A Special Report provided by Shane Devenish
The Canadian Camping and RV Council (CCRVC) is a national association representing the RV and camping industry in Canada. We work closely with our partners across the country to support members with various initiatives, including advocacy work at the federal and provincial levels, delivering quality education and networking opportunities with an industry focus, connecting suppliers and campgrounds to increase efficiencies, and much more.
The CCRVC is made up of a diverse group of members, including the Provincial Campground Owners Associations across Canada, the RV Dealers Association of Canada (RVDA of Canada), and the Canadian Recreation Vehicle Association (CRVA).
This unique structure provides for holistic support of the industry to ensure our collective success. We work together to address the various challenges and opportunities facing the industry, leveraging our collective expertise and resources to develop solutions that benefit all members. We are proud to represent the entire industry and to be a voice for our members at all levels of government. By working together, we are able to achieve greater success and ensure that the RV and camping experience in Canada continues to thrive.
Our mission is to promote and enhance the RV and camping experience in Canada, while advocating for the industry’s interests at all levels of government. We are committed to supporting the growth and sustainability of our members’ businesses and the industry as a whole.
One of our most significant recent events was the 2023 Canadian Outdoor Hospitality Conference and Expo, which took place on February 15th and 16th, 2023. https://cohce.ca/
The event brought together RV and camping industry professionals from across Canada and beyond to share knowledge, discuss trends, and network. Attendees had the opportunity to participate in various educational sessions, listen to industry experts, and explore new products and services.
Sponsored by Campspot Software, the virtual conference brought together industry leaders, experts, and stakeholders to discuss the latest trends and issues facing the outdoor hospitality industry. One of the conference’s standout sessions was “Associations Around the World,” which featured presentations from campground owner associations in Germany and Australia on how they support their members in their respective countries.
The conference’s keynote session, “Tailwinds and Headwinds,” was given by Toby O’Rourke, President and CEO of Kampgrounds of America, Inc. O’Rourke highlighted that while camping is resilient, several factors could impact the industry’s growth rate in 2023.
These headwinds include the economy, lasting COVID-19 effects, labour market issues, site availability, and meeting camper expectations. Despite these potential hurdles, the camping market is well positioned to maintain a firm grasp on the level of success it has seen in the past few years.
Another key session was the “Tourism Outlook for 2023 and Beyond,” which included insights from David Robinson, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Corporate Secretary at Destination Canada, and Marc Seguin, VP Policy and Government Affairs at the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, about the national-level tourism strategy.
Other education sessions at the conference covered EV implementation, environmental stewardship in campgrounds, government relations, marketing, and staff hiring and retention.
During the conference, the CCRVC also announced its annual award winners. Twin Shores Camping Area in PEI won the Campground of the Year award for 250 or more campsites, while Debonair Campground in MB won the award for under 250 campsites. Robert Trask from Chesley Lake Camp in ON was named the Camping and RV Industry Person of the Year, and Insider Perks won Supplier of the Year.
Looking ahead, we are excited to announce the upcoming 2023 Canadian RV and Camping Week. This annual celebration of the RV and camping lifestyle is scheduled for May 23rd to May 28th , 2023, and serves as our annual camping season kick-off. Canadian campgrounds from coast to coast will be offering discounts on camping, hosting fun family-friendly events, and much more.
This event is an excellent opportunity for our members to connect with their customers and showcase their businesses, utilize our advertising strategies to increase exposure, and participate in collective communications that raise awareness about camping in general. We invite all members to sign up to participate at ccrvc.ca.
See the feature story at the RV Lifestyle Magazine website:
With a primary goal to ensure that our members have access to the resources they need to succeed in this competitive industry, we work in close collaboration with each of the provincial associations to support members and their businesses in multiple ways.
Our sponsorship program enables us to partner with suppliers to connect them with our members and increase efficiencies across the industry. These sponsorship partners showcase their products and services to our members, allowing them to make informed purchasing decisions.
The Canadian Camping and RV Council remains committed to supporting the RV and camping industry in Canada. We are dedicated to advocating for our members’ interests and providing them with the resources they need to succeed. We look forward to continuing our work with provincial campground owners’ associations and other industry stakeholders to ensure that the RV and camping experience in Canada is the best it can be.
If you have any questions about the CCRVC or would like to become a member, please don’t hesitate to contact Cara Csizmadia at cara@campincanada.ca
