The Heritage Tourism Society has a new board, and will soon begin working to implement recommendations of the Heritage Tourism Strategy.
Work on the strategy began two years ago to create a direction for tourism that respects the culture and ecology of the islands.
Last year, the working group hosted an open house in Tlell for islanders to examine the strategy.
The new group, Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands Heritage Tourism Society Board, will be an umbrella organization for tourism on the islands, working group member Heather DuDoward said last June.
The new board will have 50/50 representation from the Haida and non-Haida communities. It held its first meeting Monday. The board made two key decisions, says Brian O'Hara who represents Masset.
The board will meet with the outgoing working group October 25 to officially take over responsibility for implementing the strategy and discuss what actions to take first. And the board decided to host another open house, this one November 1, likely in Masset.
Members of the new board are Vince Collison-Old Massett; Brian O'Hara-Masset; Delina Myles-Port Clements/Tlell; Robert Dudoward-Skidegate; Elna MacDonald-QCC; Robert Chisolm-Sandspit; Dan Bate-Naikoon Park; Clayton Gladstone-CHN. Two people have yet to be appointed to represent the Haida hereditary chiefs and the Archipelago Management Board.