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    Board Of Directors

How Indigenous Tourism BC is Governed

The Board of Directors at Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC) provides strategic direction and leadership to the organization. The ITBC Board is composed of six regional, six at large, and one ex-officio position for a total of 13 positions.

Some of the professional duties of the Board of Directors are:

  • Develop and adopt policies and procedures governing all aspects of the Society including staff employment, management, and administration
  • Advise the Members of the Society on activities of the Society and make recommendations to the members for their consideration and action
  • Oversee the management of funds of the Society and raise funds for the Society

There are currently three standing committees: Finance, Governance and Marketing. Each board member serves a two-year term and is elected by voting Stakeholders as needed at the AGM.

To learn more about the roles and responsibilities of ITBC’s Board of Directors, read the bylaws here.

 

Meet our Board of Directors

Brenda Baptiste

Director At-large, Nk’Mip Campground, Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, Nk’Mip Cellars

Lori Simcox

Director for the Vancouver, Coast and Mountains Region, Takaya Tours

Sharon Bond

Director At-Large, Kekuli Cafe

Chyanne Trenholm

Director for the Vancouver Island Region, Homalco Wildlife and Cultural Tours

Jenna Bower

Director At-large, Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre

Leslie Brown

Director for the Northern BC Region, Davidson’s Descendants

Maria Clark

Director at-Large, Best Western at Tin Wis

Elijah Mack

Director At-Large - Kekuli Cafe Merritt & Kamloops

Kathy Brown

Director For Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Region - SeeQuest Development

Brenda Baptiste

Director At-large, Nk’Mip Campground, Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, Nk’Mip Cellars

Brenda worked with OIB on the marketing and development of Nk’ mip Desert Cultural Centre and was responsible for project planning, product and program development, marketing, fundraising, and management of the 12 million dollar capital project.

Brenda was Director, Aboriginal Business Showcase for the Four Host Nations at the 2010 Olympics. She has also held the position of Chief Administration Officer for the Tsleil Waututh First Nation, where she worked with the leadership, staff, and community in the areas of economic, social, and community development, and administration and governance. Brenda actively promotes tourism as a foundation for socio-economic development for Indigenous communities.

Lori Simcox

Director for the Vancouver, Coast and Mountains Region, Takaya Tours

Lori sat on the technical working board for the Four Host First Nations Olympic Secretariat and volunteered with Start-Up Canada. She was involved in the development of Takaya Tours Inc., an award-winning tourism business, and in teaching a course on Indigenous Tourism at the Canadian Tourism College in Vancouver.  She is appointed to the Board of Governors of Royal Roads University.   She currently operates Spal General Constructors Corp. as CEO and is co-owner of Unity Clothing Inc. in North Vancouver.

Sharon Bond

Director At-Large, Kekuli Cafe

The recent sale of Kekuli Cafe Merritt makes Kekuli the first Indigenous restaurant franchise in Canada, with many more franchises to come. Sharon shares her Nlaka’pamux heritage and traditions at Kekuli, to educate the public, create a welcoming environment, and bring Indigenous foods and tourism offerings to the public. She offers her passion, perseverance, knowledge of business start-ups, outside-the-box thinking, and strong sense of sustainable and social responsibility to Indigenous Tourism BC.

 

Chyanne Trenholm

Director for the Vancouver Island Region, Homalco Wildlife and Cultural Tours

With a Bachelor of Tourism Management and a Minor in Recreation from Vancouver Island University, Chyanne’s passion is for creating capacity within Indigenous communities through tourism development while aiding in cultural revitalization. Chyanne is the Office Manager for her Nations award – winning ecotourism business, Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours, which welcomes visitors to experience the traditional lands of the Homalco people in Bute Inlet, BC.

Jenna Bower

Director At-large, Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre

Throughout high school and University Jenna has always worked in tourism. During the summers in high school she worked in a variety of tourism jobs during the week, and on the weekends Jenna was on the Field Hockey BC provincial team. Jenna’s first job was working the front desk at the Nk’Mip Campground and RV Park, answering phones, booking reservations and doing site checks. The following summer she moved to the Campground store to work in retail for three years. Jenna assisted in ordering new product, taking count of existing product, and performed cash out duties. From there she went to work for Spirit Beach Watersports for two years where she coordinated bookings, handled contracts for boat rentals, and did end of the day paperwork. Jenna has also worked in the restaurant industry, as a server at the Spirit Ridge Resort restaurant and the Spirit Beach Cantina. While Jenna was attending University, she played on the Varsity Field Hockey team, volunteered at the Children’s Hospital, and in the summers, she worked for the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre (NDCC). Jenna started as an interpreter where she directed guided walks, handled snakes, and performed cultural programs such as sukʷnaʔqin traditional dancing, singing, drumming and powwow dancing of jingle and fancy. Once Jenna graduated University in 2020 with a BA in International Indigenous Studies with a minor in Law and Society, she was hired as the Cultural Coordinator at NDCC. Where she trains and assists interpreters, supervises day to day operations, organizes fundraising events, and assists in retail with orders. Jenna also works with sukʷnaʔqinx elders on nsyilxcən language documentation, transcribing and historical accuracy. Jenna has consulted and edited works for the town of Oliver, Osoyoos, Thompson Rivers University, and On This Spot Historical Tours. She has conducted cultural sensitivity training for non-Indigenous people. As current Cultural Coordinator and now Manager in Training, Jenna is taking the lead of designing the interpretive cultural experiences at NDCC. Through leading the design of the new replicated sukʷnaʔqin Okanagan village and pit house, cultural knowledge and accuracy is her number one priority. The Oliver and District Heritage Society approached Jenna at NDCC to be a consultant on a historical book forOliver called 100×100. Through multiple meetings and edits of their book, and by insuring the cultural and historical accuracy through upholding sukʷnaʔqin oral histories, on behalf of the Osoyoos Indian Band, they made her co-editor of the book (currently in print). Jenna was also recently hired by the Okanagan Nation Alliance Fisheries as Head Researcher to work with elders, collect data and write a report on the Cultural Significance of Chinook Salmon. Upholding the sukʷnaʔqin traditions, culture, knowledge and language has always been Jenna’s highest priority. Her passion is learning from her elders and speaking her Native language, nsyilxcən. To further this passion she has been committed to further her knowledge of nsyilxcən through two four year language cohorts. One is with the OIB language house; Jenna is on her third year and has received 4 certificates with over 700 hours of fluency. In the second cohort, partnered with NVIT, the Enowkin Centre and University of British Columbia Okanagan, she has obtained her language Certificate and is currently a teacher’s assistant, while receiving her language Diploma. After the Diploma, Jenna will continue for two more years and receive her Bachelor of Nsyilxcən Language Fluency Degree at UBCO with aspirations of obtaining her Masters.

