The Evolving Traveller
All That Kamloops Has to Offer. An incredible Community Partner, showcased well.
Regional Tourism Development – Thoughts and Introduction
Introduction: Tracy Brown, BCAC/YKA Conference Chair & Manager, Operational Compliance, YKA
Speakers: Roxanne Kennedy, Founder & CEO, Boom Business Solutions (for Tourism Kamloops) (roxanne@tourismkamloops.com), Ellen Walker-Matthews, CEO & President, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) (ellen@totabc.com, jacqueline@totabc.com)
- Delegates were treated with a slick video production highlighting “all that Kamloops has to offer”, courtesy of Tourism Kamloops.
- Roxanne Kennedy spoke to the benefits of holding conferences and other events in Kamloops,
- Ellen Walker-Matthews began her presentation by highlighting Indigenous reconciliation throughout the Okanagan and Thompson regions of British Columbia. She explained how B.C. is divided into six tourism-focussed regions that have not-for-profit associations like TOTA. Ellen presented several slides showcasing visitation statistics pertaining to the Thompson-Okanagan region. She also presented the concept of “The Evolving Traveller”, and how the demand for agri-tourism and carbon-neutral, sustainable travel is growing. Ellen also announced that the “Super, Natural British Columbia” international tourism marketing campaign is making a return with the official B.C. government announcement happening today.
(Source: Steve Drinkwater, author, Canadian Aviator Magazine, Photo/Peter Olsen)
General Aviation
Just what is it, exactly? And why should we care?
Don’t Neglect Innovation in General Aviation – Tourism and Insurance. Moderator: Steve Drinkwater, Publisher, Canadian Aviator Magazine
Speakers: George Farrington, Director of Advocacy, Safety and Training, COPA (gfarrington@copanational.org); Caleb Winterburn, Vice-President of Aviation Insurance, Covalen (for COPA) (cwinterburn@covalen.ca).
- Steve Drinkwater opened the discussion by pointing out the discrepancy in the definition of General Aviation by ICAO and largely used in the U.S. too, and the application in Canada, where it has been morphed into a term describing recreational aviation, and a third category of "Business Aviation" being inserted between Commercial Aviation and General Aviation.
- George Farrington said the issue of Transport Canada recognizing the FAA's "BasicMed" medical self-certification in Canada is very much being pursued by COPA.
- Caleb Winterburn explained how the new insurance package developed by Covalen and endorsed by COPA and is the best available for most General Aviation aircraft owners.
(Source: Steve Drinkwater, author, Canadian Aviator Magazine, Photo/Peter Olsen)
An Infrastructure Builder
And The Helicopter Industry's Unsung Green Role
Sector Innovation – Rotary and Engineering. Moderator: James Hall, Senior Manager, Operations & Sustainability, Kelowna International Airport (YLW)
Speakers: Trevor Mitchell, CEO, Helicopter Association Canada (HAC) (trevor@h-a-c.ca); Harvie Buitelaar, Vice-President, Infrastructure, HATCH Ltd. (harvie.buitelaar@hatch.com).
- Hatch, a huge 100% employee- and Canadian-owned engineering consultancy, specializes in building infrastructure, from bridges to small modular reactors, and from renewable power to energy storage, said Harvie Buitelaar.
- Trevor Mitchell pointed out that SAF isn’t really an option for most helicopter operations, given the amount of remote work they do. He pointed out that helicopters continue to be essential tools in fighting wildfires, thus preserving nature’s carbon sink. But aviation gets no credit for the critical role it plays suppressing to largest source of Green House gases. He also highlighted the role helicopters play in wildlife surveys and preservation, contributing again to the green agenda, but without due credit. When questioned, he agreed that RPAS/drones are replacing helicopters in many roles, but that many helicopters operators use drones as part of their toolbox. Trevor doesn’t foresee a total displacement of helicopters “in his lifetime”.
(Source: Steve Drinkwater, author, Canadian Aviator Magazine, Photo/Peter Olsen)
Super, Natural British Columbia
Promoting British Columbia - a united approached
Tourism Innovation – Regional Leaders. Moderator: Tristen Chernove, President & CEO, Elevate Airports Inc.
