For Immediate Release
October 28, 2022
7 Celebrations - Reconnect in the Thompson Okanagan
TOTA to Host Series of Themed Local Festivals
Kelowna, B.C. - The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) announces a line-up of seven diverse and dazzling events to officially commemorate the reopening of the Thompson Okanagan region post-pandemic, and to celebrate its people and cultures. The 7 Celebrations - Reconnect in the Thompson Okanagan is an invitation to revisit the sights, sounds, people and culture through a region-wide celebration set to take place now through March 2023. The festivals are set in the Shuswap, the North and South Okanagan, Boundary Country, North Thompson and Gold Country.
The Thompson Okanagan is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes: from tall mountains, rolling hills, raging rivers, peaceful lakes, a dry desert, and a temperate rainforest. The region is also home to diverse communities - each with unique people, cultures, stories and traditions. TOTA invites locals and visitors alike to join in celebration, reconnection and discover a taste of what each host community has to offer. Highlights include live performances; a welcome home to the sockeye salmon; a winter season kick off with the Fire & Ice Light Up; the legend and lore of the lake; a Winter Carnival; a celebration of women in sport and mountain culture; a visit to Gold Country’s roots; and a celebration of local products and businesses.
The series 7 Celebrations was named to pay tribute to one of TOTA’s core mandates - the 7 Affirmations for 7 Generations Thompson Okanagan Pledge. This pledge was inspired by the Indigenous philosophy that recognizes the “actions made today have a lasting impact for the seven generations that follow.” In the spirit of invested and purposeful travel, the series focuses on the traditions, stories, and cultures of a selection of the region’s communities in an effort to give them life for years to come. Read more about the pledge below.
The 7 Celebrations event schedule and details can be found at thompsonokanagan.com/7-celebrations
This series of events was made possible with support from the Ministry of Canadian Heritage and the support of the hosting City Destination Management Organizations.
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About 7 Affirmations Pledge:
7 Affirmations Pledge was created by TOTA out of a need to develop guidelines for sustainable tourism and conscious travel. Based on the Seven Generations Principle, rooted in Indigenous philosophy: The decisions we make today will have an impact for as many as seven generations to come.
1. True Roots - Discover the soul of a place in its history.
There is wisdom held in the ancestral roots of our land. To learn the ways of the Indigenous people is to learn how to heal our past – and our future.
2. Tread Lightly - As of this moment, you are deemed a “guardian of the land, air and water.”
Please accept this title with honour and a commitment to do everything in your power to preserve the delicate balance of our flora, fauna and the beautiful ecosystems that sustain us all.
3. Be a Good Neighbour - Whether you’ve journeyed near or far, we invite you to feel at home in this place, and value it as we do.
We hope that you will feel as comfortable here as you do in your own home, and we know that you will regard the communities and their residents with an equal care and consideration.
4. Travel Safely - Follow the map of your heart, but venture wisely.
This is a place where memories of a lifetime should be made. So, with blue skies above and the wind at your back, carry with you the wisdom of a seasoned traveller.
5. Live in Harmony - Let a life outside bring you happiness inside by learning the laws of wilderness living.
Embrace a simpler existence and find peace amidst the wilderness and those of like minds. There is great reward in having the skills and knowledge to live in harmony in the greater outdoors.
6. Shop Local - Choose to buy locally and you’ll transform riches into enrichment.
You have the ability to nourish the strength and character of the communities you visit. Be a champion for the local folks, leaving a wake of pride and gratitude along your way.
7. Educate Others - Anything worth knowing is worth sharing.
Doing the right thing is the cost of entry and mindfulness is the ticket. Pass it on.
About Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association:
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is a not-for-profit society that represents a geographic area nestled in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. The region’s name is derived from two major geographic features: the Thompson River and Okanagan Lake. TOTA aims to stimulate ongoing sustainable growth by embracing the value of tourism through community engagement, innovative leadership in promoting authentic experiences, and inspiring creative collaboration. Key TOTA initiatives include; Biosphere Certified Gold Destination, 7 Affirmations Pledge, and Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism.
For more information about TOTA visit totabc.org, or visit the consumer facing website thompsonokanagan.com. Connect socially at @thompsonokanagan
Media Contact:
Krista Lochhead
krista@hatchhos.com
778.227.2396