OSOYOOS TO GET WINNING EXPOSURE ON THE ICE!

Destination Osoyoos is ramping-up its ‘in-ice’ promotion of Osoyoos at curling championships this season – building on a marketing move that gained the community a huge amount of national visibility when it was first used at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Victoria last February. 

Jo Knight, Director of Tourism & Visitor Services, says this year Destination Osoyoos will be a sponsor at both the upcoming ‘Road to the Roar’ men’s and women’s championship in Prince George and the Scotties Tournament of Hearts women’s championship in Sault Ste. Marie.

DO became an ‘in-ice’ sponsor for the first time at the 2009 Tournament of Hearts, embedding the community’s logo – “Osoyoos: Canada’s Warmest Welcome” – right in the ice, visible to hundreds of thousands of curling fans from coast to coast. All week, as TV cameras showed each rock delivered down the ice by the curlers, they panned over the colourful Osoyoos logo.

“Our phones were ringing off the hook during and after the Scotties tournament, and the Town got a lot of positive reaction and inquiries, too,” Knight says. “We strongly believe that the curling market is a great one for our community, and they have an interest in Osoyoos products," she adds.

At the ‘Road to the Roar’ – the Nov. 10-14 championship that will determine the final men’s and women’s curling teams that can enter the Canadian Olympic trials in Edmonton in December – Destination Osoyoos has arranged for the in-ice logo, providing a lot of television exposure. At the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, next Jan. 30-Feb. 7, it is raising its sponsorship to the ‘Diamond’ level, providing much greater publicity. Knight says this will include the in-ice Osoyoos logo as well as visibility on the official tournament poster, newspaper ads, TV ads, and a full page in the official program.

“In our curling marketing this year we are tying in the fact that Osoyoos is a celebration community on the Winter Olympics Torch Relay route, and we are pointing people to our website, where they can enter to win a two-night stay in Osoyoos during the Torch Relay stopover,” Knight says.

OSOYOOS GETS ROLE IN BUILD-UP TO 2010 OLYMPICS 

From left, Jo Knight, Destination Osoyoos Director of Tourism & Visitor Experience, and ‘Quatchi’, one of the mascots for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler, welcome Chinese Olympic medal-winning speedskater Ye Qiaobo to the BC Visitor Centre @ Osoyoos earlier this month.

In a scene being filmed Sept. 4 for a Canadian Tourism Commission 2010 Olympics promotional video, Jo Knight, Destination Osoyoos Director of Tourism & Visitor Experience, leads a bike tour through Osoyoos orchards for Chinese Olympic medal-winning speedskater Ye Qiaobo (third from left), and two of her colleagues from China.

Osoyoos continues to figure in the lead-up to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, which will be underway in just five months. Not only will this South Okanagan resort town be a special celebration stop on the Olympic Torch Relay’s route, Osoyoos is also one of the settings in a series of films and videos that will promote the Games.

The Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) has hired a film crew to produce up to 15 six-minute videos featuring Torch Relay locations across Canada. Media and Olympic rights-holders will use the promotional videos in the weeks leading up to the Games.The film crew was on-location in the South Okanagan for three days in early September, shooting scenes at a winery in Kelowna, at Tickleberry’s ice-cream and chocolate shop in Okanagan Falls, at a golf course near Oliver, and at a number of locations around Osoyoos, including the BC Visitor Centre, Rattlesnake Canyon amusement park, a horseback trail-ride, area orchards and the local desert centres.

Producer Brian Schecter says the videos will show foreign Olympic athletes enjoying the Canadian Torch Relay route in a summer setting. The Osoyoos scenes feature Ye Qiaobo, of China, the winner of two silver medals in women’s speedskating at the 1992 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics – the first Chinese athlete ever to win a medal at a Winter Olympics.

Jo Knight, Destination Osoyoos Director of Tourism & Visitor Experience, starred along with Qiaobo in one of the CTC film scenes. Schacter’s crew filmed Knight, Qiaobo, and two of her friends from China taking a bike ride through apple and peach orchards on the north edge of Osoyoos. Knight gave kudos and thanks to Double O Bikes & Sports, of Osoyoos and Oliver, for providing the bicycles for the touring scene.

Knight notes that Destination Osoyoos worked closely with the CTC crew and the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association on local arrangements, much as DO does many times each year when hosting familiarization tours for tour companies aiming to increase their sales to people wanting to visit the South Okanagan. “In fact, we have hosted seven ‘FAM’ tours already this summer, for tour operators from as far away as China and Australia,” Knight says.

BOATING SAFETY GETS A BOOST AT DESTINATION OSOYOOS 

As part of its “Osoyoos – Canada’s Warmest ‘and Safest’ Welcome” program with St. John Ambulance, Destination helped people obtain their required Pleasure Craft Operator Cards this summer.

As a natural extension of its “Osoyoos – Canada’s Warmest ‘and Safest’ Welcome” initiative, launched in late 2008 with St. John Ambulance, Destination Osoyoos did its part this summer to further the cause of boat safety.

