Wish They were here?

Close to 25 Years Working with Indigenous Clients & Communities

RESEARCH & STUDIES

PLANNING

INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY

DEVELOPMENT

Community projects shine when the collective vision of the people is captured and implemented in a way that maximizes economic development, job creation, cultural awareness, public education, revenue generation, and community pride.

Research & Studies for Tourism

• Market Research

• Feasibility Studies

• Product Comparisons & Analysis

• Industry Best Practices

My clients have direct access to me through email and cell phone – no need to communicate with more than one person to discuss your project.

With no staff and minimal overhead costs my fees are often lower than large firms, but with the same access to experienced professionals, enabling you to make the most of every dollar you have available for your projects. This means you get more for less, maximizing valuable funding support so you can address more community initiatives with the same budget.

Planning for Businesses & Communities

• Business Plans

• Community Tourism Plans

• Marketing Strategies

I generally avoid using words like ‘expert’ and will never profess to have all the answers. But I will vow to commit the knowledge I have to every new project, and engage in honest dialogue and idea sharing with my clients to produce the best outcomes possible.

Development of Tourism Products & Activities

• Cultural Activities

• Nature-Based Activities

• Parks & Attractions

• Operational Guidelines & Employee Manuals

• Standard Operating Procedures & Safety Protocols

• Staff Training & Professional Development

I am always cognizant that it’s not my story to tell when I work with my clients; my purpose is to help my clients tell their stories the way, they, want them told, always respectful of the unique culture and history of each community.

Innovation & Technology for Tourism Experiences

• Augmented Reality (using phones and tablets)

• Virtual Reality Experiences (with headsets)

• Applying Interactive Technology to Cultural Interpretation

When required, I have trusted relationships with specialists in Community Economic Development, Marketing & Branding, and technologies like Augmented and Virtual Reality that I can call upon for their expertise; but all the project communication continues to flow directly between myself and my clients.

Thank you for the opportunity to introduce myself and share my experiences working with Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities across Canada.

First, a point of clarification – I’m not Indigenous, and I don’t pretend to be an expert on Indigenous cultures. In fact, I consider myself fortunate to have been welcomed in so many Indigenous communities by so many kind and accepting people.

I’m someone who listens, tries to understand, and who commits to helping my clients achieve their goals while I remain in the background so they can shine.

Over the past quarter century I’ve had the opportunity to explore more of our country than almost anyone I know through the tourism work I’ve done.

I have spent time with Indigenous and non-Indigenous clients and communities in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia, and have contributed to projects in the Yukon, Nunavut, and Newfoundland.

From small family-owned shops to multi-million dollar cultural centres - and projects ranging from community-based businesses to regional, provincial, and national initiatives - I’ve been immersed in a breadth of tourism-related experiences I couldn’t have imagined.

Now, having ventured from the firm I helped build for more than 20 years, my goal is to take what I've learned and get back to smaller projects where I can establish genuine relationships with my clients.

ABOUT JW Consults

Collaborative Partners

EPS' mission is to support organizations and institutions in setting and meeting their strategic objectives through proactive, innovative, solution-oriented, and outcome-focused interventions hinged on global best practices.

EPS is lead by highly skilled professionals with experience in Accounting, Auditing and Internal Control, Financial Management, Investment Advisory, Community Economic Development, Supply Chain Management,  Public Health and Development Practice, Housing and Homelessness, Resource Development and Environmental Impact, Food Security, and Criminal Justice.

They have applied their knowledge and efforts with Indigenous communities here in Canada, and in a number of International projects.

ZenFri Inc. is an internationally recognized and award-winning interactive studio that leverages cutting-edge design and technology to push the boundaries of storytelling.

Working across an array of mediums, including Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR), immersive narratives and games, they create lovingly crafted experiences for clients and consumers across Canada and around the World.

ZenFri has created a range of innovative and industry-leading XR experiences including games, product apps, university research, and interactive educational experiences for interpretive centres, tours, museums, festivals, and galleries - including some of the first integration of AR and VR technology into Indigenous cultural tourism.

Giiwe Media is an Anishinaabe owned and operated multimedia and tourism business based in Manitoba, Canada. It is dedicated to supporting and elevating Indigenous voices and history throughout Canada.

Through storytelling, Indigenous tourism products and experiences, events, and bridging communities, Giiwe Media will create relationships that support future generations of creators, storytellers, helpers and leaders.

For owner Aaron Michael McKay who grew up on Rolling River First Nation, Giiwe Media is more than his business, it is his journey home, and his journey to reclaim and prepare it for those who come next by using sacred gifts.

His sacred gifts of voice, thought, and the power to create - combined with art, culture and experience - make up the business and journey of Giiwe Media.

