Locals and visitors from around the world will have a variety of festivals, contests and shows to choose from in communities around B.C. over the coming year, with support from B.C.’s Tourism Events Program.

“Sports, music and festival fans will be inspired through the many events taking place all across the province during the upcoming year,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. “Not only do these events and festivals give people fun things to do close to home, they draw new visitors to B.C. and help support tourism economies in cities and towns all around the province.”

The latest round of the Tourism Events Program is providing nearly $3 million for 45 events taking place throughout the province between October 2019 and September 2020. The program supplements event marketing to encourage more people to travel to B.C. communities and increase awareness of what’s happening in the province.

The events in northern B.C. include:

• The 2019 World Junior A Hockey Challenge — a showcase of Canadian and international Junior A talent. In December 2019, Team Canada East and Team Canada West will compete for a gold medal against the Czech Republic, Russia and the United States in Dawson Creek. Funding: $70,000
• Coldsnap — Prince George’s flagship winter music festival. This nine-night live music festival has brought musicians to northern B.C. from around the world since 2007. Artists also perform free daily community outreach events at schools, recreation centres, local businesses and other smaller spaces around the downtown area. Funding: $12,000
• The 2020 World Women’s Curling Championship (WWCC) — the WWCC is hosted every second year in Canada. This will be the first World Curling Federation event hosted in Prince George. Funding: $213,000
• The 2020 Canadian Masters Badminton Championships — held in Prince George, this competition is for masters aged 30 to 80+, with competitors from every province and territory. Funding: $10,000

Applications for the Tourism Events Program are accepted twice a year. The current application window is open until Oct. 31, 2019, for events taking place between May 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021.

Interested groups can learn more here: http://ow.ly/zJBZ50wyMR3

Quick Facts:

• In 2018, the Government of British Columbia provided $2.3 million to support 45 events and festivals in B.C. communities through the Tourism Events Program. 
• Tourism is an economic driver for B.C. In 2017, the industry:
  • generated more than $18.4 billion in revenue.
  • contributed $9 billion in added value to the province’s gross domestic product – an increase of 6.7% over the previous year.
• More than 138,000 people work in B.C.’s tourism industry. 
• In 2018, B.C. welcomed 6.1 million international visitors, an increase of 6.4% from 2017.