Speakers: Erica Hummell, Director, Destination Development & Stewardship, Destination BC (erica.hummel@destinationbc.ca); Ellen Walker-Matthews, CEO & President, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) (ellen@totabc.com, jacqueline@totabc.com); Dawn Rueckl, Director, Industry Development, Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport, Province of British Columbia (dawn.rueckl@gov.bc.ca); Frank Antoine, Chief (kukpi7) of Bonaparte, Moccasin Trails Inc. (kukpi7@bonaparte.band).
- Erica Hummell spoke of Destination BC's role going beyond marketing, and works with the tourism sector to optimize sustainable growth. It aims to promote year-round tourism. She also mentioned the challenges of promoting other world-class tourism attractions around B.C. and the need for air access to develop it.
- Frank Antoine spoke of sharing the Indigenous peoples’ traditional lands with all tourists, and that their aims to share the lands with everyone are aligned with the B.C. government’s.
- Dawn Rueckl explained that her ministry works to promote tourism in B.C. and also coordinates with other provincial organizations.
- Ellen repeated her message from her earlier presentation, mentioning the Tourism Industry Association as an umbrella organization that liaises across the industry.
- The panel then conducted a Q&A session covering a wide variety of tourism-related topics.
(Source: Steve Drinkwater, author, Canadian Aviator Magazine, Photo/Peter Olsen)
Nav Canada in British Columbia
Addressing the Severe Controller Shortage
Applying Innovation – Summer Readiness at Nav Canada. Moderator: Carrie Colville, Charter Manager, Central Mountain Air.
Speakers: Darlene George, Manager, Air Traffic Operations – Airports, NAV CANADA (darlene.george@navcanada.ca), Jonathan Bigg, Director, Stakeholder and Industry Relations, Nav Canada (jonathan.bagg@navcanada.ca).
- Darlene George gave an overview of Nav Canada’s B.C. organization together with recent and pending ATC developments throughout the region. She went on to highlight the priority given to safety issues. Nav Canada employs outside professional coaches and speech therapists to help develop their trainees. Darlene emphasizes that Nav Canada airport stakeholders need to have their local Nav Canada manager “in their speed dial”.
- Jonathan Bigg announced the partnering with CAE in the creation of a new Air Traffic Control/Flight Service Specialist training facility in Montreal. 500 students are currently training with Nav Canada, although not all will qualify in the end due to Nav Canada’s high standards.
(Source: Steve Drinkwater, author, Canadian Aviator Magazine, Photo/Peter Olsen)
Connecting ALL of Canada
From Sea to Sea to Sea, the regional markets need to connect with urban centres.
Against All Odds – Joe Sparling, Founder and CEO, Air North. Moderator: James Hall, Director, BCAC & Senior Manager, Operations & Sustainability, Kelowna International Airport (YLW)
Speaker: Joe Sparling, Founder & CEO, Air North (sparlingj@flyairnorth.com)
- What can be done to improve the air links between the North and the rest of Canada?
- Sparling focussed his presentation on the 10% of people who live on 90% of the Canadian landmass.
- Deregulation led to reduced regional service using down-market aircraft (i.e., turboprops vs jet airplanes), inconveniencing northern residents.
- Sparling pointed out that Canada’s mainline carriers have dozens and dozens of interline agreements with global airlines, but very few with domestic carriers.
- 49% of Air North shares are owned by the Vuntut Development Corporation, the business arm of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation.
- All Canadian airlines need to work together for the benefit of all Canadians.
(Source: Steve Drinkwater, author, Canadian Aviator Magazine, Photo/Peter Olsen)
Using Digital Technology to Engage Passengers and Tourists
And Using it for Airport Planning too - cost effectively!
Simulation Innovation – An Affordable Community Outreach Tool; Moderator: Danielle Rehm, BCAC Board Observer & Transport Canada Flight Operations (Ret.)
Speakers: Aaron Bernard, Founder & Creative Director, Spatial Media (aaron@spatialmedia.io); John Clark, V-P of Sales, Spatial Media (john@spatialengage.io).
- John presented Spatial Media as an innovative enterprise that employs video and other hi-tech digital tools like virtual reality to market communities, airports, etc.
- Aaron added that they implement 3D animation to bring users to the web to be able to better visualize the environment the clients want to illustrate. He presented videos that demonstrate how airports can use the service to enhance the passenger experience as well as for internal airport planning.
