Innovative Practices - Special Events
- Adams River Sockeye Society
The Adams River Sockeye Society (ARSS) is a not-for-profit organization that hosts an event that occurs as the sockeye run on the Adams River. The Adams River is located between Chase and Sorrento on the north side of the Little Shuswap Lake near the Quaaout Resort. Every four years in the month of October, the Adams River sees the highest concentration of Salmon returning from the Pacific Ocean to reproduce and die. Since 1958, this event has been a draw for many people to witness this miracle of life, and is celebrated as “The Salute to the Sockeye.” The event provides an excellent opportunity to bring revenue to this area of the Shuswap.
- Cowichan Valley Grape Escape
The Cowichan Valley Grape Escape started in 2002 as part of the nationwide Multiple Sclerosis Bike Tour which is the largest cycling event in Canada. The Cowichan event has been an incredible success bringing over two hundred cyclists together for a one day or two day fun ride in which funds are raised for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. Cyclists get an opportunity to tour the Cowichan Valley region on quiet back roads and pass through the rural communities of Brentwood Bay, Shawnigan Lake, Mill Bay and Cobble Hill. Riders have numerous opportunities to stop in on along the daily sixty kilometer route and see stops of interest including an assortment of local artisans, wineries, specialty food merchants, and local parks.
- Edge to Edge Marathon
The communities of Tofino and Ucluelet on the West Coast of Vancouver Island have come together to create and promote an authentic original tourism product that has expanded community borders by thinking collaboratively instead of competitively. Not only have these two communities come together but the Edge to Edge Marathon has brought together private business, individuals, as well as the federal government to form a truly collaborative effort to enhance the tourism development in the Pacific Rim region. The event has massive community support in the form of volunteers that help put on the event. Local businesses both in Tofino and Ucluelet proudly sponsor the event. The communities have also established the need to take the event to the next level in regards to organization and number of participants and hired outdoor events specialists Mind Over Mountain Event Company. Together all of the partners are trying to ensure that the event continues to grow in a way that benefits the region as a whole.
- Kusam Klimb Adventure Race
The community of Sayward lies on the North Eastern coast of Vancouver Island. This friendly community of approximately 1200 has gone through many changes over the years from a primarily resource extraction community into a community trying to diversify the local economy into other areas such as tourism. When developing a new industry like tourism, Sayward has found that it helps to take advantage of your natural assets.
One of the community led initiatives that has been very successful over the last few years is the Kusam Klimb Adventure Race. The climb itself takes place in June and is a grueling 23 kilometer endurance race that takes racers from Sayward up and over the snow covered Mount H’Kusam and loops back into town again. The event attracts participants from all over with runners this year coming from as far away as Toronto to participate.
- Chetwynd Chainsaw Carvings
Many communities that are transit destinations like Chetwynd, struggle with ways to get visitors on route to destinations further down the road, to stop in and spend time (and money) at their businesses. The community of Chetwynd, with a population of 3,119, is located at the junction of Highway #97 and highway #29 in Northeast BC. It is about 97 kilometres from Dawson Creek, the starting point of the world famous Alaska Highway. Chetwynd is a community that has relied on primary industries such as forestry, oil and gas, mining, CN Rail, and ranching. With efforts to diversify with tourism, Chetwynd was seeking to find ways to attract visitors to turn off the highway stop and experience the community.
