As Tourism Week in Canada celebrations continue, resort communities throughout British Columbia are gearing up for some amazing events and tourism offerings this summer thanks to funding from the Province.

The Province’s Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) allocated $10.5 million to 14 resort communities for the 2015-16 fiscal year to boost tourism infrastructure and amenities. This funding helps communities diversify their tourism offerings and ensure visitors enjoy a world-class experience when they visit British Columbia. RMI communities include Whistler, Fernie, Kimberley, Golden, Harrison Hot Springs, Invermere, Osoyoos, Radium Hot Springs, Revelstoke, Rossland, Sun Peaks, Tofino, Ucluelet and Valemount.

Some RMI summer highlights include:

• Entertainment  and sports events in Whistler such as Tough Mudder, June 18-19, and the Whistler Children’s Festival, July 8-10.
• Events in downtown Fernie, such as summer socials and Sunday afternoon and Wednesday evening entertainment.
• Kimberley’s Bootleg Mountain Trail for excellent downhill mountain biking.
• The Highway 1 Corridor Enhancement in Golden which makes the community even more inviting to visitors.
• Events in Harrison Hot Springs including Sasquatch Days, June 25-26, with canoe races, traditional salmon barbecue, medicine walks, cultural boat tours and more. 
• Invermere has Thursday Beach Parties for family fun at Kinsmen Beach, movies in the mountains in July and August and Valley Appreciation Day for live music, a logging show and kids entertainment.
• The second phase of the Osoyoos’ Gyro Park waterfront development will open in September and has lots of space for family fun.
• Events in Radium Hot Springs including the ever popular Radium Days in June, with a pancake breakfast and car show.
• New public art, Blowin’ in the Wind, at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre Garden.
• The Summer Concert Series in Sun Peaks bringing acts such as the Sam Roberts Band and Alan Doyle and The Beautiful Gypsies.
• A first for Tofino, wheelchair access to one of its beaches - Mackenzie Beach (July completion).
• Ucluelet’s Pat Leslie Memorial boat launch which is expected to be up and running for summer boating fun.
• Valemount’s new Cranberry Marsh Trail Boardwalk which provides exceptional bird watching opportunities and views of the Robson Valley.

Since the RMI’s inception in 2006, over $98.1 million has been invested in tourism infrastructure and programs to support local and regional tourism economies in the 14 participating communities.

Quote:

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour –

“Whether it’s a Canada Day celebration in Whistler or a walk along the new Cranberry Marsh Trail and Boardwalk in Valemount, the range of tourism opportunities supported by the Province through Resort Municipality Initiative funding is as diverse as they are exciting. I hope British Columbians get out and explore some of the tourism offerings in the participating 14 resort communities this summer and see first-hand what people from around the world are coming to B.C. for.”

Quick Facts:

• In 2015, 4.9 million international visitors came to B.C. – a 7.9% increase compared to 2014.
• Tourism provides a job for roughly one out of every 15 people employed in B.C.
• RMI supports the Province’s tourism strategy - Gaining the Edge and the BC Jobs Plan.

Learn More:

To learn more about the RMI program, please visit: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=30A40BDA6D8346798E15C6050063F719

For British Columbia visitor information: http://www.hellobc.com/british-columbia/about-bc.aspx

BC Jobs Plan: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/bcjobsplan/