(Source: Steve Drinkwater, author, Canadian Aviator Magazine, Photo/Peter Olsen)
A Very Humane Mission
And The Fellowship That Carries it Out
Medical Transport – Case Studies in Innovation. Moderator: Danielle Rehm, BCAC Board Observer & Transport Canada Flight Operations (Ret.)
Speaker: Greg Reeder, Western Development Manager, Mission Aviation Fellowship of Canada (MAF) (greeder@maf.ca).
- MAF uses aviation to connect people to distant medical personnel and facilities for diagnosis and/or treatment, largely in Third World locations.
- MAF has over 120 aircraft that are used to carry out its missions and to multiply the effectiveness of several related organizations.
- Serves over 1000 destinations.
- Very active in disaster relief operations.
(Source: Steve Drinkwater, author, Canadian Aviator Magazine, Photo/Peter Olsen)
Crisis Communications Management
Don't Put Preparations Off!
Next-Gen Emergency Communications: Innovations That Save Lives. Moderator: Mark Miller, BCAC Board Observer & President, Cineflix Studios Vancouver
Speaker: Jessica Harcombe Fleming, Senior Vice-President, Tartanbond Communications (jessica.harcombefleming@tartanbond.com).
- Tartan Communications specializes in crisis communications and working with organizations to develop crisis management policies and procedures.
- Warns of the threat of miscommunication, especially during a crisis.
- Urges organizations to train for crises, making them as realistic as possible.
- Fleming recommends media training on an annual basis for top spokespeople in your organization.
- Use AI to monitor “Social Listening”, e.g., the monitoring of myriad of social media platforms for messaging about your organization.
- Jessica then delved into comprehensive crisis management details.
- Several quiet conversations rippled through the room... "we are doing that next week..."
(Source: Steve Drinkwater, author, Canadian Aviator Magazine, Photo/Peter Olsen)
The BC Aviation Council's Policy and Programes Priorities for the Future
And What Our Collaborators Think of Them. An open, transparent approach.
Cooperative Innovation for Policy/Program Change
Speaker: Cathy Press, Chair, BCAC & CEO, Chinook Helicopters (cathy.p@chinookhelicopters.com); Reviewers: Trevor Mitchell, CEO, Helicopter Association of Canada (HAC); Chris Phelan, Senior Vice-President, Policy, Industry and Government Affairs, Canadian Airport Council (CAC); Mike Brown, Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Airport Benchmarking Group, Imperial College, London
- BCAC Board Chair Cathy Press presented an overview of the Council, highlighting the $450,000 endowment in the BCAC’s scholarship fund, the greater than 1150 membership and the over 7000 Supporters. It serves as an educator to influencers on the issues impacting the aviation and aerospace industry. Press also outlined the BCAC’s extensive priorities for federal and provincial lobbying efforts.
- Mike Brown suggested that the priorities list be “bucketed” to focus on specific themes. He also suggested creating a timeline and organize the priorities along it. He also pointed out that politicians, if they know how important aviation is to their constituents, will become much more effective supporters and agents for change.
- Chris Phelan agreed with Mike’s comments. He also mentioned that he is focussed on two-year priorities for federal ACAP grants for airport infrastructure. Phelan’s organization is also urging a program on regional connectivity.
- Trevor Mitchell said that Transport Canada has become weak over the years, and that we need to work with it to become stronger, and highlights the need to update the regulatory environment.
(Source: Steve Drinkwater, author, Canadian Aviator Magazine, Photo/Peter Olsen)
Closing Remarks
Mission Accomplished
Dave Frank, the Executive Director who needs no introduction, thanked all participants, delegates and guests for all their contributions to what is another successful conference. Equally recognized were the several volunteers without whom the conference's success would not have been achieved.
And not least, the whole team at YKA Kamloops Airport for the excellent job they did being the 2925 partner airport.
See you next year, May 25-27, 2026, in Kelowna (hotel and registrations on sale this month) and Cranbrook 2027.
(Source: Steve Drinkwater, author, Canadian Aviator Magazine, Photo/Steve Drinkwater)
Visit our Travel Partners for year-round Supporter savings.
Sincere thanks to our Pillar Partners for their ongoing support.
|
