Community Development Initiatives for 2012
November 2011 marked the second year of a dedicated Community Development department for TOTA. It continues to be my pleasure to work with many emerging communities and assist with tourism initiatives. As the Community Development Specialist for TOTA, it is my role to develop and implement the Community Development Strategy for the Thompson Okanagan Region.
Key objectives are to:
- Enhance working partnerships at the local level
- Strengthen the capacity of local tourism organizations
- Increase competitiveness of communities as destinations
TOTA's key role is to ensure communities are aware of Tourism BC and TOTA programs and support participation in these programs. In addition to Tourism BC programs, TOTA is engaged in several initiatives that support communities including:
- Development of TOTA's new industry website to expand to a comprehensive online resource centre
- Facilitation of the first annual Community Program Input workshop - April 11, 2012
- Third-annual Community Forum
- Annual needs analysis that reviews your current situation and aligns your community with Ministry programs and TOTA services
- Expanding the existing inventory of Unique Features by each community (to include significant natural and built features, and unique cultural elements that collectively creates a profile for market positioning)
- Expanding mapping resources to supply communities with regional map artwork for use in visitor guides, brochures, websites, visitor centres and the development of a TOTA regional map (large format) for Visitor Centres. The artwork from this project will also be utilized to develop future community mapping initiatives including print, web and iPhone applications.
- Developing professional development resources
- Developing Resource Materials (Preparing for Promotion, Community Branding, Display Booth Equipment, and a series on the development of websites, maps, visitor guides, image bank, presentation folders, and press kits).
- Image bank cooperative for high definition video and still imagery
- Digital display screens for Visitor Centres in partnership with Resort TV
Contact: Simone Carlysle-Smith, Community Development Specialist