Media Release:

November 30, 2015

Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre awarded 2015 ATBC Cultural Centre and Attraction of the Year Award

Prestigious award goes to the SLCC for the third time in four years

Whistler, B.C. – The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) located in Whistler, BC has been recognized by the Aboriginal Tourism Association of B.C. with the 2015 B.C Cultural Centre and Attractions of the Year award.  This is the third time that the SLCC has won this award which recognizes the outstanding achievements of Aboriginal businesses and raises awareness about the ever-growing Aboriginal tourism industry in BC.

The award was presented by the Aboriginal Tourism Association of BC (ATBC), at the Industry Awards dinner on November 26^th in Vancouver, BC.  Receiving the award on behalf of the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre were Executive Director, Brady Smith, Cultural Delivery & Human Resources Leader, Cheximiya (Allison Burns) of Squamish Nation and Manager of Marketing, Deanna Wampler.

“The SLCC is continuing to lead the way for Aboriginal Tourism in British Columbia through First Nations advocacy.” said Brady Smith, Executive Director of the SLCC.  This award of excellence is in recognition of the efforts to revive, renew, sustain and educate our communities’ youth about their heritage, and the importance that first nation culture plays for the future. The SLCC is recognized as the benchmark for Cultural Centre’s and attractions by the Aboriginal Tourism Association of BC, and we look forward to growing our organization through innovative partnerships and alliances with First Nation stakeholders and tourism partners alike.”

The SLCC is a three-story, 30,400-square foot complex located on 1.76 hectares (4.35 acre) of forested land near Whistler and Blackcomb mountains in the Upper Village area of Whistler. The SLCC has established itself as a trademark Aboriginal Cultural Centre in British Columbia and has garnered significant media exposure since its opening in the summer of 2008. The SLCC has helped raise the awareness of aboriginal cultures and on a local and regional level and has created meaningful employment opportunities for members of the First Nations’ communities. Through the work at the SLCC, and the representation of local First Nations’ peoples, cultural traditions have seen a revival. The SLCC continues to build upon its mission to inspire and educate guests about the depth and beauty of the distinct Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Lil´wat7úl Lil’wat7ul (Lil’wat) cultures.

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Media Contact:
Deanna Wampler
Manager, Marketing
Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre
604-964-0995  or Deanna.wampler@slcc.ca