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Emergency Preparedness

The BC Emergency Management Framework provides a unified structure to support tourism partners and visitors on matters related to the four pillars of emergency management; namely, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GUIDES

Emergency Resources for BC’s Tourism Industry

During times of stress and uncertainty, it is important to share information from official sources only. There are a variety of resources available to help you prepare for emergencies, gather up-to-date information and help visitors plan their travel.

PreparedBC: Tourism Resources

Step-by-step guides to prepare businesses and their staff for emergencies, with templates and tools to help operators easily plan a fast and effective response.

EMERGENCY RESOURCES

Emergency Info BC

Information about emergencies in BC, including evacuation orders and alerts.

Drive BC

Information about road closures, major events, and transportation delays.

Floods | River Forecast Centre

Analyses snow pack, assesses seasonal water supply and flood risk, and predicts flows in BC’s rivers and streams. It produces a range of bulletins, maps and warnings to inform emergency managers and the public about current and upcoming streamflow conditions.

Wildfire | BC Wildfire Service

Report wildfires to *5555 on a cell or 1 800 663-5555 toll-free.

Parks & Recreation Sites | BC Parks

Information on warnings and closures for provincial campgrounds & parks as well as recreation sites and trails

Weather Alerts | Environment Canada

Resource for the latest weather information, statements, and air quality advisories.

Emergency Social Services

Information regarding emergency reception centres and assistance.

Support for the displaced, and group lodging

Red Cross

Community news, training and certification, support resources

Evacuees can register with the Red Cross by calling 1-800-863-6582

The Great BC ShakeOut | BC Earthquake Alliance

Every third Thursday of October, a locally driven earthquake drill takes place at 10:20am. It provides an opportunity to practice earthquake protocols to ensure safety should an earthquake ever occur. If you have yet to participate – resources and valuable tools have been developed by the BC Earthquake Alliance.

A comprehensive guide developed by the BC Earthquake Alliance supports the tourism industry and businesses in their earthquake drills and safety protocols and includes considerations for staff, for residents and for visitors.

What Tourism Business Owners Can Do:

Share these resources with your staff and follow key social media accounts for the latest news.

Help your guests:

If your business is located in an impacted area, provide your current customers and future reservations with regular updates, by directing them to official information sources.

f your business is not impacted directly, help your current guests plan the rest of their trip to areas that are safe and open for business (your local visitor centre has a wealth of information on places to stay and things to do).

If your business is not impacted directly, be proactive with future reservations—let your customers know it’s business as usual and you are looking forward to hosting them. British Columbia is a very large province and sometimes our out-of-province guests can get confused by geographically misleading information.

See BC Parks website for most up to date information.

The B.C. River Forecast Centre reports, “Disturbances such as fire affect the hydrologic response of streams, rivers and lakes relevant to potential flooding. Specifically, flows from snowmelt dominated watersheds impacted by fires tend to be greater and peak earlier as compared to undisturbed areas, even under normal weather conditions. Many of the regions affected by burns last summer have above normal snow packs this year.”

If you are experiencing flooding issues that affect your home or business, please call the Provincial Emergency Reporting Line at 1-800-663-3456.

🍽️ What an incredible farm-to-table experience! Backyard Farm Proprietor and Chef Chris Van Hooydonk welcomed TOTA's Board of Directors and guests Walt Judas, Richard Porges (DBC CEO) and Scott Fraser (DBC Chair) for a memorable meal in Osoyoos this week.

Chris's culinary philosophy focuses on utilizing the freshest, locally sourced ingredients to create unique, tailored menus for each visit. With a commitment to true hospitality, the experience is marked by attentive service and a passion for showcasing the beauty of the South Okanagan.

Also pictured, Destination Osoyoos Executive Director Kelley Glazer, TOTA CEO Ellen Walker Matthews, and TOTA's Jane Parece. 

