Commitment
Throughout all of our operations we strive to:
- Minimize our environmental impact and/or footprint.
- Pay a living wage, with all positions earning above a living wage when average tips are considered.
- Make ethical and responsible buying decisions, repairing & re-purposing where feasible.
- Offset what we can not reduce or eliminate.
We are a team of expert mariners, certified naturalists, and lovers of wildlife. We believe that education and showcasing responsible wildlife viewing behaviours are a key component of operating as a sustainable organization and help to shift the mindset of our guests.
A few of the key incentives we are committed to include:
- Offsetting our carbon footprint each year
- Self enforcing our own code of conduct for responsible wildlife viewing
- Engaging in citizen science and sharing our sightings through various sightings networks
- Maintaining our equipment to run at the highest efficiency
- Choosing local and sustainable certified suppliers where possible
- Operating most of our systems paper free and using post consumer recycled paper for the rest
- Using cleaning products that are free of harmful chemicals
Vision
Campbell River Whale Watching and Adventure Tours vision is to be a leader among Vancouver Island Whale Watchers. We aim to inspire transformation in our guests behaviours and thought processes around sustainability and conservation through a connection with nature and wildlife.
Mission
Campbell River Whale Watching offers premier wildlife and nature experiences through respectful and ethical practices. Sustainability is factored into every decision we make as we continue to strive to improve our practices, and challenge our industry to join us and help make a difference.
Goals
Each year we reflect on our policies and develop new attainable goals for our operations. Some of these can be accomplished over the course of one year, and some over the course of multiple years. Over the past two years, we have been hard at work to achieve the goals we set for ourself at the start of our 2021 season. If you are interested in what we have accomplished so far, head on over to our blog where we talk about each of them in detail.
Below are the goals we are currently working towards:
- To increase our community impact through a minimum of 150 volunteer hours
- To conduct a waste audit and decrease our garbage going to landfills by 5%
- To form a partnership by 2025 to start developing a hybrid or plug in whale watching vessel
- To pursue deeper connections with our local Indigenous Nations, including attempting to move forward protocol agreements by 2024
- To form a partnership to develop a not for profit floating classroom education program aimed at students in SD 72 and SD 71
- To undertake a re-design of our website to address the key components of an accessible website that will meet WCAG Level A standards at a minimum by the start of the 2025 season
Certified sustainable
We acknowledge that sustainability is a journey. Our efforts are guided by best practices in eco-tourism, and we are proud to meet rigorous standards through recognized certifications that reflect our dedication to sustainable business operations.
Carbon Neutral
We have been Carbon Neutral since our 2018 season! In partnership with Wilderness International, in 2018 we have protected 6848 m2 of pristine old-growth rain forest in British Columbia. Each square meter of rain forest holds 104.79 kilograms of CO2. We are offsetting our carbon footprint by 1.5x with a goal of reaching 2x by 2019. All of this is determined by an in-depth 2018 sustainability report (available below) which is a monumental achievement for a company with less than 20 employees.
Biosphere Sustainable Certified
Biosphere Sustainable is a comprehensive certification process that looks at a business' practices in terms of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This approach takes a more full picture view of sustainability. Campbell River Whale Watching has achieved our certification through our work in each of the SDG categories. Our featured categories are: Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life Below Water, Good Health and Well-Being, Quality Education, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Zero Hunger, and Reduced Inequalities. Learn more here!
BC Green Business Collective
We are proud to be a member of BC Green Business!
BC Green Business is a certification program that supports businesses looking for practical and affordable ways to reduce their environmental impact and contribute to their local communities. Businesses can be certified as Silver, Gold or Green (the highest level) and, in eligible regions, can also be certified as an Ocean Friendly Business based on ‘Surfrider Approved’ actions that focus on direct and positive impact for our oceans and waterways. The program has sector-specific certifications for the restaurant, retail, office, spa/salon, fleet, grocery, and food and beverage processing industries. BC Green Business is an initiative of the non-profit Synergy Foundation. We are proud to be certified GREEN and SURFRIDER APPROVED!
Sustainable Tourism Canada
We are excited to be apart of the Sustainable Tourism 2030 community! We currently hold a GOLD ranking and are always looking at ways we can do better. The following are some of our key initiatives that we do towards our Commitment to be Green:
- At the start of our 2018 season we switched our office over to an online booking platform as a major step towards making our operations paper free. The paper we do use is Earth Choice
- We collect a Sustainability fee from every guest who joins us onboard. Your Sustainability fee directly supports Conservation and Stewardship, Community Donations, and Education Programs.
- We use phosphate free cleaning products
- We have installed low flow toilets
- All of our lunches are made by a local caterer, and packaged in reusable containers and thermoses
- All of our boats are well maintained, and updated regularly ensuring they are fuel efficient
Rainbow Registered
We are proud to be the first and so far only whale watching company in Canada to be Rainbow Registered through Canada's 2SLGBTQIA+ Chamber of Commerce.
The Rainbow Registered Accreditation recognizes businesses that meet rigorous standards for inclusivity toward the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Our initiatives include:
- Inclusive policies and practices that ensure a welcoming environment for all
- Comprehensive inclusivity training for all staff, including seasonal team members
- Hosting an annual Pride Harbour Cruise with all proceeds donated to North Island Pride
- Advocating for gender-neutral washrooms at the Discovery Harbour Marina, our home base
We are deeply committed to creating an inclusive, respectful, and supportive space for everyone on and off the water.
Invasive Species Council of BC
We recently attended ISCBC’s Invasive-Wise Tourism training session to become a certified Invasive-Wise Business!
ISCBC is a dynamic action-oriented organization, helping concerned stakeholders work together to stop the spread of invasive species in BC. They spearhead behaviour change in communities, organizations, governments and industry to help protect our province’s healthy habitats from invasive species.
Be a responsible traveler
At Campbell River Whale Watching, we are committed to protecting the incredible wildlife, ecosystems, and cultural heritage that make Vancouver Island so special. As a guest, you play a vital role in safeguarding these natural wonders and supporting the communities we operate within. Together, let’s make a positive impact by traveling thoughtfully and respectfully.
Take the responsible traveler pledge
By signing the #ExploreWildBC pledge, you commit to responsible tourism - respecting wildlife, supporting local communities, and honoring Indigenous traditions. Join us in traveling responsibly to protect this beautiful place for future generations.
Respecting Indigenous Territories
Learn about the importance of traveling respectfully on Indigenous lands. Watch this insightful video featuring voices from Indigenous communities and their guidance on how to honor traditions while exploring these territories.
Sustainability reports: Tracking our progress
We are committed to transparency and accountability in our sustainability efforts. Our Sustainability Reports outline our journey toward minimizing environmental impact. These reports detail key initiatives, including our emissions tracking efforts, as part of our goal to achieve carbon neutrality.
Please check back soon, as we will publish the 2021, 2022, and 2023 reports here as soon as they are available!
