Dear WTA Community,

As I write this note from my office in the unceded territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, BC is grappling with unprecedented drought. Waters are warming, rivers are drying up, salmon are stuggling, new wildfires are igniting, cedar trees are browning, and my neighbourdhood (like many others) is seeing incredibly high bear activity (I’m always on the side of the bears BTW). How did we find ourselves here? I mean, c’mon—we are begging for rain in late October in many parts of BC. It’s crazy!

So now that I’ve dished out the doom and gloom, I thought I’d inject a little optimism; there are a lot of good people in this world doing their part to battle the climate crisis. In this newsletter we talk about what makes our members unique. We are moving beyond sustainable travel and more into the realm of restorative and regenerative travel. Our members are dedicated to this; we are a ‘force for good’ and we see ourselves as stewards of the lands and seas upon which we operate. This concept of ‘regenerative’ travel is popping up more and more on an international level too—this is good news for Mother Earth! It has also been refreshing to see folks like Yvon Chouinard and Chip Wilson bolster conservation and climate action initiatives with generous donations. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to see more of this in the future? I am optimistic that this will happen.

Please read on to learn more about the aforementioned, see useful Reconciliation resources, and also be a voice in creating the BC Marine Protected Areas Network spanning from Vancouver Island to Alaska.

Sending this with a glimmer of hope,

Jeneen Sutherland

Executive Director, Wilderness Tourism Association of BC

Our collection of wilderness adventures is vibrant and varied, each offering unique opportunities to connect with the land, wildlife and people of British Columbia. In this section, you can expect to find the latest travel tips and inspiration to help you prepare for your next big adventure.

We believe in a sustainable future for British Columbia’s wilderness tourism industry, and a significant aspect of that work is education and awareness-building around environmental stewardship and sustainable tourism. This section will keep you looped in on news and updates that impact the outdoor spaces we all love, because protecting BC's wilderness is a collective effort.

Reconciliation is an Ongoing Process

On September 30th, Canada marked its second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This is an important day to publicly acknowledge the harm done to Indigenous Peoples, to honour the Survivors of Canadian residential institutions, and to recognize the deep need for national dialogue and healing.

Reconciliation is an ongoing process and there are many actions you can take on a daily basis to support your journey. We live, work and recreate on traditional unceded Indigenous territories, and as travellers and neighbours, we must be sensitive and respectful while we spend time on the surrounding lands and waters. Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC) invites you to discover your Calls to Action of the 94 outlined by TRC, to educate yourself on the heartbreaking history of residential schools, to donate to Residential School Survivors, and to invest in Indigenous economies. Learn the truth, and also celebrate the beauty of Indigenous history, language and cultures of Indigenous Peoples across Canada. Please take a moment to read this article from ITBC for further reading and resources.

Help Create a BC Marine Protected Areas Network

A public consultation process is happening with regards to a Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Action Plan. The plan is to create a large network of marine protected areas spanning from Vancouver Island to the Alaskan border. If enacted, these areas would protect nearly a third of the Northern Shelf Bioregion! Click the button below to learn more and to get involved today. Public engagement is happening until October 27.

Bold Action in the Fight Against Climate Change

BC Parks Foundation recently announced 25x25, a multi-year endeavour to protect 25% of BC’s land and waters, in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples. Lululemon Athletica Inc. founder, Chip Wilson, donated $100 million to help bring this campaign to life. Contributions like this are critical to accelerating the restoration and preservation of natural environments, and to put pressure on other big players to take bold climate action. Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouinard, recently swept international headlines when he gave away the company to a trust and non-profit that will help fight the climate crisis. Together, we can inspire and hold one another accountable to developing creative movements that elevate the urgency of the climate crisis.

West Coast Expeditions ​is a sea kayaking tour company based in Kyuquot, on the remote northwest coast of Vancouver Island. They offer multi-day and single-day trips that encompass marine life viewing, bird viewing, and participation in local Indigenous cultural interactions. West Coast Expeditions have been operating for 50 years as marine ecology and cultural tour leaders — they are GreenStep Sustainable Tourism certified, a member of 1% for the Planet, and have been featured in the NatGeoTraveller Luxury collection.