As B.C.’s tourism industry gets set for summer, the Province’s tourism leaders are gathering at Sun Peaks Resort at the annual Tourism Industry Association of British Columbia (TIABC) Annual General Meeting and Summit, May 24-26.

Local community associations and employers met with the provincial government to discuss skilled labour and human-resource planning.

Capilano University will receive $50,000 to support training for workers affected by the Howe Sound Pulp and Paper Mill closure near Gibsons.

The first part of 2016 brings more good news for B.C. tourism. The latest international visitor numbers show that tourism visitation is up 16.8% during the first three months of 2016 with 121,306 more visitors to the province over the same period last year.

Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour Shirley Bond and Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone released the following statement regarding the 2016 rafting season in Golden:

To help mature workers in Port Alice and Campbell River get the training and support they need for future jobs, the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia will provide more than $300,000 to North Island College (NIC) to deliver the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW) program.

The Province remains committed to facilitating an agreement between Canadian Pacific (CP), the community of Golden and local rafting companies that would allow visitors to enjoy the 2016 rafting season.