Mentorships ● Grants ● Community
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KOOTENAY ROCKIES ACCESSIBLE TOURISM
Do you have a new innovative accessible tourism idea for the Kootenay Rockies?
If so, we want to hear from you! Whether you are an individual, a start-up or an established small business or non-profit organization, there can be many challenges and barriers to bringing a new accessible tourism idea, experience or partnership to fruition.
We want to help. The “Spark" Program will match selected candidates with a tourism mentor and provide a source of financial support to help take your great new tourism idea to the next level of development or implementation. Our goal is to inspire residents, entrepreneurs, small businesses, non-profit organizations and community groups in the Kootenay Rockies region to come forward with creative ideas that will generate new accessible tourism opportunities, offerings, experiences and partnerships in the area. The program includes:
Selected applicants will receive:
All program applicants will be invited to join our “Spark" community of tourism innovators, idea makers, partners and supporters for special networking events, one-on-one's, and development workshops. APPLICATION DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 28, 2023 Register for an upcoming Info Session below 
Kootenay Rockies Accessible Tourism
Who Can Apply?
What Are We Looking For?
New accessible tourism ideas for the Kootenay Rockies that enhance current accessible tourism offerings and address one or more of the following:
* Tourism ideas must be based in and benefit the Kootenay Rockies region. What is Accessible Tourism? Accessible tourism includes tourism products and services that are accessible to all people, regardless of their physical, sensory, or cognitive requirements, disabilities or age. Learn more. What Is A “Tourism” Idea? Experiences, products and partnerships that motivate travel to your area by people living more than 40km away, across the provincial border or internationally, and provide engagement, participation, purchasing and/or travel related opportunities while they are visiting. What Do We Mean by “New"? Tourism experiences, products, businesses and partnerships that are in the ideation stage, have just been created, are under development, or have been promoted/offered publicly for 6 months or less. Other Tourism Definitions and Examples Experiences: Opportunities for visitors to engage, participate, interact, learn and explore an area to get a local understanding and broader awareness of a destination, often combining different elements (eg. farmers market tour followed by a culinary class led by a local chef) Products: Buyable goods and services related to tourism in the area (eg. accommodations, attractions, tours, ticketed events, travel packages and other tourism bundles) Collaborative Partnerships: Two or more businesses/organizations working together to promote and/or deliver a new tourism related experience or product (eg. Metro Zoo + Cycling Group = “Jungle Ride” event) “Spark" Program ApplicationHow to Apply?
There are 3 steps to applying to the "Spark" Program: STEP 1. Written application (1000 word maximum) STEP 2. Short video (1 minute maximum) STEP 3. Email both to submit your application STEP 1. Written Application
The application will ask you the following questions. Please submit your answers using the application form below up to a maximum of 1000 words. 1. Contact information (name, phone number, email, business/organization name, website) 2. Tell us about yourself, your small business or non-profit organization. 3. What’s your new accessible tourism idea? 4. How is your idea innovative or unique? 5. What stage are you at with your idea? 6. Who are your target market(s) and/or partner(s)? 7. How would you utilize the “Spark” mentorship and grant funds if selected? 8. What are your hoped for outcomes and impacts? Download the application form and provide a response to each of the 8 questions keeping the full document under 1000 words or less.
STEP 2. Short Video
In addition to the application document, please include a file or link to a short (1 minute maximum) unedited, unproduced video introducing yourself, your small business, or non-profit organization, and your new tourism idea. For example, use your smart phone to take the video, and then upload it to a file sharing service (eg. Dropbox, Google Docs, WeTransfer) or a publicly accessible video sharing website such as YouTube (if you don’t want other people to find it, mark it as unlisted) and include the file or link in your email with your application document. STEP 3. Submit Your Application Please submit your application to apply@tourisminnovation.ca by February 28, 2023 at 10:59pm PST | 11:59pm MST and include “Kootenay Rockies Accessible Tourism “Spark" Application" in the subject line. IMPORTANT: Both the document (1,000 word maximum) and video (1 minute maximum) are required for a complete application submission. Incomplete applications or applications that are above the maximum word/time limits will not be reviewed. Emails will be sent to confirm receipt of all applications. If you do not receive a confirmation email, send another email or call 1-844-455-0325 ext. 2 to make sure we received your application. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted or reviewed. Your Application and Personal Information By submitting an application, you agree that all of the information contained in your application is complete and accurate. You also consent that the Tourism Innovation Lab and its partners may collect the personal information contained herein within the application review process and for future program related communications. Your application will be kept confidential during the review period. All review jury and judge panel decisions are final and cannot be appealed. 
Info Sessions / WebinarsInterested in applying to the Kootenay Rockies Accessible Tourism “Spark" Program? Register for an upcoming info session (webinar) to learn more:
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Learn more about the Tourism Innovation Lab
Western Canada Home BaseTourism Innovation Lab
c/o The Common 38016 Cleveland Ave, Squamish, BC V8B 0A1 info@tourisminnovation.ca 1-844-455-0325 x 2 (toll-free) We respectfully acknowledge that our home base in Squamish sits on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples: Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam First Nations. We will honour that by collaborating with Indigenous-led organizations and businesses to support the advancement of Indigenous tourism in the region and across Canada. |
Central Canada Home Base
Tourism Innovation Lab
c/o University of Windsor - EPICentre 2455 Wyandotte St W, Windsor, ON N9B 3B3 info@tourisminnovation.ca 1-844-455-0325 x 1 (toll-free) We respectfully acknowledge that our home base in Windsor sits on the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations, which is comprised of the Ojibwa, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi Peoples. We will honour that by collaborating with Indigenous-led organizations and businesses to support the advancement of Indigenous tourism in the region and across Canada. |