Jenna has a passion for learning and sharing sukʷnaʔqin language and culture with her community and with non-Indigenous people, and the way to do this is through Indigenous tourism.

Leslie Brown

Director for the Northern BC Region, Davidson’s Descendants

Leslie Brown, born and raised on Haida Gwaii, is a dedicated small business owner who, along with her family, operates a family-owned business on the islands. Deeply engaged in her community, Leslie has contributed her leadership by serving on both the Council of the Haida Nation and the Old Massett Village Council. Her experience offers valuable insight into how Boards and Administration can collaborate effectively toward a shared vision.

With a strong commitment to the growth of her business and her contributions to the Tourism Industry on Haida Gwaii, Leslie brings a fresh perspective as a business owner, having previously worked on the administrative side. Her background enables her to bridge business and governance, furthering the region’s economic and cultural development.

Maria Clark

Director at-Large, Best Western at Tin Wis

Maria is a longstanding Tofino local with family ties to the land. As the Assistant General Manager at Tin Wis Best Western, Maria prides herself on the many hats she wears at Tin Wis. She plays an integral role in the guest experience, leading a staff of 75 and overseeing many day-to-day operations. Maria is currently completing a Human Resource Certification from Cornell University and holds numerous certifications through Best Western International University and professional associations.

During her tenure at Tis Wis Resort, Maria has advanced through a number of key roles and received an Award of Excellence for Housekeeping. Maria is grateful to call Tofino home, and she finds joy in sharing its history with visitors from across the globe.

Maria’s is on a new chapter in life with grown children and new grandchildren, her time is dedicated to discovering untraveled places on the Island and in BC.

Elijah Mack

Director At-Large - Kekuli Cafe Merritt & Kamloops

Recipient of “Youth Entrepreneur of the Year” 2019 ANTCO. Recipient of “Young Indigenous Business of the Year” 2021 for BC Achievement Foundation. 27 year old Indigenous Leader from Nuxalk Nation, and I am the owner/operator of Kekuli Cafe in Merritt and Kamloops. 

Dedication and leadership have driven my success over the last decade. From being the first Indigenous Cuisine Franchise in Canada at 22, to being the President of BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres at 25. I have had the opportunity to create safe spaces for our young aspiring indigenous people. Including hosting Gathering our Voices 2016-2023, and being a co-developer for an MBA in Advanced Reconciliation through UVic. 

Indigenous Governance, Youth mentorship, Leadership Training, Cultural Gatherings, Reconciliation implementations, and Economic Development. These are a few skillsets that all coincide with the work I will bring to Indigenous Tourism of BC. I believe that our Youth are not the leaders of tomorrow, they are the leaders of today. If we are thinking of tomorrow, it’s already too late. 

Kathy Brown

Director For Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Region - SeeQuest Development

Kathy is Nuu Chah Nulth married into and a member of the Heiltsuk First Nation; and mother of four beautiful children. As an experienced educator, coach, mentor, and certified life skills instructor, I remain committed to being a lifelong learner.

She completed the Indigenous Corporate Relations and Knowledge Management programs Royal Roads University. In addition I have attained certificates in tourism programs through Malaspina College, (VIU) and other managerial and computer courses through PBS in Vancouver. All of which helped become founder and creator of the Bella Bella Business Service Centre, Bella Bella Call Centre, http://www.nalaservices.com/

Kathy taught at the Heiltsuk College in Bella Bella for several years. She has supported and been a participant on the tribal journeys for the past seven years. She enjoys canoeing and being out on the water.

Cliff face in BC

Goals

  • Leverage collaborative partnerships at the local, provincial and national level
  • Lead by being an engaging, innovative and results focused team.
  • A focused and insightful marketing strategy
  • Accelerate Authentic Experience Development
  • Establish a strong Indigenous Tourism Story to exhibit leadership within the Sector
  • Support the Growth of Indigenous Economies
  • Increase capacity and competitiveness of Indigenous businesses

Board Governance Disclosure

Indigenous Tourism BC adheres to the disclosure requirements included in the Best Practice Guidelines developed by the provincial government.