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Vancouver, Coast & Mountains
June 2026 Newsletter
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The Abbotsford Tulip Festival at Lakeland Flowers. (Krista Dalrymple)
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VCM at Rendez-vous Canada
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The Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Tourism Region (VCM) joined Team BC at Rendez-vous Canada (RVC), Destination Canada’s annual travel trade marketplace.
Held in Toronto, this year’s event welcomed 518 tour operators from 24 international markets, the highest participation to date, highlighting strong global interest in Canada.
Over three days, more than 80 one-on-one appointments were held between the region and tour operators from BC’s key markets, along with many networking opportunities and a full brand showcase of the Iconics across the BC section of the marketplace.
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Heather McGillivray (VCM Travel Trade & Travel Media Rep) with Team BC at RVC. (Monica Healy Photography)
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Three Host Nations Release Welcome Video
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As Vancouver prepares to host FIFA World Cup 2026™, the Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation, and Tsleil-Waututh Nation released a video this week, welcoming visitors to their home.
In the video, the three Host Nations invite travellers to experience the lands with respect and to walk together into a shared future.
The tournament coincides with National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, a time of celebration across British Columbia, with community events, cultural gatherings, and opportunities to connect with Indigenous experiences.
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A shared welcome from Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation, and Tsleil-Waututh Nation.
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Destination BC’s online resource supports tourism businesses during FIFA World Cup 2026™.
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DBC Industry Resource Supports Visitor Readiness for FIFA World Cup 2026™
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Destination BC has released a new industry resource to help British Columbia’s tourism sector prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
Designed for operators, frontline staff, and visitor services teams, the resource brings together essential information to support visitor questions during the tournament period.
It includes visitor guidance, details on the FIFA Fan Festival™ Vancouver, celebrations across the province, and a detailed FAQ section.
Links to official partner sources are included as details continue to evolve.
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FIFA World Cup 2026 Media Kit Supports Global Storytelling
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Destination BC’s Travel Media team has developed a FIFA World Cup 2026™ media kit to support international media visiting during the tournament.
The kit features story ideas, travel inspiration, and planning information, along with media-ready assets that highlight the breadth of experiences available across British Columbia.
Designed to support compelling and accurate storytelling, the resource helps position BC as a dynamic and diverse destination for visitors during, and beyond, the tournament period.
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Media kit highlights BC experiences for
FIFA World Cup 2026™ coverage.
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A Tourism Showcase will be hosted at BC Business House on June 12.
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BC Business House to Spotlight Tourism
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Destination BC will participate in the Province’s BC Business House during FIFA World Cup 2026™, a platform to advance trade, attract investment, and showcase BC’s strengths, including tourism.
A dedicated Tourism Showcase on June 12, ahead of Vancouver’s first match, will highlight the sector’s role as a key economic driver and promote BC’s globally competitive experiences and destinations.
A featured element will be the brand new Tourism Investment Opportunities Lookbook, showcasing opportunities across the province.
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Capilano Suspension Bridge Launches Canyon Kick-Off
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Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is celebrating FIFA World Cup 2026™ with Canyon Kick-Off, officially launching on June 6.
The celebration features country flags across the canyon, a large soccer installation, and interactive, family-friendly experiences alongside the Park’s signature attractions.
The VCM team attended the launch event this week and experienced the activation firsthand.
Canyon Kick-Off runs until July 19.
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VCM’s Ludmila Bloom and Josie Heisig with Doug McCandless, Director of Sales, Capilano Group of Companies.
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The Shipyards in North Vancouver will be home to Canada Soccer House. (Vancouver’s North Shore Tourism Association)
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Canada Soccer House Brings Tournament Energy to North Vancouver
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Canada Soccer House at The Shipyards in North Vancouver will serve as a central gathering place during the tournament, bringing together soccer fans, residents, and visitors.
Located on Vancouver’s North Shore waterfront, the activation will feature programming, entertainment, food, and interactive experiences throughout the tournament period to celebrate the beautiful game.
Beyond the festivities, visitors are encouraged to visit the surrounding area, including local shops, restaurants, breweries, and attractions that showcase the North Shore’s distinct and lively character.
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Share Your Festivals and Events on SuperNaturalBC.com
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Destination BC is inviting communities, tourism partners, and event organizers to add FIFA World Cup 2026™–related events, celebrations, and watch parties to the Festivals and Events page.
Listings help create a province-wide view of what’s happening during the tournament. This makes it easier for visitors and residents to find experiences across British Columbia, from community celebrations to local viewing events.
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Event listings showcase FIFA World Cup 2026™ celebrations across British Columbia.
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Federal Funding for Community Festivals and Events
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The Government of Canada’s Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage – Festivals program supports local festivals that celebrate arts, culture, and heritage.
Funding of up to $200K can help offset eligible planning and event costs while strengthening community engagement and local storytelling.
Next application deadline: October 15 (for festivals taking place in Summer 2027).
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Federal funding supports community festivals and cultural events across the country.
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New provincial strategy guides the future of outdoor recreation in British Columbia.
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Look West: BC’s Outdoor Recreation Strategy
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The Government of British Columbia has released Look West: B.C.’s Outdoor Recreation Strategy, a coordinated approach to strengthening a resilient and thriving outdoor recreation sector.
Outdoor recreation is a significant contributor to the provincial economy, with $4.8 billion in direct economic contributions in 2023 and supporting more than 1,400 businesses across BC.
This work provides insight into why people participate, which activities are most popular, and how outdoor recreation supports communities and local economies, while also identifying other considerations such as cost, accessibility, and proximity.
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New “Love it. Better.” Videos Highlight Responsible Travel in BC
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A new series of videos has been released as part of the Don’t Love it to Death destination education campaign.
