The new COVID-19 vaccine requirement rules take effect on Monday, September 13th when British Columbians and visitors to BC will need proof of vaccination to access some events, services, and businesses.

People can get their BC Vaccine Card online at gov.bc.ca/vaccinecard. Once verified, a person will be able to save a digital copy to their mobile device or print a hard copy to present along with their government-issued photo identification.

People without access to a computer and printer can get their card by calling 1 833 838-2323 at the Get Vaccinated call centre and get their printed copy mailed to them or they can visit a Service BC Centre to get one.

The BC Vaccine Card will include a secure, individualized QR code and image showing either “vaccinated” or “partially vaccinated.” Businesses can either scan the QR code using a QR reader l or visually verify the person’s proof of vaccination. A BC Vaccine Card Verifier App will be released in the Google and Apple app stores closer to September 13 for businesses that choose to scan the QR code.

In areas where community transmission is increased significantly or where there are outbreaks, the requirements to be fully vaccinated to access these events and activities may be required earlier at the direction of a local medical health officer.

You do not have to check proof of vaccination at indoor organized events with less than 50 people, except adult sports.

Accommodation: Accommodations have not been identified as a setting where proof of vaccination is required. However, many properties have amenities or services that will require proof of vaccination to use. The BCHA has provided guidance for accommodators on setting a Proof of Vaccination policy.

Winery tastings/samplings: Wine Growers of BC confirmed with Provincial Health that if guests are seated and separate from the retail shop, proof of vaccination is required. However, if not seated and within the retail shop, proof of vaccination is not required.

Employees: Businesses should not request to see an employee’s proof of vaccination as part of the BC Vaccine Card program unless the employee is attending as a customer. Businesses or institutions may choose to adopt their own vaccination policies for their employees but are responsible for doing their own due diligence.

Proof of vaccination will also be required for people visiting from outside of BC using a provincially/territorially recognized official record alongside valid government photo ID.

For individuals visiting from outside of Canada, they will be required to show the record of vaccination they use to enter Canada and their passport.

Tickets can be issued to individuals, owners/operators of locations, and event organizers for violations of the PHO orders. Depending on the violation, individuals could be subject to a $230 or $575 violation ticket. Owners, operators, and event organizers could be subject to a $2300 violation ticket. Enforcement is at the discretion of enforcement officers, including police, liquor and cannabis inspectors, gambling investigators, and conservation officers.

Reporter: This is clearly putting additional pressure on those in restaurants. They're not often asked, unless they're serving alcohol, to ask for ID. They will be required to do something new. Will there be additional support given to those working in restaurants being asked to enforce this? Does that additional challenge, is that one of the factors for why food courts, coffee shops, fast food joints and cafeterias are now exempt from the proof of vaccination?

Horgan: I will say at the front end that the hospitality sector was enthusiastic about this. They want to make sure that they stay open, not just for the next month or two but for the rest of their business. They want to be able to plan.

When we announced we were reducing restrictions back in May, what I heard more than anything else is finally, we can plan. We know with some certainty what the future holds. Well, here we are three months later and the future is still bright. We have taken a side road or a tributary off in another direction. The goal is the same. The objectives are the same. Those who want to work together to keep our industry open, to keep social engagements as vibrant as possible, are getting behind that.

For those who declare that government is imposing this, we're doing so after extraordinary consultation with industry. It's uneven across the province, as is the immunization rate. We want to speak to those communities who have got low immunization rates, that the best way forward for you and your families and your communities is to follow the lead of other parts of the province that have very high immunization rates.

That's what we want to see come out of this. I really do say to those who are frustrated, the evidence is in. It's abundantly clear that the safest and most effective way for you to care for yourself and your family is to get vaccinated.

Henry: I will say that when we looked at the practicalities of how this would work and the riskiness of settings, there's a fundamental difference between most restaurants. Many of the restaurants, cafes, especially the licensed ones, ones with table service, are the ones that were under our food and liquor serving orders in the past. They're the ones that have been most differentially affected by this.

There's a number of reasons why we focused on those settings. It protects the business. It protects the workers. It makes sure that they have the resources in place and we're working with them to make sure those resources are there. Those are the same settings where, for example, you can require to take down the person's name and contact information before they sit down.

It is going to be an added stress. As the Premier was saying, this is something that we've come up with together. If you are concerned about it, if you're angry about it, do not take it out on that business. This is an order that they have to comply with. We're going to be supporting people to doing that in the most efficient way possible. For the vast majority of us, that means getting our vaccine card and having it ready when we go to a restaurant.

