Destination Development

Nearly 600 Campsites Added to BC Parks and Recreation Sites

From marine sites to walk-in tent sites, 594 new campsites are being added to BC Parks inventory this year. The new sites can be found in 13 provincial parks and 12 recreation sites across BC, focusing on regions with the highest demand for additional campsites (the Lower Mainland, Thompson-Okanagan, Kootenay Rockies, and Mount Robson).

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108 Mile Ranch Unveils Big Plans to Rebuild After Devastating Wildfire

With a $6.3 million upgrade to the regional airport, the addition of a $3 million clubhouse and conference facility to the 108 Golf Resort, the resurfacing of 16 km of roadways, and the purchase of new fire-fighting equipment, 108 Mile Ranch is looking to rebuild, and re-enter the tourism market, after the 2017 wildfires devastated the area.

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Exciting Events Happening Around B.C. this Summer and Fall

BC's Tourism Events Program has invested almost $1.6 million to support 30 BC events through the next 12 months. Events include Vancouver's fireworks festival, a mountain biking competition in Whistler, and music festivals in Lake Cowichan and the Nicola Valley.

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B.C. Air Access Grants Help Regional Airports Soar to New Heights

People travelling through British Columbia will experience improved safety and convenience at more than a dozen community airports this year, thanks to the latest round of B.C. Air Access Program (BCAAP) grants. Now in its fifth year, the B.C. Air Access Program is providing a total of almost $8 million in funding to 21 projects, carried out by 16 regional airports across BC.

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Millions Approved for Bike Lane Projects Across B.C.

Communities across BC are improving their cycling infrastructure, thanks to over $10 million in cost-sharing grants from BikeBC. From increasing cyclist safety through wider shoulders in North Saanich, to new multi-use paths in Tofino and the East Kootenays, the funding is helping to create new bike paths, and improve safety and accessibility.

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Grants Total Nearly $19 Million for Rural Dividend Projects

Almost $19 million in new grant funding has been distributed to rural BC communities, thanks to the provincially funded Rural Dividend program. The grants support projects by 153 local governments, First Nations, and not-for-profit organizations across BC. Projects range from the expansion of Nordic recreation trails in Fort St. James, to a hut-to-hut planning initiative in Mount Waddington Regional District, and support for Indigenous tourism growth in the Okanagan.

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Resort Municipality Funding Stabilized, and Benefits from a Funding Increase

The Resort Municipality Initiative, which funds tourism infrastructure and amenities projects in BC's 14 resort municipalities, has become a part of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture's core budget. This change, along with a funding increase to $13 million for 2019-2020, will allow resort municipalities to plan long-term projects, without worrying that the funding will expire on a yearly basis. A new funding formula also increases the equality of funding, and responds to increases in tourism activity with supplemental funding.

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BC Rural Dividend Program Announces Sixth Intake

Applications will open on June 15 for the sixth intake of the Rural Dividend Fund, and local governments, Indigenous communities and organizations, and not-for-profit organizations are encouraged to apply. The deadline for submissions is August 15.

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Province Provides Record Funding for Ground Search and Rescue in B.C.

The government of BC is providing $18.6 million in one-time funding to ground search and rescure groups (GSAR), to be used over the next three years. The new funding, supplemental to the $9 million already provided for operational costs, will provide administrative support, allow for equipment renewals, and bolster training.

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Improving Internet Access for People in the Kootenays

26 communities in the Kootenays will be receiving improved high-speed internet, thanks to $4.8 million in provincial funding. Utilizing the funding, the Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation (CBBC) will be installing 125 kms of fibre-optic infrastructure, allowing faster and more reliable internet service for residents in the Slocan Valley and South Country areas.

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