Under the banner “Love it. Better.”, the videos feature four BC residents—including athletes, artists, and advocates—who share perspectives on caring for the places they live, work, and play.
The series reflects growing awareness of the impacts of visitation on communities, wildlife, and natural environments, while highlighting approaches that support respectful, low-impact travel.
Together, these stories encourage visitors and residents to explore British Columbia with intention and shared responsibility.
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Please feel free to share the new “Love it. Better.” videos
on your channels.
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Sunshine Coast Tourism hosted the “Woven by Water” post-tour, which included an experience with Talaysay Tours.
(Sunshine Coast Tourism)
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Regional Partners Shine Thanks to TMAC 2026 in Richmond
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Tourism Richmond hosted the 2026 Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC) Conference and Media Marketplace last month, welcoming more than 200 travel media and industry professionals from across the country.
Held over four days, the conference featured a program designed to showcase Richmond’s diverse culinary, cultural, sporting, and community experiences.
In addition to the main program, many communities across the VCM region hosted a series of pre- and post-conference media tours. These immersive itineraries highlighted local experiences and destinations, with support from Indigenous Tourism BC helping to enrich many of the offerings.
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Soft Launch: Surrey’s Spice Trail Web App Goes Live
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Discover Surrey has officially launched the beta version of its new Spice Trail web app, offering visitors a self-guided culinary journey through one of Canada’s most culturally diverse food scenes.
Designed as a “choose your own adventure,” the interactive experience invites users to learn about Surrey’s globally inspired restaurants, signature dishes, and restaurateur stories at their own pace.
The current release marks a soft launch phase, with additional interactive features, enhanced storytelling, and a full press launch anticipated in October.
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Discover Surrey’s Spice Trail web app offers a self-guided culinary experience.
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Resources include seasonal graphics which can be downloaded and shared.
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Emergency Preparedness Resources for Tourism Operators
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Having clear, coordinated communication in place during emergencies is essential to supporting visitor safety and maintaining confidence.
The BC Tourism Emergency Management Committee offers a suite of resources for tourism partners including:
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Templates, checklists, and planning tools to support preparedness
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Guidance for real-time response during emergencies
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Links to trusted, up-to-date information sources
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Recommended mobile apps for frontline staff
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TIABC Seeks Industry Input
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The Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) is inviting members and industry partners to share feedback through a survey on leadership and sector priorities.
Your input will help inform TIABC’s future direction, strengthen its effectiveness as an advocate, and enhance value for members.
The survey is open until June 12. Results will be shared in the coming months.
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The survey takes approximately 12 minutes to complete.
The deadline is June 12.
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Whistler Conference Centre earns EIC sustainability certification. (Tourism Whistler/Joern Rohde)
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Whistler Conference Centre Achieves EIC Sustainability Certification
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The Whistler Conference Centre has achieved silver level certification to the Events Industry Council (EIC) Sustainable Event Standards, recognizing its commitment to environmental and social responsibility.
Managed by Tourism Whistler, the venue is the first in Whistler to receive this certification, which evaluates performance across areas including climate action, accessibility, supply chain management and social impact.
The certification follows an independent third-party audit and provides an internationally recognized framework for measuring and reporting sustainable event practices.
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New Guide Supports Hotel Decarbonization Efforts
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The Resort Municipality of Whistler is being recognized for its leadership in engaging local hotels on decarbonization and sharing lessons learned with other communities.
Building on three years of collaboration with hotel operators, Whistler supported the development of the Community Energy Association’s guide, Engaging the Hotel Industry on Decarbonization.
The guide is a useful resource for communities looking to convene industry partners and support emissions reduction efforts.
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Engaging the Hotel Industry on Decarbonization shares lessons from Whistler’s collaborative approach.
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BonAppify™ is available on web, App Store, and Google Play platforms with a free trial currently offered.
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BetterTable Introduces New Platform to Measure Food Waste and Carbon Impact
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Vancouver-based company BetterTable™ has launched BonAppify™, a web and mobile platform designed to help hospitality and foodservice operators track food waste, carbon impact, and operational efficiency.
The platform includes a 7-day food sustainability audit and reporting tools aligned with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
BetterTable focuses on helping hotels, restaurants, and tourism operators reduce food waste, improve resource management, and measure environmental impact through data-driven insights.
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Resources Support Accessible Tourism During National AccessAbility Week
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National AccessAbility Week (May 31–June 6) highlights the importance of building a more accessible and inclusive country, and the role tourism businesses play in that effort.
Destination BC offers free resources to support accessibility across the visitor experience.
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Disability Inclusive Language Guide
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Guide and Service Dog Fact Sheet
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Accessible Attributes Checklist
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Accessible Graphic and Website Design
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Sector-specific Tip Sheets for attractions, accommodations, and businesses
As part of improving accessibility information, businesses can also consider adding 360° tours to their listings, like this new one from Seair Seaplanes’ YVR Seaplane Base, to help visitors better understand spaces before they arrive.
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National AccessAbility Week 2026 highlights efforts to support accessible and inclusive tourism.
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This new webinar supports more representative and welcoming tourism experiences.
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Webinar Highlights Inclusive Marketing in Tourism
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Destination BC’s Inclusive Marketing: Foundations & Practical Guidance webinar is now available on demand.
Designed for tourism marketers and industry partners, the session introduces key concepts and practical approaches to more inclusive marketing. It highlights how choices in visuals, language, and storytelling can shape who feels represented and welcomed.
Featuring real-world examples and common pitfalls, the webinar supports teams in strengthening authenticity and inclusion across campaigns and communications over time.
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