If you're somebody who chooses not to be immunized, then please support your local restaurant by doing takeout, by doing drive-through. Yes, we specifically did not put in places where people don't have any control where somebody is sitting down, they don't have people who are up there greeting people when they come in. Places like fast food restaurants, the risk is different, as well. The vast majority of people are in and out, take it and go. The seating is more limited and more spread out.

That doesn't mean we've given up all of the other measures that are in still in place. There are still seating safety plans that need to be in place in those settings as well, which means people wear masks, which means you keep your physical distance, you sit at tables that are distanced from each other. All of those things will still be in place.

Reporter: What will the obligations be for people who hold events like weddings or other community gatherings where they rent a banquet hall or community area? Are they responsible themselves, as event organizers, to download the app, to scan people's QR codes? What sort of tools will there be around enforcement, specifically in those cases, but more broadly if people aren't actually swiping the QR codes and aren't following the province's protocols here?

Henry: These organized events, they have had restrictions on them, as you know, various times over the last 18 months. There are still capacity restrictions and restrictions on things like dancing, on people remaining seated for these indoor events. We know that these types of events are ones where this virus can take hold and can spread rapidly.

This is something that we've been hearing, that many people are embracing this because so many people are immunized. They know that having people there who are not yet immunized is a risk for others. Especially if we think about weddings, for example, where you have older people, where you have elders, where you have people who may not mount as strong an immune response, it's another layer of protection for you and your family.

Yes, the onus will be on organizers to ensure that people who attended have the app, and they can have it on the paper -- you don't need, necessarily, to download the app to swipe it. There will be a requirement to check people's vaccination status for those events.

We are working out the practicalities with the different industries. For example, if you're somebody who goes to a gym regularly, you can, with permission, have that recorded so that you don't have to show your vaccine card every time you go to the gym for people who recognize, for people who go regularly to venues and places like that. All of that best practice will be working out with the different sectors over the next few weeks.

Reporter: Talking about enforcement, I'm wondering, you're saying for the next few weeks, how soon is the hammer going to come down on making sure that people are following this, that businesses are, that people are? There's been this long list of businesses that are saying that they're never going to follow this. How long is it going to be before that hammer really comes down?

Henry: We expect that, as of the 13th, that this will be in place. Yes, we've never put the hammer down, as you so eloquently put it. We will be working with businesses. We'll be working with people to support them. Yes, if people are making a disturbance, there is provisions for this to be enforced. If businesses are flaunting the rules and putting people at risk, then there's implications for that as well.

Reporter: I just want to be clear, make sure I've got this straight. Patrons of these listed businesses and activities will have to be vaccinated, according to the dates laid out today, but not the workers in these places. Am I correct?

Henry: This program does not apply to workers. Obviously, we think it's incredibly important and I know we've been working with many businesses. We've been doing immunization clinics in these high-risk businesses to make sure that the workers there are immunized. That is an employer-employee relationship. The vaccine card is about people who are participating, spectating, going to events and services.

We are still in Step 3 of the Restart Plan; the province has not moved ahead to Step 4 as previously planned. This is a reminder that the following provincial public orders are currently in effect:

You can find all public orders here.

Today, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) released updated advice from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) regarding an additional dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in some immunocompromised individuals following a 1- or 2-dose primary series. These recommendations are based on current scientific evidence and NACI's expert opinion.

Immunocompromised individuals have a weakened immune system due to disease or treatment. Evidence to date shows that some immunocompromised individuals have a lower immune response to COVID-19 vaccines compared to the general population.

Click here for more information released by the Government of Canada

Wednesday's at 11:00 AM

As travel restrictions are lifted and people start to travel again, Serge Corbeil and Timothy Liu of Air Canada will share information about the current state of the airline and what lies ahead in the near future.

They will touch on rebuilding routes, Air Canada's network, and ways the airline and tourism industry can work together to bring back visitors to British Columbia from near and far.

Director, Government Relations, Local and Provincial, Air Canada

With over 25 years of government relations and communications experience in the private and public sectors, Serge is currently Director, Government Relations, Local and Provincial at Air Canada.

Serge is a member of the Board of Directors of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.

Managing Director, Sales Planning & Effectiveness

Timothy Liu joined Air Canada in 2015 and currently holds the position of Managing Director, Sales Planning and Effectiveness. In this role, he leads the development of Air Canada’s sales strategies globally and is responsible for market planning, sales analytics, as well as overseeing sales program development, communication, training, tourism partnerships, and sales support.

Stay tuned here for updates on additional topics to the webinar series.

