Route Rationale
We have chosen to focus on an arts and cultural route through the TOTA region for a few reasons. One of these reasons is that the TOTA region is rich in Indigenous culture. TOTA works with 33 Indigenous communities throughout the region, and this connects the route with opportunities for education and engagement of tourists with elements of these cultures. Another reason we have chosen to focus on this route is because of how it will support the Theatrical and Arts communities. At all times, but particularly during COVID-19 when the arts community is being hit very hard financially due to closures of venues and events ETC, they need the support of arts-lovers. We have chosen to focus on family-friendly venues and Theatre groups who perform in unique, outdoor venues, or who have developed online-delivery formats for continuing to present their art. To be able to market them and help support the income of revenue would certainly help to boost this community. Finally, this route expands the average tourist’s perception of tourism in BC by showing them the possibilities of arts and cultural activities in BC’s interior regions. Through this route, we also hope to strengthen connections between DMO’s in the TOTA region.
Through the SWOT analysis, we would like to promote a performing arts and cultures routes named “Sailing through the arts”. As all of the destinations In this route are theatres and events that are located or related to a river or a lake, visitors have chances to experience the different cultures and arts flows in each town in Thompson Okanagan region. visitors can enjoy many unique theatre plays on open air stages and local cultures with their family. From the extraordinary designed performances to the biggest First Nation cultural event, this route promises to take you and your family to a memorable and emotional arts and cultures adventure.
Target Market
While closed border order is in effect, the main target market of this route is the Western Canadian. We are focusing on Millennials with young children and above the Canadian average income. According to the Explorer Quotient Profile of Destination Canada, this route is created for the Free Spirits as 48% of them are families who love to attend actively in social events and festivals, as well as to experience unique arts and cultures.
Link to route map for group six.
Route Point 1
This program is organized through the Kamloops Arts Council to provide paid opportunities for Theatre students who are currently enrolled in university to develop skills in such things as play-writing, directing, design and public engagement. The program focusses on providing child and family-centered entertainment. Prior to the Pandemic, the River-Town players performed at numerous outdoor venues in and around Kamloops. This past summer, they moved the program to a virtual-delivery model to allow for social-distanced viewing through Vimio.
Experience: Educational, engaging and fun performances for children and their families.
Location: Pre-Pandemic: Various locations in and around Kamloops including, but not limited to Sun Peaks and Merritt. Most shows are held in Kamloops.
Route Point 2
Shuswap Theatre is an amateur community theatre offering high quality performances to the Shuswap area. Walk-About-Theatre was one of Shuswap Theatre’s solutions for returning to the stage while respecting health restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.Performances will be 10 minutes in length, with small, physically distanced audiences rotating from stage to stage to take in each theatrical offering. This is a perfect outdoor activity for families to enrich their lives through diverse and inspiring live entertainment and opportunities for creative dramatic experience.
During the pandemic, they postponed indefinitely the show since March 17th, and had their first walk-about theatre on August 28th-29th, and another one will be on October 16th on their calendar.
Route Point 3
Caravan Farm Theatre is an open air theatre which is well known as its creativeness and uniqueness in every play since 1978. Choosing the land as the venue, the fields and forests as the stages, this is a perfect outdoor theatre for families to enjoy the unique arts and unforgettable emotions together in nature. Every production in Caravan will lead you to an extraordinary world of happiness and mystery.
Caravan Farm Theatre is open year-round with a variety of experiences in each season. Some of the spectacular shows are “The Coyotes”, a magic and fairytale in summer, “The Gift Of The Magi”, a sleigh riding show in winter and “The Walk of Terror”, a walk-through experience with impressive sound and visual performances. This is a cultural event unlike any other, completely Canadian, and one your friends will envy you for until they seek it out themselves. This is a handful of Canada’s best stage actors performing a gem of a musical under the stars in a breathtaking field. Besides the main performing arts, you and your family can enjoy the music, local craft beer and wine, as well as non-alcoholic beverages and free marshmallow for the kids.
Although the theatre cancelled the summer 2020 season shows, they are coming back with an amazing walk-through show, The Walk of Terror in October 2020, and is expecting to bring more unique experiences for the visitors with COVID-19 protocols in effect in the next summer.
Route Point 4
Historic O’Keefe Ranch is a historic ranch in the Okanagan region of British Columbia. The ranch was founded in 1867, and it has many valuable historical artifacts. Some of them are housed in an on-site museum, and visitors can see them. Also, there are ten main historic buildings from the 19th century, and these open from May to October. Visiting the Historic O’Keefe Ranch, you can step back in time to the early days of the Okanagan Valley. This site gives your family the opportunities to learn the history and culture of the Okanagan, and you can feel to be part of the 19th-century era.
Historic O’Keefe Ranch is providing some activities.
1, Cowboy Campfire (July)
In the evening, cowboys start to gather around the campfire, and they perform to sing songs, tell stories, and cowboy poetry of adventure. Historic O’Keefe Ranch keeps doing this performance to share cowboy traditions with guests. Families can join this performance and get new experiences. Mostly, kids can enjoy learning about cowboy traditional stories.
2, Ghost & Cemetery Tour (August)
Historic O’Keefe Ranch brings guests to the popular Ghost Tours. Visitors can explore the ghost world while they are listening to ghost stories. This tour may not be for small children, but if they are interested in ghosts, they must be excited and feel enthusiastic moments through these tours. This ghost tour has been run by Mr. Newman for seventeen years. He encourages people to join this tour to learn about many of the people buried in the cemetery under unmarked graves.
Route Point 5
Between The Lakes Pow Wow is an annual Indigenous event showcasing culture of the Syilx (Okanagan) people, taking place by the Outma Sqilx’w Cultural School on the Penticton Indian Band area in Penticton. It is well known as the biggest First Nations cultural event in the South Okanagan. This outdoor and family-friendly event consists of a variety of performances, activities, vendors selling handmade arts and crafts, dance competitions, regalia show and so much more. This festival not only attracts visitors from all over the world but also is a great opportunity for different First Nations communities across Western Canada and USA to celebrate and showcase their traditions together. Hundreds of dancers from 150+ Indigenous bands from all groups of age attend this festival every year.
Visitors can learn about tradition and culture of the South Okanagan and many Indigenous communities across Canada, in addition to drumming culture, regalia outfits and so on.
Single day tickets are at $5/day and weekend passes are $10 for both Saturday and Sunday. Kids under 5 get free entries.
This annual event takes place every second weekend of August for 3 days starting from Friday at 7.00PM and ending on Sunday late afternoon.