Business chambers from British Columbia’s resort communities, including several from the Kootenays, have united to form a new alliance aimed at strengthening their voice on regional issues, starting with immigration reform.
The Resort Chambers of Commerce Coalition (RCCC) officially launched this month, bringing together 14 chambers from provincially designated resort municipalities across B.C.
The founding members include:
- Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce (Invermere)
- Fernie Chamber of Commerce
- Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce
- Kimberley and District Chamber of Commerce
- Kicking Horse Country Chamber of Commerce (Golden)
- Trail and District Chamber of Commerce
Other founding members come from resort towns like Whistler, Tofino and Ucluelet, all of which face similar economic and social challenges driven by tourism-dependent economies.
A united voice for tourism-driven communities
Seasonal labour shortages, housing pressures, infrastructure strain and maintaining quality of life for residents are top concerns in many of these small communities.
“By coming together, we can advocate with a stronger, more coordinated voice,” said Caroline Lachapelle, RCCC chair and executive director of the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce. “This coalition allows us to better champion the needs of resort economies and the businesses that power them.”
In their first joint advocacy effort, the RCCC successfully submitted a policy resolution to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce focused on immigration and workforce gaps in resort towns.
The policy urges the federal government to adapt the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) so that resort communities, often excluded due to population thresholds, can qualify for support. The resolution calls for:
- Expanding RCIP eligibility to include resort-based municipalities
- Adapting population and geographic criteria for communities reliant on tourism
- Ensuring local stakeholders, such as municipal governments and businesses, are involved in implementation
The proposal received overwhelming support at the Canadian Chamber’s national AGM in October, with 94 per cent of delegates voting in favour.
What’s next for the Kootenay chambers?
The RCCC plans to work closely with the Canadian Chamber’s Future of Work department and federal officials responsible for tourism and immigration to advance the policy.
“Resort communities across Canada face similar workforce challenges,” said Lachapelle. “By presenting a united voice, we can bring national attention to the need for immigration solutions that reflect the realities of our local economies.”
While the RCCC currently consists of chambers from B.C., the coalition is now welcoming other resort-area chambers from across Canada. For Kootenay businesses and communities, this collaboration marks a major step forward in shaping federal policy that better reflects mountain town realities.
