Please describe your interest in serving on the MRDT Tourism Advisory Committee, including any relevant experience, perspective, or connection to Sooke’s tourism sector.
Maximum 1,000 characters.
Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) Tourism Advisory Committee
The Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) Tourism Advisory Committee is an advisory committee of Council that provides recommendations on how Sooke can support and strengthen its local tourism sector through destination marketing, visitor promotion, and strategic tourism planning.
The committee focuses on initiatives connected to Sooke’s MRDT program, including the Five-Year Strategic MRDT Business Plan and annual MRDT Tactical Plans. Its work supports tourism marketing and management activities that promote visitation, enhance visitor experiences, and contribute to local economic growth.
The committee brings together representatives from the tourism sector, accommodation providers, visitor services, Indigenous communities, regional tourism organizations, the local business community, youth, and Council. Members provide insight on the evolving needs of visitors and the tourism industry, and help ensure annual plans reflect opportunities that benefit Sooke’s tourism economy.
As an advisory body, the committee reviews tourism-related plans, budgets, reports, and submissions, including annual MRDT reporting and planning requirements before they are submitted to Destination BC. The committee may make recommendations to Council for consideration; Council approval is required before recommendations are acted on, including those involving external communications, financial commitments, or District resources.
The committee meets at least four times per year, with additional meetings held as needed to review tourism initiatives, budgets, reporting requirements, and tactical planning.
Application Intake
Applications for the MRDT Tourism Advisory Committee are being accepted through the District of Sooke’s digital Committee Application Form until midnight on Thursday, July 9, 2026.
The digital application form is used for District committees and includes general questions. Applicants interested in the MRDT Tourism Advisory Committee are encouraged to use the prompts below to help tailor their responses to this committee’s tourism-focused mandate, membership needs, and advisory role.
What are your reasons for seeking this appointment?
Please include relevant professional, volunteer, lived, cultural, tourism, business, visitor services, accommodation, arts and culture, outdoor recreation, youth, or community experience that would help inform the committee’s work.
Maximum 1,500 characters.
Please describe any tourism-related priorities, opportunities, or improvements you believe the committee could help advance for Sooke, such as visitor experience, destination marketing, sector collaboration, MRDT planning, or community benefit.
Maximum 1,000 characters.
File Upload: Resume or Supporting Document(s)
You may wish to upload a current resume or supporting details of your relevant experience, if available. This may include professional, volunteer, community, tourism, business, visitor services, or committee experience to supplement your application.
A maximum of two files may be attached.
After You Apply
Applicants will receive confirmation once their application has been submitted. District staff will review applications following the submission deadline and may contact applicants if there are any questions or if more information is required.
All applicants will be notified once Council has made a decision on committee appointments.
Learn more about the committee’s work:
The MRDT Tourism Advisory Committee monitors, evaluates, advises, and makes recommendations to Council on policies and strategic initiatives related to marketing and promoting Sooke’s tourism sector.
The committee’s mandate includes considering and providing recommendations related to:
- Implementation of Sooke’s Municipal and Regional District Tax Program (MRDT)
- The 2026 Five-Year Strategic MRDT Business Plan
- Annual MRDT Tactical Plans, budgets, and reports
- Tourism marketing and destination promotion initiatives
- Opportunities to increase visitation and support tourism-related economic growth
- Visitor needs, experiences, and service improvements
- Tourism sector feedback from accommodation providers, visitor services, experience providers, and other tourism interest holders
- Annual planning and reporting requirements prescribed by the Ministry of Finance and Destination BC
- Strategic and tactical tourism planning that supports Sooke’s local tourism economy
- Recommendations to Council on tourism-related policies, plans, reports, and initiatives
- Any matters referred by Council or the staff liaison
The committee meets at least four times per year to receive updates on tourism marketing initiatives and to review MRDT-related budgets, reporting requirements, and tactical planning.
Additional meetings may be held at the call of the Committee Chair or at the request of any two committee members.
Please refer to the District’s Meeting Management Portal to view agendas and minutes, and to subscribe for meeting notifications.
The MRDT Tourism Advisory Committee includes representatives from Sooke’s tourism sector, accommodation providers, visitor services, Indigenous communities, regional tourism organizations, the local business community, youth, and Council.
The committee includes a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 13 voting members, with representation from:
- Local tourism sector representatives, including accommodation providers, arts and culture providers, biking, agri-tourism or culinary experiences, and outdoor adventure tourism
- Indigenous community representatives
- CRD regional tourism destination management service provider
- Local visitor service providers, including the Sooke Region Museum & Visitor Information Centre and Sooke Tourism Association
- Local business association representative
- One youth member aged 15 to 24
- One District of Sooke Councillor appointed by Council
Applications are open until Thursday, July 9, 2026.
Additional Resources
The MRDT Tourism Advisory Committee is guided by its Terms of Reference, which outline the committee’s purpose, membership, meeting procedures, and reporting relationship with Council.
Residents, tourism partners, and accommodation providers can also learn more about the Municipal and Regional District Tax Program through Destination BC, including how MRDT funding supports tourism marketing, destination development, visitor services, and eligible community initiatives.
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