Walt Judas spoke with CTV's Alisa Thibault on September 7th to talk about the reopening of the border to foreign nationals and whether it gives a welcome boost for the tourism industry.

Judas noted there is now certainty for the industry moving forward, particularly for winter operators, major events and conferences.

Click here to view the full interview.

Walt Judas spoke with Global News on September 7th about the easing of travel rules for international tourists wanting to visit Canada, and what it means for the local tourist industry.

Click here to view the full interview.

As a member of the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses (120 stakeholders representing the tourism, hospitality, conventions and festival sectors), TIABC submitted a letter to seven BC NDP candidates, requesting support for further tourism relief and recovery measures post-election.

In the letter, TIABC reinforced the hardships of members who are facing a near certain financial crisis that will hit our industry especially hard this fall and winter. Travel restrictions and other measures has been the cause of 18 months of challenges as a sector and the next nine months remain uncertain.

Read a copy of the complete letter here.

With the election call in the height of the summer many of us were paying more attention to what was happening on the water, wrapping up summer plans and getting young ones ready for a return to school. Yet, here we are now just 11 days until the September 20 Federal election. While there have been some remarks about fishery issues since the election call, the position of candidates on public fishery issues will not be known or made clear unless questions are asked. While there are many issues competing for the attention of voters and candidates, do not let that stop you from asking BC fish and fishery questions during the remaining time leading up to the election and in follow up with the successful candidate. Raising awareness and understanding of the future of BC's fisheries, salmon, and fish is more important than ever.

As we've said many times before, the benefits to small communities and businesses from the activities and expenditures of over 300,000 individuals who purchase recreational fishing licenses each year is socially and economically vital to BC. Healthy, abundant salmon stocks and the fisheries they support are critical to these benefits. Elected officials need to recognize and support initiatives to maintain and, where necessary and possible, rebuild salmon populations and support sustainable access and opportunities.

The recent announcement of the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI) funding and high-level plans are encouraging but they need to be more than an election timed promise and a point of discussion. Comprehensive and strategic plans need development and implementation as soon as possible and regardless of which political party is elected to govern.

Predictable, reliable, and sustainable opportunities must be supported and allowed to proceed. Mark selective fisheries (MSF) and mass marking (MM) should both play an important role in conservation, abundance and access for all stakeholders.

Here are some key points and issues to pose to all candidates.

Understand that fishery resources are a common property resource, managed by the Federal Government at tax-payers expense for the benefit of all Canadians, and are willing to support the idea that all Canadians should be able to benefit from those resources in a meaningful way?

Make candidates understand that the public fishery is important to you and your community. Make sure candidates understand that fish and fisheries are important to the voters, communities, and the economy of BC.

Deadline October 2, 2021

The Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) is seeking nominations for its Board of Directors.

For the 2021-2023 term, TIABC is seeking a total of five (5) candidates:

• From the DMO category one (1) is required for a two-year term.

• From the Sector Association category sector two (2) are required for a two-year term.

• From the Business Membership category two (2) are required for a two-year term.

As per the bylaws, the Tourism Industry Association of BC requests that all nominations from members be received 45 days prior to the Annual General Meeting. All nominations for director positions therefore, must be received on or before October 2, 2021 by 5pm.

The TIABC Board Nomination form can be downloaded here.

The Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) advocates on behalf of the 19,300+ tourism

businesses and 161,000 employees that work in every community and region of our province for the interests of British Columbia’s $22 billion+ visitor economy (2019). As a not-for-profit tourism industry association, TIABC works collaboratively with its members – private sector tourism businesses, industry associations and destination marketing organizations – to ensure the best working environment for a competitive tourism industry.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Deborah Kulchiski (Manager, Special Projects, TIABC) at deborah@tiabc.ca

Fortis BC is rethinking energy with their customers and industry partners, helping to find ways to significantly reduce the province’s greenhouse gas emissions. With a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2030, they are innovating, diversifying and collaborating for a more sustainable future for all British Columbians. FortisBC’s path forward includes providing businesses and organizations with Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), a sustainable and affordable option to reduce their Greenhouse Gas emissions.

If your organization (all, or some sites) requires the equivalent of at least 2,000 GJ/year (555,000 kWh/yr) of energy (natural gas and/or renewable natural gas), and would be interested in enrolling in Fortis BC’s RNG program over the next 2 years, they would like to hear from you.

All individual responses will remain confidential and will be used for the purpose of determining when the supply of RNG will be sufficient to allow reopening of the program given the anticipated demand.

FortisBC will make public the date at which the program will be reopened for new enrollments at a later date.

