Columbia Shuswap Regional District directors happily endorsed Shuswap Tourism/Columbia Shuswap Film Commission officer Robyn Cyr’s two-year appointment to the Thompson-Okanagan Tourism Association.
A motion was made by Electoral Area E Rural Sicamous director Rhona Martin and seconded by Area C South Shuswap director Paul Demenok.
When asked if Cyr wanted to be on the TOTA board again, Martin laughed, “it doesn’t matter, we need her there.”
Cyr concurs.
As she begins her third term on the regional board, Cyr says CSRD needs to be well represented at the organization that services the Southern Interior.
“Otherwise it becomes a South Okanagan focus,” she says. “Over the last four years, representation has been from north to south, but it hasn’t always been like that.”
One of the benefits of being on the TOTA board is enhanced recognition of the Shuswap as a tourism destination.
“It brought awareness that we are a tourism destination,” she says. “We are no longer being tied in with the Okanagan.”
Shuswap Tourism just received funding from Destination BC and TOTA to engage in the next tourism development plan.
The new plan will allow Shuswap Tourism to enhance its marketing efforts for the region.
“We need to start looking at where our marketing is going and really target more media tours, with expected return on investment,” she says. “Where are areas that still need improvement and how can we move forward?”
Cyr has been working with the Adams River Salmon Society to market Salute to the Sockeye to the world.
She has taken part in two media tours at Roderick Haig-Brown Park for the salmon run and has two more in the offing.
Cyr agrees the lack of signage in other languages is an on-site issue that needs to be addressed.
In terms of promoting the Shuswap as a great place to make movies, Cyr says there is a momentary blip in the process as the current contract holders Mary-Jo Beirnes and Mike Jamon of Mojo Films Inc. are moving to the Coast to work in the film industry.