Tourism

Melanie Mark, MLA elect for Vancouver-Mt Pleasant, speaks with media after becoming the first First Nations woman to serve in the legislature as she looks up at family and friends during a swearing in ceremony at legislature on Wednesday, February 17, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

MARK: B.C.’s tourism industry paddles out of the pandemic storm, ready to welcome visitors

‘The recovery of the tourism industry is bringing a new challenge for operators in B.C.’

  • May 27, 2022

 

Eldo Enns rides his penny farthing bicycle in Dawson City, Yukon, on Friday June 19, 2009. Yukon’s tourism industry is abuzz with anticipation as Canada’s northernmost border opens June 1 for the first time since the pandemic began, says the executive director of the Klondike Visitors Association in Dawson City.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canada’s most northern border to reopen June 1, Yukon prepares for return of tourism

Americans typically make up most of the territory’s tourists

 

Project rendering of the building at the planned summit of the Cascade Skyline gondola project proposed for a location east of Chilliwack. (Submitted)

Gondola project near Chilliwack gains ‘environmental warrior’ to guide planning

Arthur DeJong, former mountain planner at Whistler Blackcomb, is joining Cascade Skyline team

 

The welcome procession for the 2019 Sasquatch Days heads down the Harrison Hot Springs waterfront. The event makes its triumphant return in 2022 after COVID-19 led to the cancellation of the celebration twice. (File Photo)

Sasquatch Days returns to Harrison in June

Sts’ailes First Nation has hosted event since 1938

The welcome procession for the 2019 Sasquatch Days heads down the Harrison Hot Springs waterfront. The event makes its triumphant return in 2022 after COVID-19 led to the cancellation of the celebration twice. (File Photo)
Citizen scientists in the Gulf Islands are worried humpback whales are being stressed by too much time with whale watching vessels. (Black Press Media file photo)

Citizen science whale observers worry humpbacks being harassed

One mother whale and her calf followed for upwards of 5 hours a day recently, says volunteer group

Citizen scientists in the Gulf Islands are worried humpback whales are being stressed by too much time with whale watching vessels. (Black Press Media file photo)
People pop into the Hope, Cascades & Canyon Visitor Centre by the thousands through the busy tourism season. Now, they will have better access to bathroom facilities. (Emelie Peacock/Hope Standard file)

Three new toilets rolling in for Hope’s tourism centre

Washrooms will be wheelchair accessible and will require a key for access

People pop into the Hope, Cascades & Canyon Visitor Centre by the thousands through the busy tourism season. Now, they will have better access to bathroom facilities. (Emelie Peacock/Hope Standard file)
Guide Eli Schellenberg, in red, leads climbers down from the summit of the Mt. Norquay Via Ferrata near Banff, Alta., Thursday, June 20, 2019. Even as gas prices hit record highs, Canadians are fanning out across the country for fresh travel experiences after two years of bottled-up demand. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Canadians hold their noses at gas prices as they hit the road, skies once again

Some tourism operators expected to double down on domestic markets

Guide Eli Schellenberg, in red, leads climbers down from the summit of the Mt. Norquay Via Ferrata near Banff, Alta., Thursday, June 20, 2019. Even as gas prices hit record highs, Canadians are fanning out across the country for fresh travel experiences after two years of bottled-up demand. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Looking out over the Fraser Valley from Chipmunk Ridge from the proposed Bridal Veil Mountain Resort. (BVMR)

Proponents of Chilliwack’s ambitious ski resort project forge ahead

Bridal Veil Mountain Resort officials attend ski resort conference in France

Looking out over the Fraser Valley from Chipmunk Ridge from the proposed Bridal Veil Mountain Resort. (BVMR)
Remi Vande Weghe and his dog Maya were setting out for Dog Creek on April 30, 2022 from Williams Lake, as part of a tour through western Canada back home to Quebec. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Bicycle tourist rides through B.C. with his dog en route back to Quebec

Remy Vande Weghe is taking his dog Maya for a very long ride

Remi Vande Weghe and his dog Maya were setting out for Dog Creek on April 30, 2022 from Williams Lake, as part of a tour through western Canada back home to Quebec. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson, president of Prairie Sky Gondola, is pictured at the location for a proposed urban gondola in Edmonton on Friday, April 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Cities in Western Canada consider gondolas as part of transit, tourism plans

Projects a way to move people across waterways or get tourists up mountainsides

Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson, president of Prairie Sky Gondola, is pictured at the location for a proposed urban gondola in Edmonton on Friday, April 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
The city of Penticton didn’t renew the lease of the Peach to Diana Stirling and instead gave it to a company out of Alberta. (The Peach photo)

