Three days in Lillooet with a room full of energy and ideas. Delegates came from across the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast and beyond — operators, destination organizations, film, arts, Indigenous tourism, and the people who make this region work — to share what they know and look hard at what comes next.
The program covered destination stewardship, regenerative tourism, Indigenous storytelling, film and tourism, travel media and travel trade, AI, and destination resilience. Terri Hadwin on where film and tourism actually overlap. Sabrina Robson and Frances Ishii on what Destination BC’s travel media and travel trade programs can do for operators. Michelle Edwards on storytelling that starts from where you are. Nicholas Ning’s AI workshop. Walt Judas closing with a reminder that your vote counts, but your voice counts more.
Thank you to everyone who presented, sponsored, exhibited, volunteered and attended. This event is only as good as the people who show up for it — and this year, they showed up.
Session decks and speaker information from the 2026 Summit are now posted. If you want to revisit a session, pick up a thread with a presenter, or take something back to your own team, start here.
Our team put together an update video for the Summit — a picture of what happened across this region last year. If you missed it, or you want to watch it again, it is a half hour well spent.
Three awards were presented at the gala, and each one recognizes work that made this region better.
Best Tourism Marketing Initiative — Barkerville Historic Town and Park
Good Neighbour — 108 Mile Heritage Site
Innovation in Tourism — Jakira Foundation
Congratulations to all three.
Thank you to everyone who stood for the board. Your directors for 2026/27:
Chair — Angela Bissat, Wildwood & Company
Vice-Chair — Colleen Peters, Woodland Fishin Resort
Secretary/Treasurer — Mike Retasket, Aboriginal Affects Consulting
Director — Marshall Fremlin, Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort
Director — Andre Kuerbis, AFK Consulting
Director — Gerald Kirby, Tatla Lake Manor Motel
Director — Shannon Lansdowne, Bella Coola Mountain Lodge
Advisor — Nicholas Ning, Farpoint AI
None of this happens unsupported. A sincere thank you to the businesses and organizations who backed the 2026 Summit & AGM.
PLATINUM
Web Advisors · Xwísten Experience Tours · Vista Reach
GOLD
Fort Berens Estate Winery · Thompson Rivers University · Traffic Jam · Squamish-Lillooet Regional District
SILVER
Canada Life · PMG Communication
BRONZE
Tourism Lillooet · Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort · AFK Business Consulting & Services
IN-KIND PARTNERS
Fountainview Academy — gala entertainment · Sound Sculptors — reception and gala audio · Lillooet Community Connect Innovation Hub and Sandman Hotel Quesnel — speaker gifts · Lillooet Brewing Company — reception beer
And to the operators who hosted the pre-event activities — Xwísten Experience Tours, George Vanderwolf’s Discover Jade, and Fort Berens Estate Winery.
CELEBRATING 65 YEARS IN 2027
Next year the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association turns 65 — a sapphire jubilee, and we are not letting it pass quietly.
Sixty-five years of holding the line on tourism in this region, through every cycle this industry has thrown at us. That is not a small thing, and it belongs to the members who built it, not to us.
SEE YOU IN WELLS
The 2027 Tourism Summit & AGM is heading to Wells, BC in fall 2027 — our 65th anniversary year. Planning is underway. Watch the industry site for speaker announcements, registration and the program.
