Only 16 spots are available, so please be sure to register soon!

To register, contact info@timetravelbc.com or download the registration form at http://www.museumsassn.bc.ca/Content/Home.asp

Where and When

Where: Quesnel City Council Chambers
When: Friday, February 3, 2012
Time:    Part 1 Morning Session 9:30 – 11:00 am
Part 2 Afternoon Session 1:00 – 3:30 pm
Cost: No Charge

Workshop focus

• After participating in these workshops you will:
• Understand the different online marketing channels including Social media
• Understand which online opportunities can be most effective for your operation
• Be able to interpret your web stats in an actionable manner
• Have created a high-level online marketing plan for your operation

This one-day event will have two 90-minute sections:

Part 1: Morning presentation by Rob Cooper, marketing professional and founder of PlusROI Online Marketing
Part 2: Afternoon workshop facilitated by Rob Cooper where small groups brainstorm and identify practical webmarketing strategies for each participant (This is a day-long event)

Workshop Details

Web Site Optimization:
Make sure your web site gets visitors to take action

Practical Social Media Strategies:
Simple steps to gain Social traction and deepen visitor engagement

Web Analytics:
Learn simple steps to understand key online indicators

Search Engine Optimization:
How to optimize your site to ensure potential visitors can find you

QR Codes and Mobile Strategies:
Take advantage of mobile trends now and in the future.

Online Advertising Case Studies:
Study practical, affordable and effective  strategies for advertising online

Follow-up webinar in February
This workshop will be supported by a follow up Webinar in February presented by HTA.

To register, click here contact HTA at: info@timetravelbc.com

We look forward to seeing you in Nanaimo!

You provided your email for news from BCMA.

This workshop is being offered with generous support from:

>>Click here to download registeration form (PDF) or contactinfo@timetravelbc.com

Where and When

Where: Nanaimo Museum – Program Room (100 Museum Way at Commercial Street)
When: Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Time:    Part 1 Morning Session 9:30 – 11:00 am
Part 2 Afternoon Session 1:00 – 3:30 pm
Cost: No Charge

Workshop focus

• After participating in these workshops you will:
• Understand the different online marketing channels including Social media
• Understand which online opportunities can be most effective for your operation
• Be able to interpret your web stats in an actionable manner
• Have created a high-level online marketing plan for your operation

This one-day event will have two 90-minute sections:

Part 1: Morning presentation by Rob Cooper, marketing professional and founder of PlusROI Online Marketing
Part 2: Afternoon workshop facilitated by Rob Cooper where small groups brainstorm and identify practical webmarketing strategies for each participant (This is a day-long event)

Workshop Details

Web Site Optimization:
Make sure your web site gets visitors to take action

Practical Social Media Strategies:
Simple steps to gain Social traction and deepen visitor engagement

Web Analytics:
Learn simple steps to understand key online indicators

Search Engine Optimization:
How to optimize your site to ensure potential visitors can find you

QR Codes and Mobile Strategies:
Take advantage of mobile trends now and in the future.

Online Advertising Case Studies:
Study practical, affordable and effective  strategies for advertising online

Follow-up webinar in February
This workshop will be supported by a follow up Webinar in February presented by HTA.

To register, click here contact HTA at: info@timetravelbc.com

We look forward to seeing you in Nanaimo!

Photo courtesy West Chilcotin Tourism Association

If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, why not check out the West Chilcotin. It’s about as far-out a place as you can get to in British Columbia, and is rugged and generally overlooked by hordes of tourists that flock to more easily accessible locations.

It’s almost the same tableau Sir Alexander MacKenzie would have seen as he made his way to the Pacific Ocean after crossing the Rocky Mountains in

Most of the West Chilcotin is located on a high interior plateau in the rain shadow extending to the north of the Coast Mountain ranges (themselves standing like a snowy fortress north of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland).

While this elevated plateau is warm and dry in summer, and quite cold in the winter, some parts of the region benefit from the warming influences of the Pacific Ocean – you’ll find the wetter, more rainforest type vegetation typical of the BC coast.

The West Chilcotin area itself is divided into a number of subregions – this interactive map provides more information. Isolated and spectacular Tweedsmuir Park defines the landscape. Says the West Chilcotin Tourism Association:

North Tweedsmuir is only accessible by floatplane or hiking from the Chilcotin side. If you would like more information from Parks you’ll find it here at North Tweedsmuir Park.