The Peach is no more: Penticton awards lease of the iconic stand to Alberta company

Penticton’s Diana Stirling said she is heartbroken by the news

The city of Penticton didn’t renew the lease of the Peach to Diana Stirling and instead gave it to a company out of Alberta. (The Peach photo)
Jonny Harris, host of CBC’s Still Standing, was in Hope in the summer of 2021 to shoot an episode of the show’s seventh season. An online CBC contest to determine B.C.’s best small town didn’t go nearly as well for Hope, which was quickly eliminated in a round-one battle with Pemberton. (Jonny Harris/Facebook)

Hope eliminated from CBC contest to pick B.C.’s best small town

Hope bowed out in a first-round battle versus Pemberton. Agassiz and Cultus Lake were also bumped

Jonny Harris, host of CBC’s Still Standing, was in Hope in the summer of 2021 to shoot an episode of the show’s seventh season. An online CBC contest to determine B.C.’s best small town didn’t go nearly as well for Hope, which was quickly eliminated in a round-one battle with Pemberton. (Jonny Harris/Facebook)
Vivek Sharma, CEO of Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. (TIABC/YouTube)

CEO under fire for telling women at B.C. conference to ‘clean some rooms and do some dishes’

Vivek Sharma, CEO of Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, made the comments at an industry conference on March 9

Vivek Sharma, CEO of Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. (TIABC/YouTube)
The Hope Station House came perilously close to demolition in 2019, but with funding committed from the District of Hope, the building will get a new lease on life. (Photo/ Adam Louis)

District of Hope commits $450,000 to Hope Station House

The project hinged on funding from the District, and otherwise would have died on the vine

The Hope Station House came perilously close to demolition in 2019, but with funding committed from the District of Hope, the building will get a new lease on life. (Photo/ Adam Louis)
B.C. hopes to attract marquee events and conferences to boost the tourism economy. (File photo)

B.C. announces further supports to revitalize tourism economy

Funding aimed at attracting events, conferences and training workers

B.C. hopes to attract marquee events and conferences to boost the tourism economy. (File photo)
Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance announced the Fraser River Discovery Centre will receive $150,000 from the federal Tourism Relief Fund on March 10, 2022. (Cole Schisler/Black Press)

VIDEO: Federal tourism relief fund begins rolling out to B.C. operators

The Fraser River Discovery Centre was the first B.C. organization to receive funding

Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance announced the Fraser River Discovery Centre will receive $150,000 from the federal Tourism Relief Fund on March 10, 2022. (Cole Schisler/Black Press)
Wood carvings in the downtown Hope area are a draw for locals and tourists alike, but it’s a lot of work to keep them in good shape. (Eric J. Welsh/ Hope Standard)

Hope’s wood carving statues need TLC after tough winter weather

There are 86 wood carvings that Hope Communities in Bloom is in charge of looking after

Wood carvings in the downtown Hope area are a draw for locals and tourists alike, but it’s a lot of work to keep them in good shape. (Eric J. Welsh/ Hope Standard)
Ken and Shirley Mackinnon next to the famous Alexandra Lodge stove, which will need significant restoration to bring it back to its former cinnamon bun-baking glory. (Eric J. Welsh/ Hope Standard)

Alexandra Lodge stove an exciting relic from the past

The metal stove dates back to at least 1941, but may have been part of the original building in 1891

Ken and Shirley Mackinnon next to the famous Alexandra Lodge stove, which will need significant restoration to bring it back to its former cinnamon bun-baking glory. (Eric J. Welsh/ Hope Standard)
Left to right: Tourism Hope Cascades and Canyons executive director Shannon Jones joined by Visitor Centre counsellor Brian McKinney and operations manager Sarah Brown. Missing from photo is Tracey Paynter. (submitted photo)

Tourism Hope Cascades and Canyons celebrates provincial award nomination

The local group is a finalist for an award from the BC Tourism Industry and Hospitality Conference

Left to right: Tourism Hope Cascades and Canyons executive director Shannon Jones joined by Visitor Centre counsellor Brian McKinney and operations manager Sarah Brown. Missing from photo is Tracey Paynter. (submitted photo)
Work continues on the Alexandra Lodge, with an expanded plan and a GoFundMe to help finance it. (Shirley and Ken MacKinnon Facebook photo)

Alexandra Lodge owners start GoFundMe to pay for ambitious reno plan

Shirley and Ken MacKinnon have gained new appreciation for the building’s value to the area

Work continues on the Alexandra Lodge, with an expanded plan and a GoFundMe to help finance it. (Shirley and Ken MacKinnon Facebook photo)