With all boat drivers in Canada required to have a Pleasure Craft Operator Card after Sept. 15, Destination Osoyoos worked with St. John Ambulance to offer three sessions for people to write the exam and obtain the card. On July 29, Aug. 12 and Aug. 26 the DO boardroom in the BC Visitor Centre @ Osoyoos was turned into an exam-writing centre for four hours, with St. John Ambulance staff attending to administer the exams.  Jo Knight, DO’s Director of Tourism & Visitor Services, says those who took advantage of the service really appreciated being able to take the exam locally.

From now on, boat drivers failing to carry a Pleasure Craft Operator Card when driving any type of motorboat in Canada, including risk a fine of $250. By September 15, 2009, all boaters regardless of age will have to carry proof of competency to operate any type of motorboat in Canada, including jet-skis or Seadoo personal watercraft. Once a person gets the card, it is valid for life.

On a related note, Knight says Destination Osoyoos has been “very busy” in recent months offering St. John Ambulance CPR and First Aid courses, as well as BC WorldHost courses which provide training for employees and managers of tourism-related businesses. She says these training programs will continue through the fall and winter, and those interested should call 250-495-5070 or check the website at www.destinationosoyoos.com.

RESORT STATUS FUNDS SUCCESSFUL BOAT TRAILER PARKING PROJECT 

Osoyoos’ busy boat-trailer parking lot helped to keep the trailers off the town’s streets this summer.

Osoyoos streets were much less cluttered with long boat trailers this summer thanks to a large new trailer parking lot on the east side of town, funded out of Osoyoos’ share of the provincial Resort Municipality Initiative. At the end of June the Town of Osoyoos leased a large property between Main Street (Highway 3) and Harbour Key Drive, and the new facility was used by many visitors using their boats on Osoyoos Lake.

Users haven’t been charged for leaving their trailers in the parking area, and the fenced lot was locked up every night from 11 p.m.-7 a.m. At the same time, local bylaw enforcement officers were more vigilant this year about ticketing boat trailers parked illegally on town streets.

VISITOR CENTRE GETS NEW LOOK INSIDE & OUT 

The BC Visitor Centre @ Osoyoos is sporting a large new sign, letting everyone know it has lots of information about “Super Natural British Columbia”.

A new display inside the Visitor Centre provides information about the NK’MIP Desert Cultural Centre and other facilities at the NK’MIP Resort on the east side of Osoyoos.

Regulars stopping by the British Columbia Visitor Centre @ Osoyoos will notice a couple of new-look features both inside and out.  The outside of the building now sports a large new Visitor Centre sign, complete with the “i” symbol for “information” and the provincial tourism tag-line ‘Super Natural British Columbia’.

Inside the Centre, construction of a new display area promoting the NK’MIP Desert Cultural Centre is nearing completion. The area features a representation of a rock outcropping, a replica of the Cultural Centre’s ‘Unity Rider’ metal sculpture, by artist Smoker Marchand, and a high-quality continuous-play video showing features of the NK’MIP Resort facilities. The Visitor Centre now sells tickets for admission to the NK’MIP Cultural Centre.

OSOYOOS HOSTS PROVINCIAL MUSEUMS CONFERENCE

As further evidence that Osoyoos is increasingly becoming a conference destination for small- to medium-sized businesses and organizations, the British Columbia Museums Association will hold its annual provincial conference and workshop in this South Okanagan town Oct. 15-17. 

The conference, expected to attract 250 participants, will be co-hosted by the Osoyoos Museum and the South Okanagan Network of Museums, Art Galleries & Historic Sites. Main sessions will be held at the Sonora Community Centre and workshops will be held at a variety of local venues, including the Museum and the NK’MIP Desert Cultural Centre. Besides regular conference highlights including a guest speaker luncheon and an evening awards banquet, the conference will feature up to 25 half-day in-depth workshops on the best practices for leaders and staff of museums and galleries. Topics will include exhibit design, archives in small museums, research practices, cultural tourism, and collection care. The conference will also include tours to sights around Osoyoos and region.

Destination Osoyoos Board Chair Derek Noske says the conference is a good fit for Osoyoos. “With more and more conference space coming onstream at our local hotels and resorts, Osoyoos is more able than ever to host conferences and business meetings for 500 or 600 people,” Noske says. “We’re working hard to publicize Osoyoos as a great destination for these conferences, and we’re very pleased to see the provincial museum association here next month.”

THE BOUNTY OF OSOYOOS’ ORCHARDS! 

 
While harvest has been underway in Osoyoos orchards for many weeks – starting in July with apricots and moving through to cherries, peaches, pears and plums – the apple harvest is really only getting underway now for a number of the varieties. Many trees, like this one on the north side of town, are bursting with fruit this season!

 
MAJOR FORUM WILL OPEN NEW NK’MIP CONFERENCE CENTRE

A major national-level First Nations economic development forum will be the first event held in the NK’MIP Conference Centre when the new facility throws open its doors in October. The Centre, located in the new Phase 2 part of the Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa on the east side of Osoyoos, has a capacity of 350 in its conference area.

