sandra-oldfield
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) recently celebrated the exceptional leadership contributions of outgoing board chair, Michael J. Ballingall, while welcoming Sandra Oldfield into her new role as chair.
Oldfield, owner of Elysian Projects, began her leadership following TOTA’s annual general meeting and summit. Her background includes starting Tinhorn Creek Vineyards with her husband in 1994 where she spent 20 years as the winemaker.
Oldfield was the first winemaker in Canada to use screw caps, started the Oliver Festival of the Grape and established Tinhorn as Canada’s first carbon neutral winery.
She began Elysian Projects in 2017 as a consulting firm grounded in the food and beverage industry, and launched Fortify, a conference for artisan alcoholic beverage producers.
She’s no stranger to the tourism industry in the Thompson Okanagan.
“Our board has dedicated extensive time and effort towards crafting a strategic direction to navigate the complex challenges of our evolving tourism landscape,” she says. “We are resolved to drive sustainable growth and resilience in the region.”
Oldfield also extended gratitude to Ballingall for his invaluable leadership, recognizing that “his wisdom will remain an integral part of the journey ahead.”
The newly structured executive team, alongside the TOTA board, reviewed the association’s strategic priorities, particularly addressing recent economic shifts and tariff changes affecting tourism. TOTA remains committed to enhancing the Thompson Okanagan region as a welcoming, inclusive and sustainable destination that enriches the experiences of both residents and visitors today and for generations to come.