Tourism tribe offers free crisis communication course to Canadian tourism organisations affected by forest fires

We’ve lived through fires too – and we want to help

As Canada enters what is already shaping up to be one of its most widespread and severe wildfire seasons in history, Tourism Tribe, an Australian-based digital training organisation, is offering free access to its Crisis Communication Preparedness Course to Canadian tourism organisations, tourism boards, local councils, and tourism businesses affected by the fires – or wanting to be ready before the next one hits.

This offer comes not just from professional expertise, but personal experience.

We Know What It’s Like to Face the Worst

My name is Julia Retson and I’m Tourism Tribe’s Operations Manager. Originally from Kenora, Ontario, I worked as a forest firefighter – deployed across Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and BC during the 2001–2005 fire seasons. 

Now, from across the globe, I’m reading CBC news online and seeing another season unfold that’s already forcing evacuations in multiple provinces. I know how frightening and overwhelming it can be – especially for small tourism towns that rely on clear communication and consistent visitor numbers.

The Real Cost of Poor Communication

In 2018, we experienced our own forest fire emergency – this time in Agnes Water, Queensland, where I now live. Many homes were lost and it was a scary time, but our co-founder, Fabienne Wintle, who also is the VP of our local chamber of commerce noticed the extra cost to businesses due to our lack of preparedness. The media told dramatic stories, social media told more. The fire was eventually tamed but due to a lack of clear, coordinated communication plans visitors were confused and scared. It led to thousands of dollars in cancellations, even though most of the region was safe and open. Despite our best efforts, the local tourism economy suffered unnecessary cancellations for months.

We realised just how critical it is to have these plans ready before disaster strikes. That’s why we built this course – to help others avoid the same mistakes. And now we would like to offer it to you – to make sure that your community doesn’t have to learn the hard way like we did.

What This Free Course Offers

We designed our Crisis Communication Preparedness Course for tourism organisations and businesses, with ready-to-use tools and templates that include:

• Emergency messaging guides
• Tips for social media and media management
• Cross-organisation coordination advice
• A practical checklist and response framework

It’s plain-English, no-nonsense help for when the pressure’s on. And if you need support in French, no worries – Fab is a native French speaker and happy to help!

Crisis Management and Communication

In today's dynamic business landscape, resilience in the face of crises is not just a choice, but a strategic imperative for every business owner. Our comprehensive course on crisis management and communication empowers you with an in-depth understanding of the diverse forms crises can take and their profound implications on your business. Drawing on a blend of research, real-life experiences, and illuminating case studies, this course equips you with battle-tested methods to safeguard your business through proactive learning.

View now

Free for Any Canadian Tourism Operator Who Needs It

Whether your town is currently under threat, recovering, or simply preparing for the season ahead, we want you to have this resource. We’re offering this free to any Canadian tourism board, local council, tourism association, or operator currently affected or wanting to prepare.

We’ve been in your boots. We understand the pressure. And we’re here to make sure you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.

Get in Touch – We’re Here to Support You

If you or your members would benefit from this free training, we’d love to hear from you.

👉 Email us at help@tourismtribe.com.

From one fire-affected tourism community to another – we’ve got your back.