Destination Dialogues 2025
Destination Dialogues 2025
Destination Dialogues is a virtual event designed to inspire, inform, and empower rural destination development professionals. Building on the success of the previous iterations, Destination Canada proudly presents the third edition, with a free 90-minute webinar on October 8, 2025.
A report outlining key learnings from this session will be publicly available on our Destination Development Knowledge Hub in November. If you are based outside of Canada and are interested in learning more about the insights from this session, we encourage you to visit the Knowledge Hub then.
Destination Dialogues is a virtual event designed to inspire, inform, and empower rural destination development professionals. Building on the success of the previous iterations, Destination Canada proudly presents the third edition, with a free 90-minute webinar on October 8, 2025.
A report outlining key learnings from this session will be publicly available on our Destination Development Knowledge Hub in November. If you are based outside of Canada and are interested in learning more about the insights from this session, we encourage you to visit the Knowledge Hub then.
Webinar
Rethinking Experience Development: From Ideation to Export-Ready
In collaboration with Indigenous Tourism Association Canada
Date and Time: October 8, 2025, 9:00 am - 10:30 am PDT / 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EDT
Location: Online
Webinar
Rethinking Experience Development: From Ideation to Export-Ready
In collaboration with Indigenous Tourism Association Canada
Date and Time: October 8, 2025, 9:00 am - 10:30 am PDT / 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EDT
Location: Online
As rural, remote, northern, and Indigenous communities reimagine tourism, many are exploring how to turn local knowledge, culture, and creativity into export-ready experiences. This planning stage is critical—and full of questions:
- What makes an idea viable and compelling?
- How do you design with both visitors and community in mind?
- What does “export-ready” really mean, and how do you get there?
- Who can help bring an idea to life?
Led by Darcie Guarderas (Tansi Tourism Solutions), this webinar will explore how to move from ideation to export readiness through:
- A keynote with practical steps, common pitfalls, and foundational insights
- A panel discussion with two Indigenous Experience Hosts in Canada—Florence Hamilton (Dene Routes, Manitoba) and Tasha Robitaille (La Belle Cabane, New Brunswick) who will share how their ideas evolved into thriving, market-ready offers
- Interactive Q&A
Whether you’re shaping your first concept or laying the groundwork for growth, this session offers tools and inspiration to help you get started with purpose.
As rural, remote, northern, and Indigenous communities reimagine tourism, many are exploring how to turn local knowledge, culture, and creativity into export-ready experiences. This planning stage is critical—and full of questions:
- What makes an idea viable and compelling?
- How do you design with both visitors and community in mind?
- What does “export-ready” really mean, and how do you get there?
- Who can help bring an idea to life?
Led by Darcie Guarderas (Tansi Tourism Solutions), this webinar will explore how to move from ideation to export readiness through:
- A keynote with practical steps, common pitfalls, and foundational insights
- A panel discussion with two Indigenous Experience Hosts in Canada—Florence Hamilton (Dene Routes, Manitoba) and Tasha Robitaille (La Belle Cabane, New Brunswick) who will share how their ideas evolved into thriving, market-ready offers
- Interactive Q&A
Whether you’re shaping your first concept or laying the groundwork for growth, this session offers tools and inspiration to help you get started with purpose.
HOST AND KEYNOTE SPEAKER
DARCIE GUARDERAS
Founder, Tansi Tourism Solutions, British Columbia
Darcie Guarderas, a prominent figure in the industry, boasts a career spanning 25 years. With a Métis background and roots in Alberta, she excelled as a travel consultant before transitioning to business development, where she established herself as a leader. Her expertise includes training, mentoring, destination representation, and fostering relationships with Indigenous tourism businesses. Darcie's extensive experience and industry connections make her an asset to Tansi Solutions.
CANADIAN EXPERIENCES HOSTS AND OUR SPEAKERS
FLORENCE HAMILTON
Founder, Dene Routes, Manitoba
Born and raised in Churchill, Manitoba, Florence Hamilton is a proud Sayisi Dene woman who spent much of her life searching for a deeper understanding of who she is. Florence was raised in a time when Indigenous identity was often silenced, and like many, she grew up disconnected from her roots. It wasn’t until adulthood that she began asking questions, about her family, her culture, and the stories that had been hidden or forgotten.
Through this personal journey of reclaiming her Dene heritage, Florence began to see the strength, resilience, and beauty of her people. As she listened to stories, visited the lands of her ancestors, and spent time on the trapline, she began to heal the disconnection that colonial systems had created. This reconnection became not only a personal transformation but a calling.
Out of that calling, Dene Routes was born, a grassroots business dedicated to sharing Indigenous history, cultural knowledge, and personal truth with visitors to Churchill. Florence now leads immersive experiences, storytelling sessions, and workshops that honour the land, her ancestors, and the legacy of her family.
Whether she’s guiding guests through the landscapes of Churchill, teaching caribou hair tufting, or sharing a taste of history, Florence’s message is clear: our stories matter, our people matter, and our culture is alive.
TASHA ROBITAILLE
Founder and Entrepreneur, La Belle Cabane, New Brunswick
Tasha Robitaille brings over 15 years of extensive expertise encompassing management, community development, project coordination, public consultation, online marketing, socio-economic planning, and environmental sustainability. Throughout her career, she has spearheaded numerous local and national initiatives contributing to strategic planning, departmental priorities, and community engagement efforts.
Notably, Tasha has recently established and oversees operations at La Belle Cabane, a distinguished Healing Sanctuary located in Kingston, NB. As the founder, she has cultivated a unique environment offering an Eco-Glamping Site featuring five off-grid cabins, a Forest Spa, a Gift Shop, and Event Space. La Belle Cabane is dedicated to helping people find freedom in the forest through the core aspect of healing.
Contact
For more information, please contact us at:
destinationdevelopmentteam@destinationcanada.com
Contact
For more information, please contact us at:
destinationdevelopmentteam@destinationcanada.com