Indigenous Tourism British Columbia Chair Brenda Baptiste Awarded Order of British Columbia

Coast Salish Territories / Vancouver, BC: On March 3, 2022, Indigenous Tourism British Columbia (ITBC) Chair Brenda Baptiste was awarded the Order of British Columbia (B.C.) for her dedication and commitment to the growth of Indigenous tourism in B.C. The Order of B.C. is the Province’s highest honour recognizing citizens who have served with the greatest distinction and excelled in any field of endeavour benefiting the people of B.C. and beyond.

Indigenous cultural tourism provides key economic opportunities for B.C.’s Indigenous communities and is an important path to reconciliation through the sharing and celebrating of authentic Indigenous cultures and experiences. This year, the Order of B.C. recognizes Brenda’s extraordinary and meaningful contributions to Indigenous tourism. Brenda’s vision for a strong Indigenous cultural presence includes a strong B.C. identity to showcase the rich cultural life of Indigenous peoples. This collaborative effort is being led by meaningful partnerships with the B.C. government and tourism industry partners across B.C. and Canada.

“This is the culmination of the vision and hard work of the ITBC Board, staff and partners, and I am humbled and honoured to receive this recognition on everyone’s behalf. I am so grateful for the incredible visionaries I have had the privilege of working with over the years; and celebrate the legacy that we have all created for generations of Indigenous people and the tourism industry as a whole in British Columbia. Thank you all for your dedication and commitment, and I am grateful to be a part of this team.” said Brenda Baptiste, Chair of ITBC.

Please join us in congratulating Brenda on this prestigious accomplishment!