ITAC’s 2020 Annual General Meeting from Indigenous Tourism Canada on Vimeo.
The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) had its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, at 11:00 AM PST / 2:00 PM EST.
Due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, ITAC’s 2020 Annual General Meeting will be held partially electronically. A small group of individuals will meet in-person, abiding by social distancing protocols in Vancouver, BC.
ITAC successfully delivered its AGM virtually via Webcast Canada for the first time ever. The agenda included remarks from the Board Chair and Co-Chair as well as from the Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages; review of the audited financial statements; operational highlights; an update from Destination Canada and an update from all provinces and territories, which included Indigenous tourism associations showing their alignment and collaboration with ITAC. The AGM was also the perfect opportunity for our members to ask questions and get responses right at the source.
ITAC’s 2020 AGM also had the highest attendance ever from coast to coast to coast with 98 voting members participating virtually. ITAC took advantage of the attendance to also release its new video, a 9 minute State of the Industry video showcasing the devastating impact of COVID-19 to the Indigenous tourism industry.
Election Results
With the addition of four new Board of Directors representing Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Nunavut, ITAC now has representation from every single province and territory from coast to coast to coast. This is the first time in two years that ITAC has had representation from all ten provinces and three territories and is a strong signal of the leadership ITAC demonstrates. It is vital for ITAC to have a full representation and have voices from every single province and territory. ITAC is also very proud to have strong Metis, First Nation and Inuit leaders and a majority of women on the board (7/13). Among some of the changes to the board, ITAC is proud to officially welcome four new Directors:
- Quebec representative, Marie-Pierre Lainé, from Indigenous Tourism Quebec (formerly interim Director for ITAC)
- Ontario representative, Jason W. Johnston, from Cape Croker Park
- Prince Edward Island representative, Jamie Thomas, from Lennox Island Development Corporation (formerly interim Director for ITAC)
- Nunavut representative, Sheila Flaherty, from the Indigenous Culinary of Associated Nations
ITAC is also happy to have Kelly Fiddler, formerly a Board of Director for ITAC, taking on the position of Treasurer on the executive committee.
The full ITAC Board of Directors are now as follows:
- Chair – Brenda Holder, Alberta
Mahikan Trails - Vice-chair – Marilyn Jensen, Yukon
Yukon First Nations Culture and Tourism Association - Treasurer – Kelly Fiddler, Saskatchewan
Beaver River Consulting - Secretary – Tara Saunders, Newfoundland and Labrador
Qalipu First Nation - Director – Darrell Bernard, Nova Scotia
Kluskap Ridge RV & Campground - Director – Dave Daley, Manitoba
Wapusk Adventures - Director – Patricia Dunnett, New Brunswick
Metepenagiag Heritage Park - Director – Frank Antoine, British Columbia
Moccasin Trails - Director – Joe Bailey, Northwest Territories
North Star Adventures - Director – Jason W Johnston, Ontario – New Director
Cape Croker Park - Director – Marie-Pierre Lainé, Quebec – New Director
Indigenous Tourism Quebec - Director – Jamie Thomas, Prince Edward Island – New Director
Lennox Island Development Corporation - Director – Sheila Flaherty, Nunavut – New Director
Indigenous Culinary of Associated Nation
ITAC is looking forward to having such strong representation leading ITAC and the Indigenous tourism sector in recovery and building resiliency.