Earth Day, April 22, is one of the largest and most celebrated environmental events worldwide. This year, local businesses of Victoria have banded together for the first annual Garbage Showdown. With a dozen businesses taking part in different assigned zones, groups managed to sweep through and clean up the tiny bits of garbage that snuck past our hard working Downtown Victoria Business Association’s daily cleaners. The total amount of garbage pieces reached over 33,000! Although 33,000 sounds very large, this was throughout Victoria, and frankly we had to search high and low for these pieces – Victoria is truly a clean and green city. Victorian’s take pride in our city and our efforts don’t go unnoticed, a lovely couple from Philadelphia expressed their gratitude and told some of our garbage pickers how clean and beautiful they felt Victoria was.

Victoria is very proud of the values and commitments that our businesses have embraced in order to become more eco-friendly and to ensure a better future for our planet. Parkside Victoria Resort and Spa earned their 5 Green Key rating from the Key Global Eco-Rating Program in 2010 and has continued to withhold the standard. The Inn at Laurel Point is BC’s first carbon-neutral property and remains dedicated to encouraging other establishments to do the same. Our very own Noodle Box’s front end service is 100 per cent biodegradable and has reduced their waste by 50 per cent relieving landfills of mass amounts of trash. Most recently, Eagle Wing Whale Watching Tours has announced its contribution of one per cent of their revenue to help protect our environment as well as becoming Canada’s first carbon neutral eco-adventure whale watching company!

The dozen local businesses that made the Garbage Showdown such a success included Harbour Air Seaplanes, Inn at Laurel Point, Pizzeria Prima Strada, Ellice Recycling, Helijet, Eagle Wing Whale Watching Tours, Used Victoria, Delta Ocean Pointe Resort and Spa, Marriott Inner Harbour, Oak Bay Beach Hotel, Tartan Group and Tourism Victoria. A special thanks to the event organizer, Vanessa Johnson of Harbour Air Seaplanes.

Well done everyone, and remember, just because it was in celebration to Earth Day, doesn’t mean we can’t embrace this mentality all year round!

PRESS RELEASE – Victoria, British Columbia
Eagle Wing Tours contributes 1% of its revenue to help protect our environment!
According to Brett Soberg , “Environmental Stewardship” is a core value at Eagle Wing Tours, Canada’s 1st carbon neutral eco-adventure whale watching company and the first whale watching supporters of 1% For the Planet! “The natural world has massive demands placed upon it every day and at Eagle Wing we believe that being a responsible steward means not just being quiet observers but active, positive contributors to the ecosystem we love and are able to make our living from.”
Environmental protection, social responsibility, and economic health, (people, planet and profit) describes the triple bottom line and the goal of sustainable tourism that forms the basis for the success at Eagle Wing. Because of this approach, not only have they been able to grow their business while the local tourism industry has stayed relatively flat, Eagle Wing has:

• Off-set 100% of their companies CO2 emissions every year since 2010
• Continues to be rated #1 activity in Victoria with Trip Advisor since 2007
• Has shown substantial revenue growth every year
• Popularity and growth has allowed for increase in staff and the addition of a 3rd boat for 2012
• Continues to develop student educational tours in cooperation with local institutions and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans
• Developing of a series of custom designed whale watching and marine wildlife tours for the special interest and incentive markets
• Financially supporting local marine research initiatives thereby increasing our knowledge and awareness about current environmental issues with Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre, Lester B. Pearson College – Race Rocks Ecological Reserve and Marine Protected Area, Goldstream Salmon Enhancement Association and the Pacific Salmon Foundation
• Actively working with other carbon neutral, green key rated and ocean wise tourism partners to promote Victoria as Canada’s greenest community
• Proud members of the Pacific Whale Watch Association, an industry group working tirelessly with researchers and government in order to develop safe guidelines for all boaters
• Visitors to Victoria continually rate whale watching as one of the top reasons for visiting and by helping to protect, educate and promote the Salish Sea and all that live in it, Eagle Wing Tours and their dedicated captains and crew continually provide the best in service making sure that visitors will want to return to Victoria time and time again.

For additional information about 1% for the Planet http://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/en/

For more information about Eagle Wing Tours, please contact:
Brett Soberg
whales@eaglewingtours.com
Eagle Wing Tours Ltd.
Passion – Explore – Inspire
www.eaglewingtours.com
Fisherman’s Wharf – 12 Erie Street
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

PRESS RELEASE

Sooke, BC, September 22, 2011:  Adrena LINE Zipline Adventure Tours is excited to receive the 2011 Tourism Vancouver Island Tourism Sustainability Award.

This award recognizes a tourism business in the Vancouver Island Region that has that set out to minimise their environmental impact, conserve natural resources, respect local cultures and benefit local communities in the past 12 months. Their commitment to environmentally responsible tourism and changing the way they conduct business serves as an example to the industry.

