Canadian park operators and industry officials gathered in British Columbia last week for the first annual Western Ideas Forum.
The Nov. 3-6 event took place at St. Eugene Golf Resort and Casino in Cranbrook, B.C., beginning one day after the Canadian Camping and RV Association (CCRVA) held its quarterly board meeting at the same location.
Joss Penny, executive director of the British Columbia Lodging & Campgrounds Association (BCLCA), said the meetings attracted park operators and industry officials from across Canada.
“We had 111 delegates, mainly from British Columbia, but we also had many from Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and some from the eastern provinces,” Penny said.
An elder from the Ktunaxa tribe provided welcoming remarks for Western Ideas Forum participants in the Chief David room of the hotel.
The keynote speaker was Aaron Williamson, vice president of franchise operations at Billings, Mont.-based Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA), who talked about optimizing guest services, glamping and the correlations between investments in landscaping and camper spending at campgrounds.
Essentially, the nicer a park’s landscaping, the more likely its guests will spend money at the park store. Conversely, guests are not as likely to spend money at parks with poor signage that are not well landscaped, Williamson said.
The convention included a dozen presentations on topics including campground development, reservation systems, succession planning, as well as a presentation on tourism trends by Destination Canada. There was also a panel discussion on landscaping for aesthetics and fire prevention with Graeme Douglas, of St. Eugene Golf Resort and Casino; Carol Jeske, of Woodbury Resort & Marina; with Jamie Cox, of St. Andrews by the Lake, serving as the moderator.
Another presentation focused on the new regulations involving ground monitor interruptors.
“Ninety five percent of RVs (used in Canada) are built in the U.S. So, code changes affect us,” said Cara Csizmadia, CCRVA’s president, adding, “The ground monitor interruptor issue has had operators in Canada fairly concerned about implications for existing campground infrastructure, but Shane Devenish’s presentation provided significant clarity and information to help quell some of those concerns.
“Given it’s addressing such an important safety issue, we are working diligently to ensure that campgrounds are prepared to embrace the change,” she added. “Any changes to American manufacturing standards have a direct and swift impact on Canadian campgrounds. When those codes shift, our electrical systems, our safety requirements and even our guest policies often have to shift with them. That’s why staying aligned with national and international standards isn’t optional for our industry. It’s essential. These are the kinds of details that determine whether a park is operating safely, legally, and sustainably.”
Other sessions included:
- Workplace Hazards in Campgrounds, by Thomas Waling and Jeff McKay of WorkSafe BC
- Workplace Mental Health: Tips and Tools for Campground Operators, by Ginger Brunner of Go2HR
- Water and Sewer Compliance Essentials for Campgrounds, by Gerry Dignard of Canadian Shields Consultants
Csizmadia said she was impressed with the quality and content of the meetings between park operators.
“One of the standout moments for me,” she said, “was watching a group of operators from different provinces — British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba — huddled together after the ‘Campgrounds & Municipalities’ panel, swapping stories and strategies about navigating local bylaws. It was a perfect example of why this event matters. These aren’t just sessions; they’re catalysts for real-world problem-solving. That spontaneous collaboration, fueled by shared challenges and mutual respect, reminded me how committed this community is to helping each other grow.”
Aside from the educational session, Penny said conference participants also discussed several trends affecting Canada’s campground industry, including the increased use of AI and increasing consumer price sensitivities in campground bookings.
“There’s a push back against dynamic pricing,” Penny said, noting that many campground guests in Canada are waiting until the last minute to book their reservations because they don’t want to overpay for their campsites or rental accommodations.
Penny noted that consumers can start the booking process online, simply to see what kinds of prices are offered for campsites, before deciding whether to book a site or not.
Meanwhile, the 130 British Columbia campgrounds that open in winter are expected to have a busy winter this year as some Canadians avoid travel to the U.S. to protest the Trump administration’s trade policies and hostile rhetoric toward Canada.
“We anticipate that it will be a stronger season this winter, stronger than last year, but I don’t think it will be as strong as during COVID,” when Canadians found it difficult to travel to the U.S. because of border restrictions, Penny said.
The conference also included tours of two campgrounds, including Fort Steele Resort & R.V. Park in Fort Steele, B.C. and the Cranbrook/St. Eugene KOA Journey in Cranbrook.
In other business, BCLCA elected Jeffrey Kirkman as its new president. Kirman is the development manager at Cheekye Ranch in Squamish.
Penny said BCLCA also announced two significant donations for the Care Camps Foundation, including $7,067 raised by the BCLCA online auction and others in the spring of 2025. Separately, another $6,350 was raised from participants attending the inaugural Western Ideas Forum.
Care Camps Foundation provides support for pediatric oncology camps across the U.S. and Canada.
CCRVA, for its part, had its quarterly board meeting on Nov. 2.
