Five delegates including Mayor John Ruttan, along with city staff, will have the opportunity to promote Nanaimo’s highlights directly to accredited and unaccredited media from around the world during “The Taste of Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast” event today from 4-6 p.m.
About 150 international media are expected to attend.
As a part of Tourism Vancouver Island’s 2010 and Beyond Strategy, the showcase is a high-profile media event that will assist in positioning Nanaimo as one of the best places to live, work, play and invest.
As a level one sponsor, Nanaimo will have the ability to provide promotional material to the media including professionally written stories, images, background information, and web links on Nanaimo amenities, highlights, and history to journalists seeking stories about British Columbia.
“This event offers a unique opportunity for Nanaimo to showcase all that Nanaimo has to offer, from our economic diversity to our arts, culture and amenities – to a qualified and targeted group,” Ruttan said.
The event will also provide Destination Nanaimo with an influential list of media contacts that will have considerable significance in marketing Nanaimo to the world.
During the event, where journalists will gather stories and information from participating coastal communities, the media will experience tastes of our region generously provided by the B.C. Shellfish Association, Wine Islands Vintners Association, Vancouver Island Chef Collaborative and North Island Chef Association.
Celebrity Chef Bob Blumer will MC the afternoon and interact with community partners throughout the event.
Blumer is host of the television series “Glutton for Punishment” and “Surreal Gourmet”, which airs in many countries around the world.
Entertainment will be provided by First Nations dance group, the Le la la Dancers, and well-known First Nations carver Carey Newman will be demonstrating his art as he works on an unfinished piece.