South Tweedsmuir Park, which forms the north western boundary of the West Chilcotin, is 506,000 hectares and Highway 20 goes right through the middle of it. However, that’s pretty much the extent of ‘easy’ park access. The rest of the park is pure wilderness and a summer and winter playground for outdoor enthusiasts.

Another spectacular feature of the region is famed Freedom Highway (Hwy 20), which travels down the steep slopes of the interior plateau to Bella Coola and the Pacific Ocean, part of a circle tour that extends to Vancouver Island, and back to the Lower Mainland.. The mostly unpaved road is not for the faint-hearted – here’s some YouTube video of the Heckman’s Pass part of the road.

The original road was almost entirely by using funding and support from local residents.

Of course, since most of the region is so unspoiled and relatively inaccessible, trailriding is extremely popular, as is hiking and wilderness touring, fishing, big game hunting, and kayaking. Mountain biking and bicycle touring are also draws in this part of the province.

So if you’re looking for a BC wilderness or ranching vacation, it’s probably a good idea to talk to the people at the West Chilcotin Tourism Association. The have great information on vacation packages.

And be sure to like their Facebook page!

We’d like to let you know about a couple of exciting recent “wins” for heritage tourism operators, plus the upcoming launch of HTA website improvements and our new mobile apps. Help us get the web-savvy word out to your colleagues by liking us on Facebook!
Successful November online marketing workshop in East Kootenay, January webinar in the works

On November 4th, HTA hosted a workshop in Kimberley, “Online Marketing for Heritage Tourism Operators”. This one-day intensive session helped participants learn about effective (and low/no-cost!) online marketing techniques for their attractions.

We’ve been hearing some great feedback from participants:

“The workshop was really wonderful: it was so helpful, though kind of mind-boggling!”

To help participants put what they learned into practice, we are now planning a follow-up webinar to be held in January.

As well, for more information about the next full one-day web marketing workshop in January in Nanaimo, stay tuned. Or contact us anytime atinfo@timetravelbc.com.

Official www.TimeTravelBC.com launch

We’re going live! At the BC Museums Association 1-Day Conference in Vancouver, on Friday, December 9, we’ll be officially launching the TimeTravelBC website. The conference will be co-hosted by BCMA, the Museum of Vancouver and the HR MacMillan Space Centre. For more details click here.

TimeTravelBC.com – helping more than 200 heritage attractions

TimeTravelBC.com website is helping nearly 200 heritage attractions across BC promote themselves – and BC’s unique heritage – in innovative and engaging ways. Have you signed up?

Besides offering heritage listings, calendar events and blog posts about heritage attractions and BC history, TimeTravelBC.com is a truly interactive experience, allowing website visitors to construct their own original tours, and share them with friends online.

BothTimeTravelBC.com website will be launched on Friday, December 9 at the BCMA 1-Day Conference, graciously co-hosted by BCMA, the Museum of Vancouver and the HR MacMillan Space Centre. For more details click here

New mobile apps

Since the number of visitors to heritage tourism sites using smart phones is growing, we’re launching a new mobile apps that allow anyone with a smart phone to easily find out more information about your attraction and recommend it online to others. These phones really are ‘smart’ – the new HTA app alerts user to the nearest heritage attraction.

Will it be yours?

Until next time

It’s been a great year with some great accomplishments. We’re looking forward to an even busier 2012. Talk with with you soon.

The Interpretive Centre itself is located on the lower level of the St. Eugene Golf Resort Casino, and features displays of traditional stone, bead, hide works, as well as wood and cloth crafts, and is dedicated to preserving and restoring Ktunaxa and Kinbasket traditional cultural knowledge through the study of ethnographic objects, photographs, and historic records.

In many ways, the Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre realizes the vision of Mary Paul, a Ktunaxa Elder who said in 1984:

Since it was within that building that the culture of the Kootenay Indian was taken away, that it should be within that building that it is returned.

The building in question is the St. Eugene Mission, a former residential school that was, for most of the past century, essentially dedicated to wiping out Ktunaxa language and culture, and replacing both with English and Roman Catholicism.

