APRIL 2009 - VANCOUVER

At the annual conference of the Culinary Tourism Society of BC (CTSBC) in Vancouver in early March, one fact stood out; the Comox Valley is becoming renowned throughout the province for its “food culture”.

The CTSBC is dedicated to “developing, implementing and maintaining programs to increase the sale of BC cuisine and to increase the flow of tourism dollars in culinary tourism establishments across BC”  As well, its mandate is to “recognize and promote those businesses across BC currently providing an exemplary BC culinary tourism experience.”

The CTSBC invited Tricia and Ronald St. Pierre, owners of Locals - Food from the Heart of the Island in Courtenay, were invited to share their story of how they developed their restaurant concept, as Locals is recognized as an innovative culinary tourism experience.  Conference goers watched a photo journey projected overhead which was created by locals’ in-house photographer Lia McCormick as Tricia described how Locals meets the 10 criteria set out in the highly esteemed CTSBC Certification Program; “Service, Value, Uniqueness, Quality, Integrity, Informative Experience, environmental Sustainability, Local Favourite, and Authenticity”.  Conference members shared their admiration for the success of such local food initiatives and acknowledged that the Comox Valley is putting itself on the culinary and agricultural tourism map. Conference members shared their admiration for the success of such local food initiatives and acknowledged that the Comox Valley is putting itself on the culinary and agricultural tourism map.

The CTSBC has been tracking noticeable changes as to how people view their food.  Buying habits are shifting with “food currently tied with health as our 4th top spending priority”. Good food value is increasingly recognized for its nutritional qualities, and eating locally sourced foods is synonymous with eating healthy.  People want to know where, when, how and by whom their food is produced.  Another impact of eating locally sourced foods is the direct benefit to the local economy, while reducing our carbon footprint.  The CTSBC stated that “90% of local money spent on local food is re-circulated into the local economy”. eating locally sourced foods is healthy in many ways and on many levels.

Locals Restaurant has been awarded the distinction of being a

CERTIFIED DESTINATION 2009

with the Culinary Tourism Society of BC.