A huge thank you to Chris for providing such a delightful culinary experience! 🌿
🎉 Highlights from the 2024 BC Tourism Industry Conference in Victoria! 🌟

Close to 450 tourism industry professionals convened in Victoria last week for the annual 2024 BC Tourism Industry Conference, hosted by TIABC. Industry leaders representing businesses, sector associations, regional and community destination management organizations, First Nations, federal, provincial and municipal governments, as well as non-government organizations gathered for the two-day event. 

Anchored by the conference theme - Shaping Our Future Together - the outstanding program provided both a knowledge and skills track via plenary sessions and workshops. Here are just a few highlights:

▪️ Opening keynote speaker Shaun Boothe shared a unique and emotional celebration of some of the world's most influential cultural icons. His energy and messages set the stage for the entire event.

▪️ Hon. Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport kicked off the conference by welcoming delegates and sharing her own personal story of working in BC's tourism industry.

▪️ Plenary Remarks by Hon. Soraya Martinez Ferrada: Insights from the Minister of Tourism and Economic Development Agency of Canada highlighted the industry's significance.

▪️TIABC CEO Walt Judas engaged in a compelling conversation with Premier David Eby whose remarks underscored the vital role of the tourism industry in British Columbia, earning him a standing ovation.

▪️ Opening Reception at the Royal BC Museum

A big thank you to all our sponsors for making this event possible! 🙌
Join us in celebrating the remarkable winners of the 2024 BC Tourism Industry Awards Gala presented by @indigenoustourismbc! 🎉✨ 

Ten awards were given out to recognize and celebrate excellence, leadership, and innovation within British Columbia’s tourism and hospitality sector. These awards showcased the province’s most exceptional leaders and positive change-makers this past year.

The winners of the 2024 BC Tourism Industry Awards are:

Business Woman of the Year Award - Sponsored by Prince of Whales
⭐ Winner: Ingrid Jarrett, @bchotelassociation 

Community Contribution & Impact - Sponsored by Tourism Richmond
⭐Winner: @princeofwhaleswhalewatching 

DMO Professional Excellence - Sponsored by BC Regional Tourism Secretariat (BCRTS)
⭐Winner: @visitrichmondbc 

Employees First - Sponsored by go2HR
⭐Winner: @golfbc 

Inclusive and Accessible Tourism Experience - Sponsored by Destination BC
⭐Winner: Vancouver Aquarium

Indigenous Operator or Experience | Sponsored by Indigenous Tourism BC and Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
⭐Winner: @homalcotours

Innovation | Sponsored by Tourism Innovation Lab
⭐Winner: @tourismnewwest 

Remarkable Experience | Sponsored by BC Destination Management Organization Association (BCDMOA)
⭐Winner: @nimmobayresort

Sector Association Excellence Award | Sponsored by Acera Insurance
⭐Winner: Sport Fishing Institute of BC

Sustainability Excellence | Sponsored by Nanaimo Airport
⭐Winner: @40knotswinery 

📸 @arkitekcreative
Insightful session at the 2024 BC Tourism Industry Conference with post-secondary educators discussing collaboration with the tourism sector! 🌍 📚 

Post-secondary educators Patrick Brouder (TRU), Farhad Moghimehfa (VIU), Dennis Innes (VCC), Jamie Noakes (TRU), Jason Johnston (TRU), Moira Mcdonald (Royal Roads), Michael Lever (FDU), Jarrett Bachman (FDU), Sarah-Joy Kallos (CapU) and Natasha Mrkic-Subotic (CapU), presented at a lunchtime session on how their post-secondary sections can and do work with the tourism sector.
🌟 Today at the BC Tourism Industry Conference in Victoria: TIABC CEO Walt Judas engaged in a compelling conversation with Premier David Eby. Premier Eby's remarks underscored the vital role of the tourism industry in British Columbia, earning him a standing ovation. 👏
🌟 TIABC CEO Walt Judas, along with TIABC Director Michael J. Ballinghall of Big White Ski Resort with Federal Tourism Minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada who spoke on day two of the BC Tourism Industry Conference in Victoria. 🎤