The mission has been converted into a dazzling destination resort located just five minutes from Cranbrook’s international airport, and features a beautiful hotel, a casino, and a prize-winning golf course.

But the Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre, opened this past spring, is the true heart of St. Eugene Mission, and is open year-round Monday to Friday from 9-5pm, and is closed at noon for lunch.

TimeTravelBC frequently posts on things to do near Cranbrook and other BC locations.

The article can be read here.

Amos’ profile of Ross provides an interesting insight into not only how heritage sites such as Emily Carr House are operated, but also the history of curation in the Victoria region.

A native of Victoria, Oak Bay high school graduate Ross graduated from the University of Victoria after studying art history, and has worked everywhere from the Maltwood Gallery to Fort Rodd Hill. She’s a true professional, dedicated to preserving local heritage and history.

Here’s a YouTube video where she explains more about EC House:

The exhibit, entitled Who Am I? explores the lives of Chinese migrants who came to Barkerville in the late 19th and early 20th centuries during the gold rush. It is expected to be on display at the Guangdong museum in Guangzhou in the spring of 2013.

It’s a great step forward for Chinese tourism in BC.

Read more here on the BC government website.

Combine shopping with a cultural experience

Christmas is just over a month away, and we’re all thinking about shopping. There’s plenty to go shopping in the Victoria region, from visiting Santa at the local mall, or traveling out to one of the big box stores on the outskirts of town. However, this kind of shopping is a depersonalized experience, and often not all that enjoyable.

Why not find a historical attraction, and combine shopping with culture?

Victoria Art Gallery Christmas Small Works Show

For example, the Greater Victoria Art Gallery will be hosting a Christmas Small Works Show and Sale from Saturday, November 19 at 10:00am to Sunday, January 1, 2012. Presented by Art Rental & Sales in the historic Massey Gallery, these original pieces of art sell for only $100-$150 per piece. A favourite with Christmas shoppers, this show is a must for anyone looking for a unique and affordable gift.

Christmas at Craigdarroch Castle

Although Craigdarroch Castle will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, decorating the Castle for the Christmas season takes a full month! The transformation is amazing as the rooms are presented in traditional Victorian fashion complete with Victorian toys. Also featured throughout the home are several Christmas trees. And of course, a gift shop.

Butchart Gardens Christmas

December 1st, 2011 marks the start of the 25th season of festive Christmas displays. Tens of thousands of coloured lights combine with evergreen swags and wreaths of holly and winter berries to line walkways and festoon lamp posts. The ever-popularTwelve Days of Christmas displays are tucked away about The Gardens.

It’s a great way to celebrate the winter season, and, most importantly if you are hunting for Christmas gift ideas, the Seed & Gift Store has plenty of potential unique presents to choose from.

These have been just a few Christmas gift ideas in Victoria BC… Stay tuned for more!

Using Online Strategies to Increase Visitors to Your Attraction

Where: Kimberley Conference Centre
When: November 4, 2011
Time:    Part 1 Morning Session 9:30 – 11:00 am and Part 2Afternoon Session 1:00 – 3:30 pm
Cost: No Charge

Workshop focus

After participating in these workshops you will:

• Understand the different online marketing channels including Social media
• Understand which online opportunities can be most effective for your operation
• Be able to interpret your web stats in an actionable manner
• Have created a high-level online marketing plan for your operation

This one-day event will have two 90-minute sections:

Part 1: Morning presentation by Rob Cooper, marketing professional and founder of PlusROI Online Marketing
Part 2: Afternoon workshop facilitated by Rob Cooper where small groups brainstorm and identify practical webmarketing strategies for each participant (This is a day-long event)

Workshop Details

Web Site Optimization:
Make sure your web site gets visitors to take action
Practical Social Media Strategies:
Simple steps to gain Social traction and deepen visitor engagement
Web Analytics:
Learn simple steps to understand key online indicators
Search Engine Optimization:
How to optimize your site to ensure potential visitors can find you
QR Codes and Mobile Strategies:
Take advantage of mobile trends now and in the future.
Online Advertising Case Studies:
Study practical, affordable and effective  strategies for advertising online

Follow-up webinar in January

This workshop will be supported by a follow up Webinar in January presented by HTA.

To register, contact HTA at:info@timetravelbc.com

We look forward to seeing you in Kimberley!

This workshop is being offered with generous support from: