FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2023
Syilx (Okanagan)/Kelowna, B.C. – The Retail Cannabis Council of BC (RCCBC) and BC Craft Farmers Co-op (BCCFC) have released the BC Cannabis Summit’s opening day agenda for Friday, April 21, 2023. The second BC Cannabis Summit is scheduled to take place April 21-23, 2023 on the traditional and unceded territory of Syilx Okanagan People in Kelowna, B.C.
The Summit’s Opening Day theme is Open for Business: Opportunities for Cannabis Tourism, Job Creation and Economic Development. Summit Registration opens at 11:00 a.m. on April 21. The agenda features opening speakers, a leadership panel and a lakeside cannabis celebration at 4:20 p.m.
Opening Speakers will include:
- Representatives of Westbank First Nation, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada and Tourism Kelowna
- MLA Brittny Anderson (Nelson-Creston): BC Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism and BC Premier’s Special Advisor for Youth
RCCBC and BCCFC are excited to announce Michelle Mungall, former Nelson-Creston MLA and BC Minister for Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness (2020) and Minister for Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources (2017-2020) will host a leadership panel. Among other things, Michelle and the panel will discuss the scale of BC’s cannabis tourism and job creation opportunity – and the barriers to realizing this potential. Read Michelle’s bio below.
RCCBC and BCCFC are also excited to confirm the BC Cannabis Summit’s Opening Day leadership panel will include a special presentation from Dr. Susan Dupej, the President of the Canadian Cannabis Tourism Alliance. Susan is also the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Guelph in the School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management. Read Susan’s bio below.
More details about the opening day agenda are available at bccannabissummit.ca. More speakers and Summit partners will be announced over the coming days.
Since the 2023 Summit was launched earlier this year, BCCFC and RCCBC have announced All Nations Mestiyexw as this year’s title partner in addition to plans for a keynote address from BC’s Deputy Premier, Hon. Mike Farnworth. The Weed Pool Cannabis Cooperative was also confirmed as the returning lead partner from 2022.
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Media Contact:
BC Cannabis Summit: assistantsecretary@bccraftfarmerscoop.com
Friday, April 21: Open for Business: Opportunities for Cannabis Tourism, Job Creation and Economic Development
11:00 am | Registration Opens – Eldorado Hotel and Manteo Resort
1:00 pm | Opening Ceremony – Eldorado Hotel
- Representatives of Westbank First Nation, Tourism Kelowna and Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada TBC
- MLA Brittny Anderson (Nelson-Creston): BC Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism and BC Premier’s Special Advisor for Youth
2:15 pm | Lakeside Patio Break – Manteo Resort
2:45 pm | Panel: Cannabis Tourism and Economic Development – Eldorado Hotel
What is the scale of BC’s cannabis tourism and job creation opportunity – and the barriers to realizing this potential?
- Panel Host: Michelle Mungall-BC Minister of Jobs, Economic former Nelson Creston MLA and BC Minister of Jobs, Economic Development, Competitiveness and Natural Resources (2009-2020)
- Presentation: Dr. Susan Dupej: President of Canadian Cannabis Tourism Alliance; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Guelph in the School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management (15 min)
- Panel participants to be announced
4:20 pm | Welcome Reception and Cannabis Celebration – Eldorado Rooftop Patio
6:30 pm | Networking – Manteo Village and Lakeside Patio
About Michelle Mungall
Michelle is a go-getter, a problem solver and a passionate voice for those she represents. After serving as her community’s youngest City Councillor in history, she was elected as the region’s first female Member of BC’s Legislative Assembly and served 12 years building strong relationships with her colleagues, First Nations, and other levels of government.
In 2017, Michelle was appointed as Minister for Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources in the John Horgan government. There, she steered major files in energy and mining, as well as the transition to zero-emission vehicles. Shortly after she took on the Ministry for Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness, the pandemic happened. Michelle worked closely with small businesses and key economic sectors to plan for economic mitigation and recovery. At that same time, Michelle also successfully advocated for economic development programs that supported her local cannabis industry’s move into the legal market.
Michelle was born and raised in Alberta before moving to Nelson, BC in 2002. She continues to reside in Nelson with her husband and two children where they enjoy all the mountains have to offer.
About Dr. Susan Dupej
Dr. Susan Dupej is a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Guelph in the School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management, in Ontario, Canada. Her research investigates the social and economic impacts of federally legalized cannabis on Canada’s tourism industry. Her current areas of study include cannabis normalization, socially responsible consumption, motivations and interests of the canna-tourist, the development of cannabis farm-to-gate sales, and the opportunities for cannabis agritourism in Canada. Dr. Dupej is a Sessional Lecturer at the University of Guelph and teaches a variety of tourism and geography courses. She is also a co-founder and President of the Canadian Cannabis Tourism Alliance (CCTA).