The Indigenous tourism industry has risen to the many challenges faced this year. As we approach our Annual General Meeting via ZOOM on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 we reflect on how our connections to each other have been strengthened. Our theme this year is Pulling Together for Recovery. We’ve been inspired by the resilience of the Indigenous tourism businesses. We know it’s been a different year and, as we look toward recovery for the next tourism season, pulling together as one will be key.
9:50 am – 10:00 am: Registration / Signing in
10:00 am – 11:00 am: Welcome & Opening Remarks
Review of Documents:
2019/2020 Annual Report
Treasurer’s Report (Financial Statements as of March 31)
Minutes of 2019 AGM
Appointment of Auditors
Board of Directors Election Results
11:00 am – 11:30 am: Keynote: Consumer Behaviour Trends and Digital Shifts during and post COVID
ITBC is excited to have Andy Maclellan, President & CEO of VERB Interactive, as our Keynote Speaker. Andy will discuss how COVID has reshaped consumer behaviour, what trends have emerged digitally and what tourism businesses should be focusing on to adapt to today’s world.
Andy has been immersed in digital marketing for the tourism and hospitality industry. An award-winning agency, VERB is recognized as one of North America’s leading digital marketing consulting and web services agencies, specializing in delivering targeted solutions to tourism and hospitality companies around the world.
VERB has been acknowledged for their incredible work with Destination BC and also Indigenous Tourism BC. ITBC’s projects with VERB include both of our websites, corporate and consumer, as well as our IndigenousBC app and the upcoming Indigenous Tourism Business Roadmap tool launching in December 2020.
11:30 am – 11:35 am: Adjournment
Six Directors will be elected to our Board by ITBC’s Market-Ready and Export-Ready Stakeholders. ITBC’s new Board of Directors will be announced during our Annual General Meeting on
November 25, 2020.
Hu qakⱡik Janice Alpine a Ktunaxa. Early in my career I wanted to ensure I would make a difference on people’s outlook on life. I was a key individual in conducting many research surveys, policy development in education, housing and safety regulations that have assisted with the current agreements my nation has in place today.
Learn MoreJared Teneese is of Secwepemc and Ktunaxa ancestry. For the past four years, he has worked as a Business and Product Development Coordinator with the St. Eugene Mission Golf Resort and Casino in Cranbrook. Jared and the team at St. Eugene work with the Ktunaxa Nation Council and Elders' guidance to increase Indigenous programming at the resort hotel, a former residential school.
Learn MoreSharon Bond is the CEO of Kekuli Aboriginal Foods, Inc. and owner of Kekuli Cafe in West Kelowna. The successful Indigenous cafe won the Westbank Chamber of Commerce Award for Aboriginal Business of the Year, BC Achievement Award for businesses with more than ten employees, Entrepreneur of the Year Award from ANTCO (Kamloops, BC) in 2010, and the Food & Beverage award from ITBC in 2013.
Learn MoreLori Simcox has a BBA from Simon Fraser University and an MBA from Royal Roads University. She is a Certified Management Consultant and a member of Tr’ondek Hwech’in First Nation. Lori has led consulting projects for the federal government, and works as a senior project manager in several sectors of economic development for Tsleil-Waututh Nation in North Vancouver.
Learn MoreFrank Antoine is the co-founder of Moccasin Trails, a cultural tourism company based in Kamloops, BC. He worked at Quaaout Lodge & Spa at Talking Rock Golf Resort for more than a decade and was vital in the development and marketing of authentic Indigenous cultural tourism programs and projects in the Skwlax community.
Learn MoreTrevor Cootes was born and raised in Port Alberni and belongs to the ʔApwinisatḥʔ house, a descendant of the Dennis and Williams families. Trevor attended the Business Management and Hospitality Management program at Malaspina University/College (now Vancouver Island University)
Learn MoreI have always said I have the best job at Osoyoos Indian Band. I am the manager of the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre since 2005 - presently. Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre is owned and operated by the Osoyoos Indian Band. It is situated on the edge of the most endangered ecosystem in Canada. The mission of the Centre is to exhibit the Okanagan Desert and the culture of the Okanagan people, and to promote the conservation efforts for desert wildlife.
Learn MoreIf your business is a Market-Ready or Export-Ready ITBC Stakeholder you will be eligible to cast your vote.
Electronic voting is now open and closes on Friday, November 20, 2020 at 5pm. Voting is done electronically via SurveyMonkey. If you are a voting ITBC Stakeholder, you will receive an email from Paula Amos, Chief Marketing and Development Officer, ITBC with the subject “Your Invitation to Vote for the ITBC Board of Directors – 2020 Election”. This email will give the voting instructions and also how to cast your vote with SurveyMonkey.
If you have not received an invitation to vote or are unsure if your business is Market-Ready or Export-Ready, please email Samantha Rullin at [email protected].
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