The forum – ‘Building a Stronger Canada Through First Nations Economies’ – will be held on Oct. 22. Speakers will include Shawn Atleo (newly elected Assembly of First Nations National Chief), Dr. Stephen Cornell (co-founder of the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development), David Hallman (Director-General of Indian & Northern Affairs Canada), Clarence Louie (Chief of the Osoyoos Indian Band), and Tewanee Joseph (Executive Director of Four Host Nations). Chief Louie is also Chair of the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board.

The day-long program will include a ribbon-cutting to officially open the NK’MIP Conference Centre, a luncheon, the four-hour Economic Development Forum, a wine-and-cheese reception, and a celebration banquet dinner featuring entertainment by ‘Bitterly Divine’, of the Squamish Nation. For information about the Forum, or to register, contact Sammy Jo Louie, Tel: 250-498-3444 ext.111; Email: sjlouie@oib.ca; or see www.oib.ca or www.nkmip.com.

TOURISM & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TRENDS

• On Aug. 17, Tourism, Culture & the Arts Minister Kevin Krueger announced that in April 2010 the BC government will bring Tourism BC into his Ministry, to cut administrative costs and improve co-ordination of the province’s marketing initiatives. A news release said the move will result in a new program under the leadership of the Ministry with a renewed focus on marketing the regions of British Columbia. Members of the provincial Council of Tourism Associations (COTA) say they’re concerned, and hope the Ministry allows for industry-led, autonomous leadership of the new marketing structure, and formula funding which allows for long-term strategic planning. COTA says its members are committed to working with the government to capitalize on “the vast post-2010 marketing opportunities” for BC tourism. Tourism generated $13.8 billion in the province in 2008, providing more than 120,000 direct and 170,000 indirect jobs.

• The Second Annual Okanagan Classic Bass-Fishing Tournament – billed by the organizing group BC Bassmasters as a “fun, safe and professionally run” event – will be held on the Canadian side of Osoyoos Lake on Sept. 12, with the Osoyoos Holiday Inn dock as its base. Participants need to be at the Holiday Inn boat launch by 6 a.m. to register. Competitors do not have to use the Holiday Inn as their boat launch, as long as they are there with their boats for registration. The entry fee is $100 per team with an optional $20 pot for Big Fish No. 1 and Big Fish No. 2. This is an immediate weigh-and-release event, with a five-bass limit (the biggest five bass during the day). For more information, contact Tournament Director Shawn Smith at 604-823-0025.

• In 2007, BC’s film, television and video production business, while still behind that of Ontario and Quebec, showed that it was gaining an increasing share of the market compared to the two leading provinces. Of the total operating revenues in Canada in 2007 of $3.5 billion, producers headquartered in Ontario earned 53 per cent (approximately $1.8 billion), those in Quebec earned 22 per cent (estimated at $770 million), and those in BC earned 18 per cent ($631 million).  Alberta was as just 3 per cent. BC fared better in terms of its positive profit margin in 2007 (1%), compared to the nation as a whole, which reported a slight loss (a -0.4% margin of profit).

• The Capital Regional District Board in Victoria announced in July it has adopted a 2009-11 Strategic Plan which emphasizes regional sustainability and focuses on five strategic priorities: climate action, environmental protection, housing, regional transportation, and waste management. The Regional District will use a new approach to decision-making that makes sustainability a core value in order to create a workable future for the region’s communities. The local government fees that the transformation of its Regional Growth Strategy into a new ‘Regional Sustainability Strategy’ will ensure progress. Board Chair Geoff Young says, “This new Strategic Plan represents another tangible step toward sustainability in the Region ... (it) will help create liveable, economically feasible communities that demonstrate exemplary environmental stewardship.”

• On Sept. 17-20, the 320-site Osoyoos lakeside NK’MIP RV Park – one of the finest in the province – will host RVwest Magazine’s fifth annual RV West Rally. The event will feature seminars, great meals, and a number of excursions, including two winery tours, a native cultural tour, and visits to the miniature Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad and to Summerland’s Kettle Valley Steam Railway. NK’MIP RV Park will host a number of other RV rallies through the fall, and the annual influx of Snowbirds from the Prairies will begin in October. The Park has a wide range of amenities including an indoor pool, large clubhouse, wireless internet, and cable-TV hookups.

• Room revenues in BC rose 1.2% in April, ending a four-month-long downturn. BC Stats reports that the increase was largely due to a recovery in Mainland/Southwest (+2.1%), where revenues rose for the first time since October. Thompson/Okanagan (+1.1%) made a comeback after a weak performance in March, and Kootenay (+2.7%), Nechako (+3.7%) and Northeast (+8.1%) also posted gains. However, revenues fell in North Coast (–4.7%), Vancouver Island/Coast (–2.1%), and Cariboo (–1.8%), where they were down for a sixth consecutive month.