“Winning the Tourism Vancouver Island Tourism Sustainability Award is another key indicator of how seriously we are taking our initiatives to remain sustainable in the long term.  We want to be a model of success for other businesses that are looking to grow while being environmentally responsible” Sales and Marketing Manager Jonathan Heerema said. “Our efforts to reduce our environmental impact have been noticed in the community and we hope that others realize the importance of an environmentally sound approach to their respective operations “, said owner Jeremy Wilson.

Adrena LINE Zipline Adventure Tours has built a solid reputation by providing a world class ziplining experience for tourists and adventure seekers in British Columbia. Adrena LINE offers zip line tours daily in 2011, from March 2nd through the end of October, as well as Night Zipping offered on select dates starting in March and the Haunted Zip offered at the end of October. We are accessible for almost any adventure seeking guest. Be on the lookout for more exciting events and new adventures in the near future and check our website at www.adrenalinezip.com for information as it becomes available.

Media Contact:
Jonathan Heerema
Sales and Marketing Manager
Adrena LINE Zipline Adventure Tours
250-642-1933
www.adrenalinezip.com

PRESS RELEASE

The Capital Regional District Recognizes Adrena LINE Zipline Adventure Tours as the winner of the 2011 Eco Star Award for Land Stewardship

Sooke, BC, June 2, 2011: Adrena LINE Zipline Adventure Tours is excited to receive the 2011 Eco Star Award from the Capital Regional District in the category of Land Stewardship.

The Land Stewardship Award recognizes individuals, groups, or organizations working on preserving, enhancing or restoring ecosystems and/or land for local food production, urban forests or natural parks. Innovation and education, protection and preservation of our natural landscapes are important aspects of the Land Stewardship Award, and could include urban forest projects, ecosystem planning, best practices in land use management or food security education programs.

“This award is a direct result of the collective effort within our organization and the dedication of our key partners at The Land Conservancy.  The ownership at Adrena LINE and our Zipline Operations Manager were fully commited to reducing our environmental impact through various internal initiatives.  Bill Turner and his excellent team at The Land Conservancy were also intstrumental in partnering with us to create another way we could conserve land beyond our 100 acres in the Sooke Hills” Sales and Marketing Manager Jonathan Heerema said. “We would like our efforts to reflect our values.  We also want to inspire others businesses in the community to reduce their impact on the environment”, said owner Scott McQueen.

Adrena LINE Zipline Adventure Tours has built a solid reputation by providing a world class ziplining experience for tourists and adventure seekers in British Columbia. Adrena LINE offers zip line tours daily in 2011, from March 2nd through the end of October, as well as Night Zipping offered on select dates starting in March and the Haunted Zip offered at the end of October. We are accessible for almost any adventure seeking guest. Be on the lookout for more exciting events and new adventures in the near future and check our website at www.adrenalinezip.com for information as it becomes available.

Media Contact:
Jonathan Heerema
Sales and Marketing Manager
Adrena LINE Zipline Adventure Tours
250-642-1933
www.adrenalinezip.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Victoria, BC, April 20, 2011 – Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa is extending this year’s nationwide celebration of our planet by partnering with local businesses and organizations for its Earth Expo & Farmer’s Market on Saturday April 30, 2011.

The event is designed to be fun and educational (and tasty!) for kids and adults alike, offering a glimpse into some of the creative ways Victoria is initiating eco-friendly practices.

EARTH EXPO & FARMERS’ MARKET: 1PM to 4PM

• Farmers’ Market courtesy of Ambrosio Produce Wholesale
• Recycle Drive courtesy of ReFuse
• Kids’ Crafts
• Urban Fusion
• Abby Sprouts
• Cold Comforts Ice Cream
• AquaTerre Spa
• Hemp & Company
• The Land Conservancy
• Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition
• The Metal Mermaid
• The Good Planet Company
• KP Athletic Wear
• Bite Size Company
• LEED ® tours

Parkside is a multiple award-winning sustainable resort leading Canada in innovative green resort hotel development and design, built to LEED® Platinum Certification Standards, the highest rating. Parkside was awarded a 5 Green Key rating with the Green Key Global Eco-Rating Program, a rating system designed to recognize the commitment of hotels, motels and resorts to improving environmental performance. Parkside offers an exceptional guest experience and flexible second home ownership in the heart of downtown Victoria, BC, Canada. The resort consists of 126 fully furnished designer suites in two independent seven- and eight-storey towers joined by a three-storey glass garden atrium.

For more information contact:

Neil Judson, Communications Specialist

Aviawest Resort Group, 250.361.1999 (ext. 8159) neil.judson@aviawest.com