Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Tourism Region Announces Partnership with Spinal Cord Injury BC

VANCOUVER – The Vancouver, Coast & Mountains tourism region, managed by Destination British Columbia, and Spinal Cord Injury BC are pleased to announce their partnership to support the long-term growth of accessible tourism experiences in the region. This new agreement will see the two organizations working collaboratively to enhance and promote accessible tourism products and services, helping to address the needs of visitors who identify as having a disability.

Work will soon begin to conduct in-person assessments of a wide range of tourism businesses in the Vancouver, Coast and Mountains region. These valuable visits will help business operators understand what can improve access and inclusion. Participating businesses will also have their accessibility listings updated on the HelloBC.com consumer trip-planning website so visitors can easily search accessible accommodation, attractions, activities, and experiences.

This new partnership builds on the Accessible Tourism Strategic Framework & Action Plan implemented by Destination BC to support the development and improvement of accessible tourism products, services, and activities to ensure people of all abilities can participate in BC’s transformative experiences.

Quotes:

Jody Young, Manager, Vancouver, Coast & Mountains tourism region for Destination BC
“It is so exciting to announce this pivotal new partnership during both National AccessAbility week and Tourism Week. Our work with Spinal Cord Injury BC will help tourism businesses around the region assess their experience offerings to allow more visitors to enjoy them, creating a more inclusive visitor experience and more growth opportunities within the sector, and increasing our region’s reputation as a welcoming destination of choice.”

Chris McBride, Executive Director, Spinal Cord Injury BC
“We enthusiastically welcome this partnership with Destination BC to bring even more of the world to the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains tourism region by advancing accessible and inclusive tourism experiences. Accessible communities make for accessible tourism opportunities, and accessible tourism makes for stronger communities, which benefits us all.”

Vancouver, Coast & Mountains works collaboratively with partners throughout the region, to connect industry to various programs available through Destination BC. Managed under Destination BC, the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region expands outwards from Metro Vancouver along three main arteries: the Sunshine Coast, the Sea-to-Sky Corridor, as well as the Fraser Valley and Fraser Canyon, which are both anchored by the Fraser River. It connects to the Gold Rush Trail up the Fraser Canyon and to the Highway 3 Corridor through Hope and Manning Park.

Spinal Cord Injury BC is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people with spinal cord injuries and related disabilities, adjust, adapt, and thrive. Currently, they serve over 2,800 British Columbians and their families and friends, by providing answers, information and unique community experiences that change lives.

Media contacts:

Jody Young, Manager, Vancouver, Coast & Mountains
Phone: 604-953-6731
[email protected]

Allison Brierley, Communications Manager, Spinal Cord Injury BC
Phone: 604-326-1122
[email protected]

Nancy Harris, Regional Development Liaison, Spinal Cord Injury BC
Phone: 250-613-2270
[email protected]