Dec. 12, 2016, Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Vancouver, BC – The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) has announced its 2016/17 Board of Directors, in advance of its Annual General Meeting to be held this week in Membertou, NS.
ITAC board members represent a wide range of tourism partners from across Canada, with new members joining from British Columbia, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories.
“We are incredibly proud to have excellent partners from coast-to-coast represented on our 2016/17 board of directors, with each of our new and incumbent members bringing a sense of excitement to the future of Aboriginal tourism across Canada,” says Keith Henry, President & CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada. “Mike Willie, Jillian Larkham, Kylik Taylor, and Gene O’Donnell will bring a fresh perspective to the board, which will complement those of our incumbent members and our leadership team.”
The board will take on the responsibility of providing oversight and recommendations on implementation of the ITAC five-year strategy, as well as reporting on successes on a monthly basis.
The 2016/17 Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada Board of Directors:
The position of treasurer will be confirmed in January.
British Columbia – Mike Willie (new)
Sea Wolf Adventures
Alberta – Lori Beaver
Independent Consultant
Saskatchewan – Dana Soonias
Wanuskewin Heritage Park
Manitoba – Jeff Provost, Secretary
Eastside Aboriginal Sustainable Tourism
Ontario – Kevin Eshkawkogan
Great Spirit Circle Trail
Quebec – Dave Laveau, Vice Chair
Tourisme Autochtone
New Brunswick – Patricia Dunnett
Metepenagiag Heritage Park
Nova Scotia – Robert Bernard, Chair
Wagmatcook Culture & Heritage Centre
Prince Edward Island – Charlie Sark
Indian Art & Crafts of North America
Newfoundland & Labrador – Jillian Larkham (new)
Director of Tourism, Nunatsiavut Government
Yukon – Charlene Alexander
Yukon First Nations Culture & Tourism
Northwest Territories – Kylik Taylor (new)
Tundra North Tours
Nunavut – Gene O’Donnell (new)
Arctic Bay Adventures
The upcoming AGM will celebrate the success and achievements throughout the year, notably the culmination of the fifth International Aboriginal Tourism Conference (IATC), held from Dec. 12 to 14, 2016 in Membertou. The three-day conference has brought together international and national thought leaders, Aboriginal knowledge keepers, Government of Canada Ministers, and members of ITAC.
For more information and board member profiles, visit www.indigenoustourism.ca.
About the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
Originally formed as the Aboriginal Tourism Marketing Circle, in 2015 the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) was formally established as a national non-profit Aboriginal tourism industry organization. Today, ITAC includes representation from 15 Aboriginal tourism industry representatives and organizations. Through a unified Aboriginal tourism industry voice, ITAC focuses on creating partnerships between associations, organizations, government departments and industry leaders from across Canada to support the growth of Aboriginal tourism in Canada. For more information, visitwww.indigenoustourism.ca.
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Media contacts:
Brian Cant, Tartan Group: 250-592-3838, 250-888-8729 (cell) or brian@tartangroup.ca
Keith Henry, ITAC: 604-639-4408 or k.henry@aboriginalcanada.ca
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