Mar 4, 2022
Letter of Support for the Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society
Letter from Tourism Industry Association of BC
Re: Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society, Skills for Success Program
Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) is pleased to provide this letter in support of Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society’s application to Employment and Social Development Canada for funding from the Skills for Success Program – Training and Tools Stream for the delivery of the proposed Intercultural Skills for Success Training (ISST) program.
TIABC advocates for the interests of British Columbia’s $22.3 billion visitor economy (normalized year). As a not-for-profit industry association, TIABC works collaboratively with its members – private sector tourism businesses, industry associations and destination marketing organizations – to ensure the best working environment for a competitive tourism industry. Since the start of the pandemic, TIABC has led, partnered in or supported more than two dozen submissions to both the provincial and federal governments, advocating for relief measures for BC’s tourism industry. TIABC remains as determined and committed as ever to help British Columbia’s visitor economy recover from the devastating impacts of travel restrictions and other government actions necessary to manage COVID-19.
TIABC believes PICS’ proposed ISST program supports our goals for industry revitalization by growing and strengthening the pool of available skilled labour, to staffing BC’s recovering tourism and hospitality industry. As such, TIABC will support the proposed ISST program by:
- Identifying industry-specific labour needs, skills training needs, employment opportunities, and reporting back to the project to inform training curriculum, client action planning;
- Recommending occupation-specific certified skills training organizations serving the hospitality industry to develop needed foundational and transferable skills for the sector; and
- Providing member referrals to support industry insights, guest speakers, employer expectations, and informational interviewers.
TIABC looks forward to being an employer association partner to PICS’ ISST program, contributing an in-kind value up to approximately $5000.00, and providing a link for skilled Canadians to employment opportunities in high-demand hospitality occupations across this region.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or for additional information.
Sincerely,
Walt Judas
CEO, TIABC
778-953-0620
