Development Liaison and Access BC Lead. “Many of the exhibits are also tactile. Ever wanted to lift an iron shot-put? They're heavier than they look!”

The Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region has an ongoing partnership with SCI BC to help tourism businesses update the accessibility attributes on their HelloBC.com listing. SCI BC assessors also identify ways the business can improve accessibility. To request this service, please contact Josie.Heisig@destinationbc.ca.

• The World's Largest Tin Soldier (New Westminster): Standing Tall: The Story of the World’s Largest Tin Soldier & the Upcoming Time Capsule Opening in New Westminster - Nestled along the picturesque waterfront of New Westminster, this larger-than-life figure has been a beloved symbol of inclusion, kindness and community spirit for over two decades. And this year, a time capsule which was placed inside the Tin Soldier in 2001 will be opened on Valentine’s Day. Date: February 14, 2025

• Follow Your Heart Benefit Concert (Harrison Hot Springs): The Follow Your Heart Benefit Concert promises to be an unforgettable evening of music and community featuring performances by Todd Richard, Miss Shauna, Trevor Murray, and Rick Tippe. Every sponsorship and silent auction donation directly supports Variety—The Children's Charity of BC, helping children and families in need. Date: Feb. 15, 2025

• PoMoArts Interwoven Realms Art Exhibition (Port Moody): This dreamy exhibition explores life's interconnectedness and the balance between the earthly and the cosmic through nature, spatial relationships, and celestial themes. Dates: Now until Mar. 2, 2025

• Bite of Burnaby (Burnaby): Bite of Burnaby returns in March with 65+ restaurants offering fixed-price menus and exclusive dining deals, including options under $15. New for 2025, enjoy long-table dinners, hands-on workshops, and themed culinary events. Restaurant listings go live February 19, with event details and ticketing links available now. Dates: Mar. 1–31, 2025

• Arts Alive Festival (Langley City): For its 29th year, the Arts Alive Festival is back in downtown Langley! The Fraser Highway one-way will be filled with amazingly talented artists and artisans, musical performances on the Main Stage, entertainment, amazing food, and more. This free, all-day event is full of fun for the whole family to enjoy. Date: Aug. 16, 2025

Klahoose Wilderness Resort: a Model for Sustainable Tourism

The Indigenous-owned Klahoose Wilderness Resort, located in the Homfray Channel, provides a memorable eco-tourism and Indigenous tourism experience. Visitors enjoy three-to-four-night escapes with tours of the coastal landscape, including responsible and respectful whale, bird, and bear watching, along with cultural activities such as drumming, cedar weaving, and canoeing. In 2023, the resort received a silver certification from sustainable tourism organization GreenStep, in recognition of its efforts to conserve and protect the environment through its operations.  

READ A FEATURE STORY IN THE TYEE →

Sustainability in Action: Ziptrek EcoTours

A changemaker of Whistler, ZipTrek EcoTours champions sustainability with impactful initiatives like:

• Staff education: hosts themed staff events, such as No Meat November and clothing swaps
• Sustainable eats: co-created a cookbook that features the team’s favourite recipes and highlights the environmental impacts of food
• Gear repair: worked with a local textile repair company to repair and upcycle damaged gear
• Merchandise donations: 10% of sales and GoPro rentals go to charities selected by winners of the Golden Helmet, the employee-of-the-month award

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VCM Sustainability Toolkit Workshop

Did you miss the VCM Sustainability Workshop? You can access the recording here. Packed with practical tools like sustainability checklists, templates, and step-by-step instructions, the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Sustainability Toolkit makes sustainability planning simple and actionable. 

During this one-hour workshop, you’ll learn how to pair the VCM Sustainability Toolkit with the VCM Sustainability Playbook, which provides all the ingredients for creating a relevant, successful sustainability action plan.

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Project 1: Applications Open

Project 1 of the BCTCRI provides free, tailored support to tourism businesses that want to incorporate environmental sustainability or climate adaptation measures into their operations. Applications are still open for tourism businesses to take advantage of these resources.

apply now →

Project 3: Take the Tourism Climate Adaptation and Environmental Sustainability Survey

This is a last reminder that we want to hear from you in the first-ever province wide Tourism Climate Adaptation & Environmental Sustainability Business Survey! The 5-10 minute survey is still open for the participation of BC-based tourism businesses until Wednesday, Feb. 19.

COMPLETE THE SURVEY →

Workshop #7: Marketing and Storytelling

Join us on Feb. 19 at 10 a.m. (PST) for the Community Destination Stewardship Initiative's upcoming workshop on Marketing & Storytelling in the context of climate resilience in the tourism industry. Through this workshop, participants will learn about the impact of marketing and storytelling to advocate for climate resilience in the tourism industry.

REGISTER NOw →

Apply Now: Crisis Communications Planning for Indigenous Tourism Organizations in BC (Limited Spaces)

BC Indigenous tourism organizations can join a two-day, FREE interactive virtual series led by a Crisis Communications Expert, hosted by Destination BC. Dates are:

• Feb. 25, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. (PST)
• Feb. 27, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (PST)

Register to Attend Destination Vancouver's Keynote on The Power of Successful Placemaking

As part of Destination Vancouver’s collaboration with the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade (GVBOT), Royce Chwin, President & CEO, will share a Destination Vancouver keynote address at the Vancouver Convention Centre on Mar. 11.

Royce will share how community-driven placemaking and a bold vision can shape Vancouver’s reputation as a thriving global destination.

Register for WORTH Association’s Leadership Summit

WORTH Association (Women of Recreation, Tourism, and Hospitality) will host the 2025 WORTH Leadership Summit on Mar. 11 at the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver. This year’s theme, “All Ages, All Stages: Building the Future Together”, invites professionals to unite to foster a more inclusive leadership pipeline for women across the recreation, tourism, and hospitality sectors.

REGISTER NOW →

Apply for the TELUS Indigenous Communities Fund

The TELUS Indigenous Communities Fund (ICF) offers grants of $5,000 to $25,000 for Indigenous-led social, health, and community programs.

The application portal will stay open until either the first 200 applications are received or the deadline is reached, whichever comes first. The deadlines are:

• Spring: Feb. 4 to Mar, 4, 2025
• Fall: Sept. 11 to Oct. 9, 2025
   

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Outdoor Recreation Council of BC: Funding Applications Open until February 20

The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC is offering grants for community-based initiatives that create meaningful outdoor recreational and nature-based experiences for British Columbians.

Grants are considered based on experiences that further outdoor enhancement (e.g., maintaining trails, signage, and infrastructure); stewardship and education (e.g., initiatives that minimize environmental, cultural, and safety impacts of outdoor adventuring); and inclusive participation (e.g., encouraging participation for under-represented groups). Applications are open until Feb. 20.

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