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There’s a lot to be said for taking it slow, for savouring life and supporting smaller, more sustainable communities and the people who make them thrive. That’s what Cittaslow is all about. The name literally means “Slow City,” inspired by the Slow Food movement. Some 308 communities around the world are certified as Cittaslow, including six in North America, two of them in B.C.: Cowichan Bay and Naramata.

Now the tiny village of Naramata (pop. 1,628) is swinging big and making history as the first-ever North American destination for the Cittaslow International Co-ordinating Committee Meetings, hosted by the non-profit Naramata Slow, with support of Discover Naramata and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen.

From April 16 to 19, some three dozen international delegates joined Canadian representatives, including mayors, planners, tourism leaders and community-building experts, to discuss ways and means for fostering community-centred, sustainable development.

It’s an opportunity to showcase this charming wine country community and its thoughtfully slow approach to life, but it’s also much more than that. It’s an investment in the long-term reputation, resilience and future of both the region and the rest of Canada.

As Miranda Halladay, president of Naramata Slow, says: “This event is both a celebration and an invitation—an opportunity to share Naramata’s approach to slow living while encouraging other small towns in British Columbia and beyond to explore Cittaslow values and certification.”

Vitis Magazine

Vitis is is an indispensable seasonal guide for vintners, sommeliers and weekend imbibers alike that is dedicated to British Columbia’s rapidly evolving wine culture.