Disability Employment Month highlights the significant role people with disabilities play in British Columbia’s workforce, while also promoting resources and tools employers can use to reduce barriers to inclusion and build better, more accessible workplaces.

Here is information about some exciting projects that other partners are working on to improve accessibility.

Government is working to include changes in the next British Columbia Building Code. These changes will aim to make new buildings more accessible for all people. In fall 2021, Government will seek public feedback regarding the BC Building Code’s accessibility requirements for new buildings. Information will also be provided on the BC Government building code public review website in the fall.

Disability Alliance BC has announced a Call for Proposals for projects that promote greater accessibility and inclusivity for people with disabilities in BC communities. Funding of $10,000 to $40,000 per project will be disbursed to a maximum of $450,000. Proposals are due by October 2nd, and funding for successful projects will be disbursed in early 2022.

The Workplace Accessibility Grant program provides direct supports to small business employers in British Columbia by providing direct financial assistance (up to $1,000) towards creating an inclusive work environment for persons with a disability. Please review the information on the Small Business BC website.

The Réseau de développement économique et d'employabilité (RDÉE Canada) and its members wish to initiate a study that will focus on the evolution of the Francophone and bilingual tourism offer in Canada almost 15 months after the beginning of the pandemic. The study will focus on tourism businesses located outside of Quebec that offer services to a Francophone clientele.

The results of the survey will allow RDÉE Canada to establish a general data report on the situation of tourism businesses after the COVID crisis in order to target their needs to better help them prepare to welcome visitors from the French-speaking markets of Quebec, Canada, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Eastern Europe.

Sunshine Coast Tourism (SCT) is pleased to announce the appointment of Annie Wise to the role of Executive Director. Annie recently took the helm having served the organization for eight years, most recently as Director of Marketing.

Former Executive Director Paul Kamon has taken on the newly established role of Tourism Recovery Specialist. Paul’s mission is to maximize the benefits and opportunities presented by federal and provincial recovery funding, developing a recovery framework that offsets the economic impacts of the pandemic, and sets the stage for a more robust, resilient, and representative sector on the Sunshine Coast.

Read more about Sunshine Coast Tourism here.

Despite the ongoing challenges our industry continues to face as a result of the impacts of COVID, TIABC is heartened to observe the strength, resiliency and innovative means taking place today. This Bulletin feature will share stories of how people, businesses and organizations, are doing things in an inspiring and way.

TRAXX Future Is Electrifying!

With new ground-breaking innovations becoming the frontier of our future economy, it is important that businessses continually evaluate how they do business.

TRAXX has taken the pandemic to look at how to move forward as we emerge from a trying time in history, and embraced the challenges faced by the travel industry.

On August 30th, in collaboration with MCI, TRAXX began a record setting voyage from Kamloops to Delta aboard a fully electric, zero emissions commuter coach, driving at high altitudes along the infamous Coquihalla Highway. The trip lasted just under four hours, marking a historic moment for TRAXX in utilizing a 'proof of concept' in the J4500 Charge as a flagship for the event.

Once the coach arrived at in Delta, the bus was still left with over 100KM in range left to go, indicating that although the demands of power on the highway were great, the electric coach was ready to take on the task.

The following day saw the TRAXX team, including CEO Matthew Cox, as well as select guests aboard the J4500 once again, only this time in the heart of Vancouver starting out at Jack Poole Plaza with three separate 1.5 hour tours around landmark locations in the Vancouver area. At days end, the J4500 Charge was found to only use between 6-9% battery life to power each tour - an impressive display of the ingenuity by the team at MCI.

While the infrastructure has room to grow to offer a broad application to fully electric group travel options like the coach, the voyage has taught TRAXX that alternative fuel and power sources are without a doubt, the way of our future.

Read more about the TRAXX journey from Kamloops to Delta here.

Due to the difficulties our industry has faced since early 2020, we have extended various payment options to members if required. Please contact Deborah to learn more about how we can assist you with your membership renewal, or if you are interested in becoming a member

We strongly encourage you to consider membership with TIABC to support our important advocacy efforts on behalf of the entire visitor economy.

As an industry that continues to face enormous challenges during COVID-19, every once in awhile it's important to share a laugh, a good story, a beautiful image or an interesting anecdote to provide moments of levity during this most difficult time.

Destination BC is launching Power Up! The application-based, digital mentorship program will provide 75 eligible BC-based, small and medium sized tourism businesses, sole proprietors, and non-profits across the province with free access to 1-1 digital audit and technical services designed to improve digital marketing activities and use of digital technology.

