RESORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY District of Invermere 2019-2021 JUNE 18, 2019 District of Invermere Resort Development Strategy 2019-2021 Page | 1 Contents Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................. 3 1. BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................................... 4 COMMUNITY PROFILE ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 TOURISM INDUSTRY CONTEXT ........................................................................................................................................ 5 SWOT ANALYSIS – STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, THREATS ................................................................... 8 2. VISION .................................................................................................................................................. 9 3. RDS GOALS ........................................................................................................................................ 10 4. STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION ................................................................................................... 11 5. LINKAGES TO OTHER PLANS .......................................................................................................... 12 6. RMI PROJECTS .................................................................................................................................. 18 7. THREE-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN ....................................................................................................... 27 Appendix: Stakeholder letters of support ........................................................................................... 29 District of Invermere Resort Development Strategy 2019-2021 Page | 2 ca Acknowledgements The District acknowledges and thanks the Invermere Resort Development Strategy Task Force members for their participation in the development of this Resort Development Strategy: Susan Clovechok, Director, Regional District of East Kootenay, Area ”F” Marke Dickson, Panorama Mountain Resort Ken Csokonay, High Country Properties Bill Kirkpatrick, Diamond Resorts Gerry Taft, Councilor, District of Invermere Penny Powers, Columbia River Paddle Ryan Watmough, Economic Development Officer, Regional District of East Kootenay Ken Wilder, Invermere Panorama DMO Thanks goes to Councilor Greg Anderson and Mayor Al Miller for their participation in the process as well. Provincial Approval Date – June 18, 2019 District of Invermere Resort Development Strategy 2019-2021 Page | 3 1. BACKGROUND The District of Invermere is a community in eastern British Columbia in the Columbia Valley, nestled between the Purcell Mountains and the Canadian Rocky Mountains, bordered by Lake Windermere to the east, the Columbia River wetlands to the north and Toby Creek to the West. The District occupies approximately 1086 hectares and is located at an average elevation of about 800 meters (2625 feet) above sea level. It lies within the traditional territories of the Ktunaxa Nation and the Secwepemc peoples. Prior to the first Europeans arriving in the Columbia Valley in 1807, two major First Nations groups were present in the area: the Ktunaxa and the Shuswap (Secwepemc). The first European to visit the Upper Columbia Valley was David Thompson, who established a trading post for the Northwest Company near the present town of Wilmer, which is located to the north east of Invermere. This post was operated for many years and was still listed as a Hudson’s Bay fort in 1856. In 1909, the townsite was purchased by the Columbia Valley Irrigated Fruit Lands Company, who changed the name to Invermere, meaning “inver” - at the mouth and “mere” - lake. Invermere was incorporated as a village on May 22, 1951. In 2008, the District became one of several provincially designated ‘Resort Municipalities’ in the Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI), which receives provincial funding for tourism development. Invermere’s economy has been transitioning from one based primarily on logging and mining in the 1950s to a more diversified one with a strong tourism industry. COMMUNITY PROFILE Invermere is the major service centre for the Columbia Valley. The Columbia River winds through Invermere, creating the tremendous asset, Lake Windermere, and resulting in marshlands and channels. There is a charming downtown with a flower-lined main street with shops, pubs and restaurants, and two public beach areas – Kinsmen Beach near the downtown and the James Chabot Provincial Park at the north end of the lake. Invermere boasts the world’s longest skating trail, the 34km long Lake Windermere Whiteway. Just a 20 minute drive from Invermere, Panorama Mountain Resort offers 4,265 vertical feet of skiing and snowboarding, which ranks in the top 10 in North America. The year-round destination draws guests from across Canada and around the world, hosting significant numbers from the United Kingdom, Germany, New Zealand and Australia each winter season. In the summer months, travelers visit for lift-accessed downhill mountain biking, hiking, sightseeing, whitewater rafting and family activities. In 2022, Panorama will be the first mountain in Canada to host the FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championships. Close to 350 accommodation units are managed by the resort and are included in the RMI program. Invermere’s population is 3391 as at the 2016 Census, an increase of 14.8% from 2955 in 2011. The District experiences large seasonal population changes. Through the winter months, due to the ski season, the population increases from 3400 residents to approximately 5000 on any given weekend and significantly more during the holiday season due to visitors and second homeowners. The months of July and August see a much more substantial increase in population within the District as well as in the unincorporated rural area in the region. District of Invermere Resort Development Strategy 2019-2021 Page | 4 TOURISM INDUSTRY CONTEXT1 Visitors and tourists have been attracted to the hot springs and mountains of the Columbia Valley for over a century. The District of Invermere and surrounding region continue to see the benefits of increased tourism growth, and its importance to the local economy continues to be significant. Bolstered by Panorama Mountain Resort, Invermere is a four season resort destination attracting visitors from all over the world. Close proximity to some of Canada’s most spectacular National Parks, Kootenay National Park and Banff National Park, Invermere provides unparalleled attractions and opportunities. Invermere is anchored by a lively downtown that is occupied by unique, boutique style shops, local restaurants and cafes, and professional services for visitors and residents alike. At the community’s doorstep, visitors and residents have the opportunity to golf, ski, mountain bike, hike, boat and enjoy the wildlife and natural beauty of the physical setting. The Columbia Valley is largely dependent on the Alberta market, with approximately half of visitors coming from Calgary, with other Alberta and BC visitors ranking as second and third most common. With the Alberta economy in an ongoing recession due to the decline in oil prices, consumer confidence and spending has been negatively impacted. The tourism industry continues to play a significant role in the BC economy overall. In 2015, tourism employment grew to 134,300 jobs, and tourism export revenue was estimated at $4.2 billion. The RMI communities contribute 29% ($265M) of the tourism taxes in the province annually and generate 30% of the tourism export revenues ($1.97B) annually. The economic impacts from tourism experienced in Invermere in 2015 was measured as follows (in $ millions): 1 Content drawn from Destination BC Columbia Valley Situation Analysis and the Whistler Centre for Sustainability’s RMI key messages 2018. District of Invermere Resort Development Strategy 2019-2021 Page | 5 More recent tourism performance indicators demonstrated that 2016 was the second consecutive year of exceptional growth for the BC tourism industry with an increase of 12% of total overnight international visitor arrivals (11% growth from the US, 14% from the Asia/Pacific, and 13% from Europe). Over the past decade, there have been substantial shifts in the tourism marketplace that have resulted in the growing importance of the delivery of outstanding travel experiences. High satisfaction with travel experiences is critical to achieve increased visitor spending, longer stays, repeat visits and positive word of mouth referrals. The desired visitor in the Columbia Valley, as described using the Explorer Quotient Traveler Type2, can be defined as those who are predominantly Authentic Experiencers, Cultural Explorers, Free Spirits, Rejuvenators, No-Hassle Travelers, and Gentle Explorers. Core demand generators that motivate travel today in the Columbia Valley include: • Golf courses/resorts – 8 golf courses within a 35 minute drive (end-to-end) • Kootenay National Park/Radium Hot Springs • Lake Windermere/Invermere experiences – lake and wetland experiences • Fairmont Hot Springs Resort • Panorama Mountain Resort • Backcountry lodges including CMH backcountry lodges (Bugaboos, Galena, Bobbie Burns are the closest of 12 lodges), Talus Lodge, Assiniboine Lodge • Second homes 2