A65-68 - Columbia Shuswap Regional District

AR 3
Shuswap Tourism Committee Meeting
November 28, 2013
CSRD Board Room, Salmon Arm, BC
Chair: Terry Sinton
Vice Chair: Tim Corless
Directors/Councilors: Larry Morgan
Paul Demenok
Rhona Martin*
Darrell Trouton
Rene Talbot
Debbie Cannon
Chad Eliason
Community Representatives Joy De Vos
Michelle Wolfe
Joan Bristow
Barry Stokes
Elena Markin
Angel Agassiz
Dale Berger
Elena Markin
Staff: Robyn Cyr
Colleen Goodey
Electoral Area ‘E’
Best Western Sicamous
Electoral Area ‘F’
Electoral Area ‘C’
Electoral Area ‘E’(absent)
Sicamous
Electoral Area ‘D
City of Salmon Arm (absent)
City Salmon Arm (Alternate)
Electoral Area ‘D’
Sicamous Chamber of Commerce
Electoral Area ‘F’
Community Rep for Area ‘C’
Chase Chamber of Commerce (absent)
Salmon Arm (absent)
Salmon Arm – Shuswap Recreation (absent)
Chase Chamber of Commerce
Economic Development Officer
Administrative Assistant
APPROVAL OF
AGENDA
M/S Barry Stokes/Paul Demenok THAT:
the agenda of the September 26, 2013 Shuswap Tourism Committee meeting be
approved with the following additions:
 Sorrento Visitor Centre
CARRIED
ADOPTION OF
MINUTES
MS/ Paul Demenok/Joan Bristow THAT:
the minutes of the April 25, 2013 Shuswap Tourism Committee meeting be
adopted as circulated.
CARRIED
UPDATE ON TOTA
BOARD
R.Cyr, Shuswap Tourism Manager provided an update to the Committee
- Good representation for the region
- Issues overall instead of specific
- Held a board retreat to discuss Board governance, strategic plan and the
vision for 2014
- Highly successful year round destination and having competitive
advantage in the province were goals that TOTA continues to work on.
- TOTA region is now becoming known for authenticity
- Other goals - legal role of the board, hiring and development of the CEO
and succession planning for the CEO
- Robyn on the finance committee for TOTA
- TOTA boundaries were created by the Province and the Board is
interested in putting together a proposal to Province to define the areas
and to have a better definition of the Thompson Okanagan region.
-
SHUSWAP TOURISM
WEB STATISTICS
Improving air access as it a challenge to Kamloops, Valemont, Shuswap
Improving highway access, needs to be improved as75 days of road
closure at Revelstoke, highway 1, direct impact to the ski industry and the
Shuswap region.
Road signage needs to be improved.
TOTA has been defined as the #1 best experience in the province, highest
visitation
Campgrounds – closed appears closed for business - Letter to TOTA
board regarding closure after labour day of parks
Need to lobby for next year’s salmon run and need for camping/parks in
the fall. BC Parks may need to get minister for tourism on board and MLA
to support. Build with school district to let kids know there is more.
R. Cyr reviewed the statistical information of the Shuswap Tourism website.
Monday is the most viewed day on the website. The biggest market is BC,
Canada and USA visitors however the numbers are increasing from the UK.
Saskatchewan becoming higher in the market followed by USA (Washington,
California, Texas).
JUNE HOUSEBOAT
FAM TOUR
Freelance writers from Calgary, Richmond and Vancouver attended a FAM tour in
June. The group stayed on a houseboat, golfed Hyde Mountain and spent an
evening on the wharf. Exposure right through to Quebec. TOTA assisted FAM
Tour.
EVENTS ATTENDED
R. Cyr attended the following events:






Shuswap Festival of the Arts
Assisted with marketing for logo launch
Routes and Blues
Attend Notch Hill, Falkland, Malakwa, Seymour Arm, Squilax unable
to attend Kingfisher
Bike for your life
On sight for event
Shuswap Marina open House
25th anniversary
WOW
De Milles Customer Appreciation Day
R. Cyr stated it is important to attend events to get collateral information into the
hands of the public, especially the local residents.
TRAIL MAPPING
Shuswap Tourism is working with the CSRD GIS department to produce trail
maps that will include information on trails and graphics, these maps are being
produced in partnership with the Shuswap Trail Alliance.
UPDATE ON
SHUSWAP TOURISM
WEBSITE
NEW APP
The Shuswap Tourism Website is now mobile friendly. You can download a
shortcut to your phone or tablet to get quickly to the website. Tourism
organizations are moving away from apps as it is costly to continue to update
them.
CHASE CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE
Elena Markin of the Chase Chamber of Commerce advised that the members of
the Chase Chamber (with their employees) get together at a business once a
SOCIAL
month to get themselves familiar with the business. These get together provide
an opportunity of business to network and stay informed on local services
provided throughout the community.
SNOW SHOWS
Shuswap Tourism attended Snow shows in Fort MacMurray, Edmonton, and
Saskatchewan. It was felt that Fort MacMurray was not the market for winter
sporting activities in the Shuswap, but there may be a market for relocation but
not as winter tourist destination. The Edmonton and Saskatchewan shows were
very successful.
VACATION GUIDE
Carmen Massey, Reach Marketing, is continuing to pursue marketing partners for
the vacation guide. This will probably be the last year for guide in the current
format. Would like to move towards a more “experience” based format for the
2015 guide.
ROOTS AND BLUES
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ASSESSMENT – TRU
Three students from TRU were on sight at the Roots and Blues event conducting
a survey on the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of the Roots and Blues
Festival on the City of Salmon Arm. There have been preliminary discussion on
economic impact to the area; the report will be finished in November.
The Federal government has instituted a tax on foreign singers performing in
Canada and this will affect performers coming to the Roots and Blues to perform.
The Committee directed staff to look into the potential effects of the tax to events
held in the region.
NEW WORK TO BE
COMPLETED IN THE
NEXT YEAR
Touring Guide
 Working on a touring guide to meet the need of the growing motor cycle
tourist visiting the area. The guide will include routes for cars and motor
cycles.
 Working on guides for camping and fishing within the region.
 The CSRD GIS department will attend a meeting in November with trail
user groups to discuss trail mapping and how we can start to build new
online mapping that is user friendly.
SORRENTO VISITOR
CENTRE
The Sorrento Visitor Centre has been approved as a Destination BC Visitor
Center. In 2013 the Centre has acted as a kiosk, and in 2014 it will become a
center with BC signage and required to submit annual statistics.
GIA
The North Shuswap Chamber has been working to complete signage in
partnership with Shuswap Tourism to erect signs that incorporate the Shuswap
Tourism branding. Director Morgan has committed to funding the structure of the
signs with annual Grant In Aids.
SICAMOUS
SNOWMOBILE CLUB
The Sicamous Snowmobile has been very busy grooming and preparing the trails
at Eagle Pass, Blue Lake, Queest Mountain, and Owlhead. A snow cat has been
purchased and a cabin has been built at Eagle Pas. The improved trails and
accessibility to a cabin will allow for a more diverse clientele.
ADJOURNMENT
2:44 pm
M/S Morgan/Stokes THAT:
The meeting be adjourned.
CARRIED