Businesses can choose one of the following service areas that they deem a priority for their business: digital strategy, SEO, website/booking engine/online store, email, social media audit and strategy, or digital advertising. The service costs will be directly covered through the program up to a maximum of $5,000 per participant and will include supporting educational resources for further learning and ongoing implementation in the future.

Destination BC expects this to be a very popular program. To ensure an equitable process, we are assisting DBC in the promotion of the program from September 7-17 to spread the word as widely as possible and give tourism businesses the opportunity to prepare their applications in advance.

The application intake will begin on September 20th. TIABC will endeavour to keep you informed of the application process.

Join GreenStep for this free webinar to learn how your tourism business, and the planet, can benefit from assessing your business’s sustainability performance.

Improve your knowledge on sustainability, gain tips on creating an action plan, long-term goal setting, and how to engage your customers and staff.

Dates: September 21 @1:30pm or October 5 @10am

Open to any tourism business globally, register for free here.

Have a business strategy or research project in mind? Mitacs' matching funds can help! Talent MATCH is hosting a free info session with Mitacs.

Date: Wednesday, September 22 at 1:00pm (PT).

Mitacs is bringing their Business Strategy Internship (BSI) program back for a second year! The BSI connects students from academic institutions with businesses and nonprofits to support innovation. With the guidance of an academic supervisor, these interns provide technical expertise on everything from operations to finance, to marketing, to intellectual property, and beyond to help businesses develop and implement their innovation roadmap—and Mitacs funding will support you to bring these students onboard!

Both the BSI and Accelerate programs will match an organization’s funding towards the project, up to $7,500, which covers a student’s stipend.

Click here for more information and to register for this free event.

The Destination BC Tourism Digital Academy is a free, eight-week digital marketing program for BC tourism businesses interested in building their knowledge and skills in digital marketing to an intermediate level.

Applications for the next two intakes (October 4 and October 11) are now open! Space is limited and past intakes filled up quickly. Don’t miss this free opportunity to take your marketing skills to the next level!

Learn more here.

UBCM’s Executive and staff look forward to welcoming delegates from across the province to the 2021 UBCM Convention. This year’s event is just over a month away, and over the coming weeks they will be detailing the workshops, keynotes and policy discussions that will feature at this year’s meeting.

The plenary will feature the Honourable Murray Sinclair, Chief Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. There will also be an array of thought-provoking workshops that will include sessions on forest policy modernization, cybersecurity and housing affordability, and the need to rethink emergency preparedness, wildfire risk and climate action in light of extreme heat events.

Date: September 14 - 17.

Click here for conference information and to register.

With this year's theme "Rural, Resilient & Looking Forward", the provincial conference will be held in Revelstoke, BC.

This is an in-person event.

Dates: September 20 - 22.

Click here for more information and to register.

Elections will take place electronically during the period of August 23rd to September 7th. The results of this election will be announced at the Association’s Annual General Meeting.

Dates: October 13th, 2021 (to be held virtually).

Click here for more information and the official Notice of Nominations.

Boating BC is pleased to announce they will be hosting their annual Boating BC Conference. This year’s theme will be “New Horizons – Building Momentum/Building Our Industry”. Watch for more details to come.

Dates: November 23rd and 24th

Under the theme, Forging Canada’s Tourism Future, this year's Congress will have an amazing line-up of valued experts, innovative panels, enriching content and robust networking opportunities you can only get in person.

Thinking of registering in person? You’ll enjoy additional sessions that are only available live.

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION EXTENDED: TIAC Members who register by September 10th - SAVE $100 on in-person registration.

Dates: November 30th and December 1st.

In-person registration includes:

Click here to register and to view the programming being offered at this year’s Congress.

Wednesday, November 17th 2021

Details to the AGM including official Notice of AGM and registration will soon follow.

Dialogue and recommendations will be captured from this annual conference of thought leaders to produce the IMPACT Conference Proceedings Paper in 2022.

As conference organizers, they believe through conversation, inspiration and collaboration they can position Canada as a global leader in sustainability and innovation in tourism and drive a competitive advantage for the future. This is the legacy they hope to create from the IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism Conference.

DATE: January 23 - 26, 2022, Victoria Conference Centre

Details to the Conference including registration will be provided late in August, 2021.

Prince George

TIABC and the BC Hotel Association are excited to announce the 2nd annual Tourism & Hospitality Conference will be taking place in Prince George next spring.

Details to the conference including registration, accommodation and speaker highlights will be updated in Fall, 2021 on the conference website here.