Presented in collaboration with Destination Canada
Join Gracen Chungath, Senior Vice President of Destination Development at Destination Canada, as she discusses the real value of tourism to Canada and its communities.
This webinar elaborates on the role Destination Canada in service of communities, the pivotal concept to destination stewardship and how a thriving tourism sector can play a role to safeguard natural and cultural assets, fortify community identity, generate jobs and be a pathway to reconciliation.
Gracen is joined by esteemed municipal leaders who share their collaborative experiences shedding light on how they have leveraged tourism to achieve their community goals and objectives.
Join us for an insightful discussion that unveils the potential of tourism as a force for community growth, sustainability, and unity.
Moderator
Gracen Chungath, VP Destination Development, Destination Canada
Gracen Chungath is the Senior Vice President, Destination Development at Destination Canada and leads the organization’s pan-Canadian strategy for Destination Development focusing on strategic partnerships, stewardship of supply development and investment.
As Destination Canada supports the thoughtful evolution of the tourism sector, Gracen plays an important, convening role in the country’s transition to a thriving, community-centered, regenerative visitor economy that contributes to the socio-cultural, environmental, and economic wealth and wellbeing for peoples of Canada.
Prior to Destination Canada, she was at the City of Vancouver for 8 years. As the Director, Strategic Operations, Planning & Program Management Gracen led three divisions and stewarded a multi-billion-dollar real estate portfolio which included arts, cultural, social, childcare and affordable housing facilities. She has also worked for MDA, a Canadian based international space missions and robotics company.
Gracen holds an MSc in Public Policy from the School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS) at the University of London and an MBA from Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
She is highly committed to her community, having given her time to many non-profit boards including the Vancouver based Writer’s Exchange, Immigrant Employment Council of BC, Granville Island Council etc.
Panelists
Al Raine – Mayor, Sun Peaks, BC
Richard Warnock – Mayor, Sundre, AB
Robert Rochon – Mayor, Fundy Albert, NB