How can you tell that Stephanie Molina, Tourism Wells Gray’s new tourism marketing manager, came here after spending several years in Edmonton?
“It’s really a beautiful place. The winter is delightful, even at -13C,” she says.
Molina, who is taking over from Brad Bradbury, the former marketing manager, started work on Nov. 18.
Tourism Wells Gray is an association that represents the tourism-related businesses in Clearwater and Wells Gray Country (Thompson-Nicola Regional District Area A).
The new marketing manager came here after spending over three years as a public communications officer with the government of Alberta and, before that, more than seven years working in marketing and communications in the U.S. and Canada.
“We have a family connection to this area and so we’ve been here before,” she adds. “I knew it is a really beautiful and wild place. When I saw the opportunity, I had to apply.”
Molina comes to Clearwater with her husband and 1 1/2 year old son.
“We love paddling, hiking, doing backcountry trips,” she says, “We own three canoes.”
“I wanted my son to grow up in a place where he could do this in his backyard.”
Her role with Tourism Wells Gray will be to promote the experiences that Wells Gray and Clearwater have to offer.
“I’ll be working to coordinate the efforts of the stakeholders – the tourism operators, District of Clearwater, the regional district, accommodations and so on,” she said. “I’ll try to get the tourism industry paddling in the same direction so we can cover more distance.”
Molina pointed to the large numbers of international tourists that Clearwater and Wells Gray Country get as indicating that the area already is known as a world class destination.
“I’m going to work to ensure that the tourism opportunities here get the recognition they deserve,” she says.
This will involve a number of jobs, including ensuring the Wells Gray website’s content is up-to-date and beefing up the area’s social media profiles.
Possibly her most important task over the next few months will be to develop a five-year strategic business plan for Tourism Wells Gray.
As Tourism Wells Gray’s marketing manager, she will be working with colleagues from Valemount, Blue River, Barriere and Sun Peaks to market the region as a whole through the North Thompson Valley Tourism Committee.
“My door is open,” the new tourism manager says. “I look forward to meeting with every tourism business owner and business operator in the area. Please drop by to chat.”
Those who want to set up an appointment can call Molina at 250-674-3530 ext. 109.
