A local group is working to raise public awareness of the Columbia Valley in order to boost tourism by appealing to those who don’t know about the natural beauty and exciting activities found in the region.

To spread the word about the local attractions, the Tourism Committee of the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce convened nearby businesses at the Red Deer Home Show held on March 8th and 9th in Alberta. More than 10,000 people attended the two-day event, and it was the committee’s second effort at trade show promotion — the first was back in December at Calgary’s Bankers Hall.

This most recent trade show booth was shared by representatives from Bighorn Meadows, True Key Hotels & Resorts, Fairmont Creek Property Management and the Invermere-Panorama Destination Management Organization.

According to Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce executive director Susan Clovechok, the team promoted a large number of valley businesses while collecting contact information from about 500 visitors.

Yet, after investing the time and resources to operate the trade show unit in Alberta, it can be difficult to assess the success of this kind of outreach.

“The success — if measured — is determined by how many people attend the show and how many contact names they are able to gather at the event,” Mrs. Clovechok told The Valley Echo.

The tourism committee has booked a third trade show at the end of May, which will be held at the Bankers Hall, the same location as the first outreach in December.

Following this third installment, the tourism committee will be showcasing the Columbia Valley through interested media.

“We’re inviting media from Golden, Revelstoke, Cranbrook, and throughout Alberta, to come hang out in the valley and experience the adventures found in Invermere to take advantage of our tourist-related activities and go home and talk about the fun they had,” Mrs. Clovechok said.

The committee participates in matters which “further promote tourism to the Columbia Valley region for the benefit of all community groups, organizations, businesses and individuals,” she said.

Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce members are welcome to join the Tourism Committee.

Weekly meetings take place Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. in the Columbia Valley Chamber office on Highway 93/95.