Manning the front desk of the Squamish Visitor Information Centre are some very competent and professional individuals. So impressive in fact, they were chosen to represent B.C. at The British Columbia Experience in San Francisco.
Thirty representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Arts and visitor centres across B.C. were selected to take part in the spring and summer marketing blitz from April 8 to 18.
Over 170 applications were received from 400 centres across B.C. and of the 30 selected, all three who applied from the Squamish Tourism Visitor Centre were chosen.
"Like I've always said," said Kenny Music manager for the Chamber of Commerce, which oversees the centre, "I've got the best team in the corridor and this just proves it."
Music said no other visitor centre had three representatives chosen.
The British Columbia Experience transformed Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco into an opportunity to check out first-hand what B.C. was all about, and included plenty of Olympic-themed imagery.
Canadian gold medallists Ashleigh McIvor and Shani Davis launched the event, and one of the biggest attractions - as was the case in Robson Square during the Games - was a 600-foot urban zip line ride.
"It was one of the most popular attractions during the event," said Visitor Centre manager Laura-Lee Konkin. "No one could believe it was free."
Having three locals at the event was a perk for Squamish Tourism thanks in no small part to some creative thinking on visitor centre counsellor Sam Yu's part.
"People started lining up for the zip line super early so we talked to a lot of them one on one," said Yu.
"And there was huge banner that said 'Welcome to the B.C. experience' with a hiker and a really gorgeous lake behind. So when they asked what lake it was, I said it was Garibaldi Lake in Squamish," he laughed.
"You never know, it could be!"
Kayla Derkach was the third local counsellor to attend. Serkach was still in San Francisco and was not available by press time.
The British Columbia Experience also featured free public dance performances by the world-renowned traditional First Nations dance troupe, the Le-la-la dancers.
Members are from the Kwakwaka'wakw nation of northern Vancouver Island and true to their name, which means "travelling from here to there," they travel across Canada and internationally to perform.
Adding an artistic element, a 3D art installation featuring B.C. scenery was created on site by artist Kurt Wenner.
"The 3D chalk art drawn on the ground looked like a canyon of BC with totem poles, rock climbers and wildlife," said Konkin. "It look like they were standing on top of a stump surrounded by the beauty of B.C., then we took a free photo of them and gave them the website where could print it off for free."
Measuring approximately 16 by 50 feet, the artwork was displayed beneath the zip line to simulate flying above B.C. There was also an interactive video display where people could view photos, videos and enter an online contest to win a seven-day trip to Vancouver and Whistler.
Konkin said a number of people were surprised and impressed to find out the representatives helping with all aspects of the event were actually from B.C.
"We brought the wisdom of actually promoting the place we're from," she said. "And in today's economy coming to B.C. is a shorter travel option, so California is definitely a good market."
She said most of the people she spoke with had already been to B.C. or were planning on visiting in the coming months, though they was the odd person who had no idea B.C. existed.
"I had one woman ask me if the event was being put on by British Airways," said Konkin.
Music described the trip as the opportunity of a lifetime and exactly what his hard-working staff deserved.