I am fortunate to have met some very genuine people in my career. People with the true desire to help others, and who have created businesses based around their abilities and passions.

I consider myself fortunate to collaborate with them on projects where our values align and our skills are complementary, and would welcome the opportunity to learn about your business' or community's goals.

Experience:

RESEARCH & STUDIES

Feasibility Study for a Multi-Use Cultural Centre for the Kelly Lake Metis Settlement Society, BC

Feasibility Study for Development at Vermette Park, for L’union nationale métisse Saint-Joseph du Manitoba

Market Readiness Assessment of Non-Timber Forest Products for Indigenous Communities in Northern Manitoba, for Nature United

PLANNING

Economic Development Plan for Chemawawin Cree Nation, MB (in progress and in partnership with EPS Management Consulting)

Business Development of a Non-Timber Forest Product Micro-Industry for the Kelly Lake Metis Settlement Society, BC (in progress)

DEVELOPMENT

Facilitation of SLEDMB53 Snowmobile Trail Project Summit, for Community Futures North Central Development, MB

‘Review & Refresh’ of the Northern Manitoba Snowmobile Tourism Strategic Plan 2018, for Community Futures North Central Development, MB

Advisory & Development Services for Explus, Unleashed, and Fetchlocal – each part of the Expeditors Plus Inc. group of companies, MB

Development of Website Content for the Expeditors Plus Inc. group of companies, MB

Proposals and Business Development Strategies for Explus, Unleashed, and Fetchlocal, MB

Development of Sales & Marketing Tools for Explus, Unleashed, and Fetchlocal, MB

Website and Marketing Content for Quest Health, through Bounce Design, MB

Content for Annual Report for the Saint Anne Hospital Foundation, through Bounce Design, MB

Content for the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Career Viewbook, through Bounce Design, MB

Experience - Jason White

Prior to leading my own independent consulting services in early 2022, my career spanned more than 20 years helping to build a leading consulting firm where I was engaged in almost 90 initiatives with dozens of communities across 10 Provinces and Territories, and was an invited speaker at tourism conferences.

The projects below highlight initiatives where I was the Project Lead or a Significant Contributor in my past employment with that firm, and should not be confused with more recent work completed under JW Consults.

BUSINESS PLANS

Strategic & COVID-19 Recovery Plan for Regional Indigenous Tourism Association

Cultural Centre Business Operations Plan

Resort Business Plan

Leadership Centre Market Opportunity & Operational Plan

Business Plan for Cultural Heritage Park

Operational Business Plan for Fishing Camp

Eco Resort & Campground Business Plan

Business Plan for Cultural Camp

Repurposing a Tourism Visitor Information Centre

TOURISM PLANS & FEASIBILITY STUDIES

Six Community Tourism Plans

Two Regional Plans

Feasibility Study, Business Plan & Technical Assessment for Ecotourism Lodging

5 Year Ecotourism Master Plan

Feasibility Study to Increase Tourism & Educational Opportunities

Feasibility Study and Economic Impact Analysis

TOURISM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Virtual and Augmented Reality Cultural Tourism Experiences

Cultural Authenticity Program

Tourism Toolkit Development

Arts & Crafts eBoutique Online Sales Program

Cultural Centre Programming

Traditional Outdoor Kitchen w/Programming

National Guidelines for Authenticity & Accreditation Framework for Indigenous Tourism

Foundational Research Project for Regional Tourism Association

TRAINING & COACHING – each program was either developed and/or developed and facilitated by me in part or in whole

Cultural Centre Coordinator & Assistant Training

Tourism Job Readiness Training

Tourism Officer Coaching for Three First Nations Communities

Cultural Heritage Interpreter Training

Starting an Ecotourism Business Training Program

Park Management, Mentorship, & Training

WORKSHOPS

A Model for Sustainable Community Development

Facilitation of Regional Tourism Association's Annual General Meeting and Tourism Conference

Community Tourism Workshop

Keys to the Art of Effective Interpretation Training

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Guest Speaker: ‘Models of Community Ecotourism Development’ at the North American Ecotourism Conference, Madison, Wisconsin

Guest Speaker: ‘The Business of Ecotourism: Developing a Business Plan’ for COTA’s 4th Annual Tourism Conference, QC

Guest Speaker: ‘Small Tourism Business Start-up’ at the Eco-Synergy Tourism Leadership Workshop Series and Conference, Sir Sanford Fleming College, ON

Guest Speaker: ‘Grassroots Tourism Solutions & Ecotourism Operator Standards’ at the Eco-North 2002 Conference, Sudbury, ON

Guest Speaker: ‘Identifying Ecotourism Opportunities’ at the First National Denesuline Economic Symposium, Prince Albert, SK