We are taught in life that taking responsibility for our actions is always the right thing to do. In this post I’ll use Victoria’s Inn at Laurel Point as a fine example of leadership within the tourism industry in doing just that.

Recently, one of Victoria’s finest resorts announced that they are now British Columbia’s only Carbon-Neutral Property. This is wonderful news, and not just for Victoria! Before I list a bunch of reasons why this is a huge step in the right direction, you may be wondering what exactly does this mean?

Well, after some investigative internet research I have learned that declaring oneself as Carbon-Neutral is NOT just buying one’s way out of polluting the environment, nor is it just a slick marketing tactic. It’s a commitment. In fact, it is first and foremost, the responsible way to acknowledge that there are certain environmental impacts that cannot be avoided while conducting a business.

Let’s talk about Offsetters (this is the company that the Inn at Laurel Point has partnered with in order to declare themselves as Carbon Neutral). As referenced on www.offsetters.ca, “Offsetters helps individuals and companies understand, reduce, track, and offset their climate impact – in that order”.

First, Offsetters and the Inn at Laurel Point work together to determine the property’s carbon footprint (ie: the total set of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions caused by their business). Using an Offset Calculator of sorts, a dollar figure is then determined (in this case, 500 tonnes annually at $20 per tonne = $10,000) and the Inn at Laurel Point invests this dollar figure into Offsetters. I’d also just like to add that you can bet your bottom dollar that the number of annual visitors to the resort was considered in the process… thus every visitor to their resort is participating in this initiative at no additional cost!

In turn, Offsetters now invests these dollars into initiatives that are able to reduce the amount of GHG entering the atmosphere. (In attempt to keep my word count down, you can check out the projects right here) In essence with every project, Offsetters facilitates the feasibility and environmental and social benefit of emerging energy saving technologies. This is big stuff, really big stuff, considering one of the most globally accepted concerns is the environment!

I’d like to congratulate the Inn at Laurel Point for taking the first step on behalf of the accommodation sector in British Columbia. The transportation industry has been doing this for a while now (see Harbour Air Seaplanes) but one can only imagine the amount of extra considerations, steps, research and commitment this property has taken to get this far. I take my hat off to them in hopes that others will see the benefit beyond their bottom line!

If you are curious to see what other steps the Inn at Laurel Point has made in their commitment to environmental, economic, and social responsibilities check out www.laurelpoint.com.

Furthermore, the other day I read a neat blog entry on http://green.tourismvi.ca that discussed new proof that sustainable and green travel options are deemed important to travellers themselves. Travelling is often a time for us to nurture our soul and rejuvenate our minds. It is refreshing to see that travellers are now aware of the implications of their leisure time activities and are willing to follow this through with environmentally sound travel decisions.

The Canadian Outback Adventure Company has a green team challenge that shows you the 12 Steps Towards Reducing your Environmental Footprint

It’s not about drastically changing your life; it’s about one small action every day. It’s about thinking globally and acting locally. It can be as simple as switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs, recycling at home, or riding your bike to work. One small gesture today can have a big impact tomorrow, next week, or even next year!

In Green themed event, teams will compete against each other using their “enviro-mentality” to complete 12 different eco-challenges. Teams will receive a list of locations and challenges, as well as everyday tips and hints for everyday acts of green. At each location teams will perform the designated task (ranging from organic taste tests to a random act of environmental kindness) to learn about every day environmental issues and, once the task has been completed, to collect EcoTokens. Depending on the degree of difficulty, and duration of environmental impact, each activity will earn the team a different number of tokens. Teams will have approximately 2.5 hours to complete as many challenges as possible before making their way to the finish line. Teams are scored and prizing awarded at the closing ceremony.

At each challenge teams will encounter an activity or action that must be completed in order to earn their tokens. The teams do not have to complete the challenges in any particular order and not all the challenges are mandatory. Teams must work together to decide the best strategy for acquiring the highest possible points in the allotted time frame and assign responsibilities based on personal proficiencies and existing skills. The team that turns in the most EcoTokens will be declared the winners and their achievements will be noted during the Awards Ceremony.

For more information go to tourismvictoria.com

LifeCycles is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating awareness and initiating action around food, health, and urban sustainability in the Greater Victoria community. They work proactively to promote and create personal, shared and community gardens, research, and educational activities and youth skills development programs.

The LifeCycles Fruit Tree Project, volunteers and a couple of ladders are turning backyard fruit trees into a valuable source of food for the community. The Fruit Tree Project links people who have surplus produce in their yards, with people who have the willingness and ability to harvest it, to people and community groups that do not have access to fresh produce. Volunteers harvest fruit from private trees that would otherwise go to waste. Fresh cherries, plums, apples, pears and other fruit (or sometimes vegetables) are then distributed through Community Centers and Food Banks. Produce is generally picked from July through October. The FTP aims to match or exceed last year’s harvest of 30,000 pounds of fruit.

Canada’s first sustainable cemetery is in Victoria, BC.

Royal Oak Burial Park offers the first Natural burial in Canada, also commonly referred to as green burial. This is an environmentally sensitive alternative to more conventional internment practices where the body is returned to the earth to decompose naturally and be recycled into new life. The body is prepared for burial without embalming and is buried in a simple shroud or biodegradable casket that might be made from sustainable, locally harvested wood, wicker or even recycled paper. www.robp.ca