Chamber unveils plan for local businesses to get a piece of the action during BC Seniors Games
By Kyra Hoggan
The Castlegar & District Chamber of Commerce has come up with a plan to help local businesses get in on the windfall that is the BC Seniors’ Games, according to executive director Pam McLeod.
“We’re fortunate in Castlegar, in that all of the 3,200 athletes competing in the Games have to go through an accreditation process to participate,” McLeod said. “That process will be administrated only in Castlegar, so this provides us with an opportunity to showcase the region.” She said the promotion isn’t Castlegar-centric – all area business are welcome to participate. She said, since athletes will likely stay in whichever community they’re competing, the chamber has opened this venue up to the entire tri-city area, including Castlegar, Nelson and Trail. “We’ll have a Community Village set up, and we’ll have a booth there that will be manned all the time,” she said. “It’s not for vendors – it’s more for local governments and organizations – but we’ll have coupons and brochures from local restaurants, accommodation providers, retailers – anyone who wants in. “We’ll be promoting the region; what there is to see and do here – we plan to fill up all the athletes’ spare time.” She said this is the first year the athletes don’t get meals provided with their accreditation, so they’ll be looking for local restaurants and grocers and food vendors – that, on top of the hotels and motels, souvenir shops, museums, artisans, clothing stores, etc. “This is an amazing opportunity to show people what we have to offer, and generate traffic for local businesses,” she said. “It’s also dovetails perfectly with our ongoing ‘Shop Local’ campaigns.” To get in on the activity, all a business has to do is provide brochures or coupons for the chamber to display in its booth. Contact 250-365-6313 for more information.
