All across the province Chambers of Commerce and Visitor Centres have been applying for summer student funding from the federal government and, while some centres were successful in their applications, not one of the nine in the East Kootenay region received funding.
Interested parties (both for profit and non-profit organizations) were able to apply to Service Canada until February 25.
Letters were received across the region notifying the Chambers and Visitor Centres in the BC Chamber of Commerce’s District 9, which includes Creston, Cranbrook, Kimberley, Sparwood, Elkford, Fernie, Columbia Valley, Radium Hot Springs, and Golden, that they would not be receiving funds this summer.
Service Canada’s letter, dated May 14, reads “…although your application is considered eligible, we are unable to offer you Canada Summer Jobs Funding since the demand for funding exceeded the budget available in your constituency.”
“We are truly happy for those who did receive funding but my concern is that [Chambers and Visitor Centres] have been given the mandate to actively promote the 2010 Olympics as well as our local communities and province, yet, not one single chamber in the East Kootenay region received federal funding to help us to do so,” Heather Overy, Executive Director for the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce (CVCC) said. “Without the federal funding to hire a summer student(s) to assist in the Visitor Centre, I am concerned about how we can maintain the high level of proficiency that the centre provides to our residents and visitors during the busy summer months – especially now that we are also responsible for promoting the upcoming Winter Olympics”.
The Columbia Valley Visitor Centre is expected to remain open fill-time, seven days a week through July and August, and with just two members on staff, one of whom is part-time, the additional federal student funding program has always been greatly appreciated.
“Having a summer student has a two-fold value,” Overy said. “They assist us in manning the Visitor Centre but they also get to learn invaluable tourism-related skills and knowledge. Counsellors are ambassadors of the valley and they are instrumental in providing a positive guest experience to all who visit our community.”
While not every applicant is guaranteed to receive funding, this is the first time all nine East Kootenay applications have been denied. As non-profit organizations, funding is a crucial component of their business.
In May of last year the federal government allocated substantial funds to assist with tourism in the province. And, with the spotlight focused heavily on the Olympics next year, chambers and Visitor Centres will become integral parts of the tourist experience.
“What is the [federal] government thinking?” Overy wants to know. “We’ve been mandated to promote 2010 and yet none of us have received any federal government dollars to hire students to help us do this.”
District 9 Chambers and Visitor Centres are in the process of organizing a meeting with Kootenay-Columbia MP Jim Abbott. With the region being a major gateway to visitors from Alberta and the United States, overlooking them could lead to a less than satisfactory experience for a visitor wanting information if the Visitor Centre they stop in is understaffed.
The CVCC is seeking support from the community prior to their meeting with Mr. Abbott.
“A one-line email will suffice explaining how much the federal summer student funding is needed to adequately promote tourism in our local community, as well as the East Kootenay and the entire province” Overy said. “Despite this untimely setback, the Columbia Valley Visitor Centre will certainly continue to provide the high level of customer service excellence which it is renowned for.”
Overy concluded with “All businesses in the Columbia Valley are affected in some form or another by tourism. District 9 representatives intend to remind Mr. Abbott that he said he is a strong proponent of tourism – then perhaps he will explain why all Chambers/Visitor Centres in his constituency were unsuccessful in their applications for summer student funding.”
Source: Invermere Valley Echo
