At Campbell River Whale Watching, we believe that unforgettable experiences go hand in hand with responsibility - to the ocean, the land, and the communities that call this coast home.
That's why we work alongside a carefully chosen network of conservation organizations, Indigenous-led tour operators, and industry partners who share our commitment to sustainable, culturally respectful tourism.
Together, we work to protect what makes this place extraordinary.
Conservation Contributions
A registered Canadian charity based on northern Vancouver Island dedicated to marine conservation through three interconnected pillars: research, education, and response.
Their research focuses on understanding and reducing human impacts on whales and other marine species - findings that directly shape educational programs aimed at changing boater behaviour and inspiring stewardship. MERS also serves as a primary responder for dead, distressed, and injured marine mammals on behalf of DFO, and trains response volunteers across the region.
Our relationship with MERS goes beyond a simple partnership. All of our guides are required to complete their Marine Mammal Naturalist course, and each season we host an annual fundraising tour in support of their work. We also contribute sighting data and humpback photos throughout the operating season.
A stewardship association representing marine eco-tourism operators on the north island, built on the belief that conservation and economic activity should reinforce one another rather than compete. NIMMSA works to ensure marine tourism operates responsibly, protects marine mammals and their habitat, and remains a sustainable economic driver for coastal communities.
We've been members since NIMMSA was founded in 2007 - our Managing Director Stephen Gabrysh currently serves as president. Our involvement goes day-to-day: a portion of every ticket we sell goes directly into the NIMMSA Conservation Fund to support local conservation projects, we participate in their industry and community meetings, and we collaborate on the ethical wildlife viewing guidelines and code of conduct that set the standard for responsible on-water behaviour. NIMMSA is at its core a north island community dedicated to ethical whale watching, and we're proud to be part of it.
Founded in 2008, Wilderness International is a non-profit foundation with a singular mission: the legally secure purchase of ecologically valuable and threatened wilderness areas to protect them forever. Today three sister foundations operate internationally - in Germany, Canada, and Peru - always co-founded and run with local people on the ground. By 2050, their goal is to protect the last 2.8% of intact habitats on Earth through legally binding land purchases.
Since 2018, Campbell River Whale Watching has been a proud partner. For every guest who travels with us, we protect one square metre of old-growth rainforest in British Columbia - turning each trip into a direct act of conservation.
A non-profit association whose mission is to ensure a sustainable future for BC's wilderness tourism industry through advocacy, stewardship, education, and marketing support. The WTA believes wilderness tourism operators must have a strong voice in how the lands and waters they depend on are planned and managed - and they put that belief into action. Recent initiatives include the Marine Debris Removal Initiative, which brought together member operators to clear 32.5 tonnes of debris across 150 kilometres of shoreline, and ongoing work on ocean acidification and hypoxia through the Climate Ready BC Seafood Grant. The WTA is also dedicated to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), reflecting a commitment to responsible, inclusive tourism across the province.
Campbell River Whale Watching is a proud member, and we value the WTA's role in shaping policy and raising the bar for wilderness tourism operators across BC.
The Commercial Bear Viewing Association of BC was founded on the belief that watching bears is worth more than hunting them - and they helped prove it. Years of advocacy, economic data, and collaboration with First Nations and conservation organizations contributed to a historic outcome: the closure of the grizzly bear hunt on December 18, 2017. Since then, CBVA members have committed to filling that conservation void themselves, collectively raising over $500,000 for the CBVA Small Grant Program for Bear Conservation - funding initiatives for grizzly, black, and spirit bears and engaging First Nations governments, communities, and researchers across BC.
The CBVA also sets the industry standard for guide training, with certifications ranging from Level 1 through Level 3, developed with guidance from bear biologist Grant MacHutchon.
All of our bear tour guides are CVBA certified, and every bear tour includes a $25 bear viewing fee that goes directly to the CVBA in support of their Small Grant Program. Our onsite First Nation guides in both Bute and Toba Inlet are certified alongside our own team - a reflection of the collaborative, community-rooted approach the CVBA champions.
Tour Partners
Stewards of the grizzly bear population in the χwe̓malhkwu (Homalco) First Nation's traditional territory in Bute Inlet for over two decades. Guests experience wildlife through the eyes of the Northern Coast Salish people - stories, language, history, and knowledge woven into every visit.
We are proud partners of Homalco Wildlife and Cultural Tours on our Bute Inlet Grizzly Tours.
Situated on the central coast of British Columbia, the Klahoose Nation has lived since time before memory on lands, waters and air that make up their territories. Klahoose ancestors spirit soars here and can be heard in the wind as it rustles the treetops and guides their peoples.
We are proud partners of Klahoose Coastal Adventures on our Toba Grizzly Tour.
All-inclusive multi-day sea kayaking expeditions and luxury basecamp "Orca Camp" tours on the west coast. We partner with Wildcoast on our single-day Kayaking and Whale Watching tour and several other experiences.
Industry Partnerships
A non-profit, stakeholder-based organization committed to growing a sustainable, culturally rich Indigenous tourism industry in British Columbia. ITBC awards an Indigenous-owned designation to tourism businesses that are at least 51% owned and operated by First Nations or Indigenous individuals or organizations - giving visitors confidence that their support directly enables self-determined Indigenous participation in BC's tourism industry. All of our valued tour partners also carry this designation, and we're proud to operate alongside them.
A one-call booking solution for golf vacations on the Vancouver Island Golf Trail, covering 13 courses and a range of accommodation and off-course experiences. As complementary partners, we help visitors make the most of their time on the island - on the water and on the fairway.
