Chambers of Commerce representing resort communities across British Columbia, including three in the East Kootenay, have formed the Resort Chambers of Commerce Coalition and celebrate their first advocacy win.

Chambers of Commerce that operate within resort municipalities in British Columbia have come together to form a new Resort Chambers of Commerce Coalition (RCCC), a collaborative alliance designed to amplify the collective voice of businesses in resort-based economies and identify opportunities for partnerships to support business and economic growth.

The founding Chambers in the Resort Chamber Coalition are: Columbia Valley, Fernie, Kimberley & District, Trail, Revelstoke, Harrison-Agassiz, Kamloops & District, Kicking Horse Country, South Okanagan, Tofino, and District, Ucluelet, Valemount and Whistler, representing all 14 provincially designated resort communities in B.C.

Resort communities face unique challenges that differ from those of larger urban centres, including seasonal workforce pressures, housing constraints, infrastructure demands, and the need to balance visitor experiences with residents’ quality of life. Recognizing these shared priorities, Chamber leaders believe a united approach will be more effective and efficient than working in isolation.

“By coming together, we can advocate with a stronger, more coordinated voice,” said Caroline Lachapelle, RCC Chair.

“Working together allows us to make progress on the issues that matter most to our members, from housing and transportation to workforce and economic development. This coalition allows us to better champion the needs of resort economies and the businesses that power them.”

The coalition’s first joint action was submitting a proposed policy resolution to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce focused on immigration and workforce challenges in Canadian resort communities. The policy calls for the Government of Canada to enhance the effectiveness of the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and support the vitality of Canada’s Resort Communities by:

1. Amending RCIP eligibility criteria to explicitly include Resort Communities, recognizing their unique economic structures and labour market needs;
2. Implementing flexible population metrics to allow for exceptions to population and proximity requirements for communities that demonstrate significant reliance on tourism and face labour challenges; and
3. Engage local stakeholders in Resort Communities including municipal government and industry, to ensure the effective implementation of these changes.

The policy was submitted at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce conference earlier this October, with support from the Resort Chamber Coalition, and other resort communities across Canada. (Including but not limited to: Bow Valley, Jasper, Alberta and Ontario Chambers of Commerce.)

It was formally adopted with a large majority of 94% of the assembly in favour. The coalition’s next steps are to work alongside the Canadian Chamber’s “future of work” advocacy department and the commissioner for employers to consistently bring this policy resolution forward to the appropriate federal ministers whose work focuses on tourism and immigration.

“Our first collaborative policy submission demonstrates the power of the Chamber network,” said Lachapelle.

“Resort communities across Canada share similar workforce challenges, and by presenting a united voice, we can bring national attention to the need for immigration solutions that fit the realities of resort economies.”

The Resort Chambers of Commerce Coalition currently consists of communities with resort municipality designation in British Columbia. With recent national support of RCCC initiatives, the coalition invites collaboration from other resort-area Chambers in Canada to strengthen our collaborative efforts on a national level.

Lead image: Grey Wolf Golf Course at Panorama Mountain Resort.  e-KNOW file photos

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