Montana

Montana West Participates in Delegation to Canada

Montana West Participates in Delegation to Canada

A Flathead delegation to Lethbridge, Calgary and Fernie traveled to those cities October 5th and 6th to explore trends and perceptions about the Flathead Valley amongst our Canadian neighbors. 

The initial plan to visit over the border was suggested by County Commissioner Joe Brenneman after participating in a three-day, international hike organized by Glacier Park and Waterton Park Superintendents. Conversation during this three-day trip revealed that the regions on each side of the border have a number of similarities where communication and cooperation might prove mutually beneficial.

Local elected officials, chambers of commerce members and staff, cities, tourism groups, senior management from Kalispell Regional Medical Center and North Valley Hospital and Montana West Economic Development were invited to participate. 
Those who took part were:
•         Joe Brenneman, Flathead County Commissioner
•         Kim Morisaki, Manager of Business Development, Montana West   Economic Development
•         Jason Spring, CEO, North Valley Hospital, Whitefish
•         Ted Hirsch, Senior Executive Officer, Kalispell Regional Medical Center

The purpose of the trip was multi-faceted.

• Express our appreciation of the continued visits from Canadians to our area.
• Enquire if there are steps that the Flathead area can take to make travel to the area more convenient or otherwise enjoyable.
• Begin to build relationships with our cross-border peers in business, tourism, economic development, trade and local government.
• Research an increase in “medical tourism” where Canadians patronize Flathead’s medical facilities for elective surgery and other procedures and explore opportunities to encourage this trend.
• Explore current cross-border investment and opportunities to encourage Canadian businesses to establish US facilities and offices in the Flathead.
• Explore opportunities to collaborate over the long term on issues and opportunities that concern our regions.

The trip was also prompted by comments from many local businesses that indicated that patronage from Canadian travelers was more significant than ever for many local hotels, restaurants and retailers. In meetings with Canadian Chambers of Commerce, economic development organizations, tourism groups and elected officials the delegation expressed appreciation and asked for feedback as to how the Flathead Valley could make the visitors’ experience better.  Overwhelmingly, the response was incredibly positive with comments along the line of “We love the Flathead, don’t change a thing.”  It became evident that our neighbors just north of the border know us well and love our golf courses, shopping and restaurants.  What draws them is our abundance of lakes and rivers and our inexpensive shopping without sales tax. 

Furthermore, it became apparent that people in the Fernie, Cranbrook and Kimberley area regularly travel to the Flathead to fly out of Glacier Airport when needing to make connections to larger U.S. cities.  They cited ease and low cost airfare as their reason to travel south rather than use their own airport in Cranbrook or travel to Calgary.

Jason Spring, CEO of North Valley Hospital, and Ted Hirsch, Senior Executive Officer for Kalispell Regional Medical Center, also participated in the delegation.  Both organizations have noticed increases in medical tourism and KRMC has already put in place a concierge service to assist Canadians enquiring about timely surgical procedures.  Conversations with doctors and other business organization in Calgary indicate that there is a desire for medical care such as knee and hip replacement or rotator cuff repair.  Canadian citizens, while not having to pay for these procedures, may have to wait up to a year to have the surgery done.  Due to a strong economy in north and east Alberta there appears to be a certain percentage of the population willing to travel and pay upfront to have these procedures done in a more timely fashion.  Canadians, rather than feeling offended by questions about this trend, actually thought it was a positive movement as an increase in Canadians travelling to Montana for healthcare will result in a shorter wait for surgery in Canada.

Economic Development opportunities for the Flathead occasionally present themselves when Canadian companies determine that they need a facility or office in the U.S.  Montana West expressed a willingness to assist those companies in becoming established in the Flathead and requested Chambers and ED offices to make introductions to those expanding businesses.  Currently Canadians from the Fernie area travel to Eureka regularly to ship and receive products because shipping services there are faster than those available north of the border. 

There are both immediate and long term possibilities resulting from this short tour.  Montana West Economic Development continues to explore opportunities in business attraction and has established a dialogue concerning trade with the American Consulate in Calgary.  Information gathered during the trip is being shared with the appropriate Chambers, tourism offices and Glacier Park International Airport.