Richard Froese
South Peace News
Big Lakes County has decided to join a proposed regional tourism society that will encompass the High Prairie and Slave Lake regions around Lesser Slave Lake.
At its regular meeting Aug. 14, council approved a recommendation to become a member of the society when the newly expanded society is established.
The proposal was presented to council at its regular meeting July 10 by Alberta North Central Alliance (ANCA) executive director Jennifer Churchill and Town of Slave Lake Councillor Kim Hughes, who represents the town on the Slave Lake Regional Tourism Society, CAO David Reynolds says.
Reeve Tyler Airth says the alliance wants the society to expand its area.
“It was recommended by ANCA to expand the tourism region and get everybody on board,” Airth says.
The alliance was created in 2021 to address regional issues in the High Prairie and Slave Lake regions with representation from municipalities and Indigenous communities.
“We have the option to join now or when the new society is formed,” Reynolds says.
The county can review its membership each year, he notes.
Churchill says ANCA proposes to get the new society organized in the fall.
Kinuso Councillor Roberta Hunt had one concern about the new society.
“What happens if we find we’re not getting any benefit from this?” Hunt says.
The proposal submitted is based on the financial structure of Mighty Peace Tourism, which provides base funding for the society that can be used for matching purposes for grants, Reynolds says.
An update by the ANCA states that the ANCA is currently working directly with the Slave Lake tourism society on a proposal to expand the service area modelled after Mighty Peace and Mackenzie Frontier tourism associations.
ANCA proposes membership fees in a phased approach.
It also proposes membership fees to municipalities and Indigenous communities at $2 per capita the first and second years, $2.05 in the third year, $2.10 in the fourth year and $2.15 in the fifth year.
When the new society is officially chartered, ANCA has set several steps and priorities in the first two years.
The first year will focus on building a strong regional network.
When a municipality or Indigenous community become a member, tourism operations in the local area will:
- Engage in an introductory conversation with the society to gather information about their businesses.
- Be connected to other tourism operators in the entire region for collaboration, if required.
Indigenous tourism operators will be assisted in a referral to Indigenous Tourism Alberta.
- Be assisted in registering on Alberta Tourism Information Service.
- Get help with the Canada Digital Adoption Program, if applicable.
- Receive a monthly newsletter including grant opportunities.
- Get their signature events on the society’s webpage and Facebook page.
- Receive a weekly post highlighting a different regional tourism operator.
- Receive support next winter in applying for the Canada Summer Jobs grant or Young Canada Works, if applicable.
- Receive support for applying for grants from Travel Alberta, if applicable.
- Receive an invitation for a fall tourism operators meeting.
Further, from years 2 to 5, the organizing group proposes to:
- Expand its staff to full time from part time.
- Focus on hiring from within the region.
- Hire a marketing co-ordinator.
- Target advertising on Facebook.
- Expand the tourism society webpage, including an events calendar.
- Create print materials, a promotional display for trade shows and attend trade shows.
- Develop cluster opportunities for “experiences” or “circle tours”.
- Establish a regional tourism ambassador program.