TOURISM CARES WITH VICTORIA PARTNERS
Speaker Schedule
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Keynote
Maureen Gordon | Small Ship Tour Operators Association of BC
Co-owner
Maureen Gordon is co-owner of Maple Leaf Adventures, a boutique expedition company that offers guests journeys through North America’s western fjords and islands. The company is one of seven members in the Small Ship Tour Operators Association of BC (SSTOA) that helps create a flourishing regenerative travel industry here.
In 2020, from the shock and chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SSTOA created what is now a coastwide movement to remove marine debris from thousands of kilometres of coastline – saving companies, jobs, and their environment, while deepening trust between competitors and regulators.
Maureen is also a nationally published writer, and has spoken at conferences in the US and Canada. She is passionate about the value that businesses who create something from nothing bring to society.
Session 1: Indigenous Tourism
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Genevieve Huneault | Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
Development Manager
Genevieve is a regenerative tourism specialist with a long-standing commitment to social and environmental justice. She has over 10 years of experience integrating sustainable tourism systems with specialties in Indigenous tourism, gender & outdoor recreation, regional food systems management, and community-driven tourism development. Genevieve has worked closely with non-profit organizations, governments, entrepreneurs, innovators, and social enterprises across Canada and Internationally to integrate regenerative practices across their work. Genevieve holds a Bachelor’s of Tourism Management from Vancouver Island University and a Master of Arts in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies from the University of Northern British Columbia. -
Naomi Nicholson | Chims Guest House
Co-Owner & Host
Indigenous Hosts Ed and Naomi Nicholson operate Chims Guest House and have expanded to offer 2 detached Guest Houses and 2 Tiny Homes. -
Alison Pascal | Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre
Curator
Alison Pascal - Mixalíts̓a7 is of the Lil’wat Nation, she is the Curator at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler, BC. Her curatorial work focuses on Squamish and Lil’wat Nations stories. Alison also assists with Educational Programming, for the Cultural Delivery Team.
XE XE SMUN' EEM - Sacred Children - Victoria Orange Shirt Day
Eddy Charlie | Member of Quw' utsun (Cowichan Nation)
Eddy Charlie is a member of Quw' utsun (Cowichan Nation), a former student at Kuper Island Residential School and a graduate of Indigenous Studies at Camosun College. Eddy and Kristin Spray Spray are the organizers of Xe Xe Smun' Eem - Victoria Orange Shirt Day. For eight years they have worked year round to create awareness of residential schools and how the lasting effects of intergenerational trauma still harm Indigenous communities across Canada today. The work they do is often referred to as ‘reconciliation in action’. Click here to learn more about Eddy and his work, and to purchase an orange shirt in support.
Session 2: Responsible Hotels and Accommodations
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Paul Nursey | Destination Greater Victoria
President and CEO
Paul Nursey joined Destination Greater Victoria in January 2014. He is an experienced and respected senior tourism leader and progressive tourism marketing, strategy, and branding expert with 25 years of tourism-related leadership and management experience. He has held leadership positions with the Canadian Tourism Commission, Rocky Mountaineer Rail Tours, Mount Seymour Resorts and Tourism Vancouver – the Greater Vancouver Convention and Visitors Bureau. Widely regarded as one of Canada’s top tourism policy minds, Paul serves on the board of Destinations International as the Advocacy Committee Chair. -
Trina White | The Parkside Hotel & Spa
General Manager
Trina joined The Parkside Hotel & Spa as opening general manager in 2009. From maintaining a perfect Green Key Global since 2009 to tracking The Parkside’s carbon footprint starting in 2016, Trina has spearheaded further achievement of green level rankings, receiving the Vancouver Island Green Business Certificate and continued Ostrom Climate Carbon Neutral Certification since 2018. She champions sustainability locally and provincially and was instrumental in co-creating a green committee within the Hotel Association of Greater Victoria in 2018. Trina has also focused on the steps to reconciliation with the Songhees Nation. The Parkside Hotel & Spa was the first hotel in Greater Victoria to work towards a Memorandum of Reconciliation (MOR), becoming friends with the Songhees in 2021. -
Angela Nagy | GreenStep Solutions
President & CEO
Angela Nagy is the CEO of GreenStep Solutions, a company that has provided sustainability strategies and programs for thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises since 2008. Through their Sustainable Tourism division, Angela and her team provide solutions that help tourism destinations and businesses to improve their sustainability performance, including sustainability strategy development, assessments, certifications, eco-funding, consulting, training programs, and carbon footprint measurement.Angela has been trained by Al Gore, David Suzuki, and IPCC scientists to deliver the Climate Reality Project and is certified in Organizational GHG Accounting through the Greenhouse Gas Management Institute, and as a Sustainability Practitioner. Her experience also includes politics, and Angela has served as an elected official at both the municipal and regional levels,elected on a platform of sustainability.
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Adele Larkin | Black Rock Hotel
General Manager
Adele Larkin has enjoyed a career in hospitality for over 30 years working and living in amazing places like Whistler and Vancouver Island including the Gulf Islands (Ucluelet and Salt Spring Island). Currently she is managing Black Rock Oceanfront Resort in Ucluelet and The Cottages on Salt Spring Island. The natural environment has always been an important part of her life, both for work and play and as such she is focused on always finding ways to protect the natural beauty that we benefit from in British Columbia daily. Her motto is “many small changes together make a big difference”
Activity: UN Sustainable Development Goals & Responsible Purchasing
Kayli Anderson | Synergy Enterprises
Partner & COO
Kayli believes in the power of business to impact positive global change. She is a carbon accountant, a big fan of the SDGs and the program director for the IMPACT Regenerative Tourism Conference Series.
Session 3: Conservation, Biodiversity and Travel
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Jill Doucette | Synergy
CEO
Jill founded Synergy in 2008 after completing her studies in biology. Synergy has developed regenerative tourism projects and strategies for clients in Canada, US and the Caribbean. Passionate about how business, industry and communities can mobilize towards a low-carbon future, Jill works on the frontier of a number of sectors including community development, tourism, and clean technology. -
Brianna Sloan | Nimmo Bay Resort
Marketing Manager
Brianna has worked in the high-end experiential hospitality industry for over a decade, her work spanning all areas of the sector and specializing in remote wilderness businesses. She has a background in service, logistics and digital marketing and is currently representing Nimmo Bay as the Marketing Manager and heads the sustainability committee for the luxury resort. She believes that, now more than ever, tourism can be a force of good in the world and that the future of travel is regenerative. Through a holistic approach to sustainable development, which includes cultural, social and environmental factors, Brianna thinks that tourism and hospitality can be a world-leading industry, setting an example for other sectors to follow. -
JP Obbagy | Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours
General Manager
Tourism has been JP’s chosen career for over 30 years and he remains passionate about it’s power to create positive change. Armed with a business degree in tourism & hospitality management, JP has enjoyed multiple aspects of the industry including business ownership and creating a 1% social and environmental give back program. He is currently a volunteer board member for 4VI. More recently JP has found a new passion in Indigenous Tourism for building a successful community-owned enterprise based on the four pillars of Language & Culture, Employment & Career, Conservation & Environment, and Economic Growth. A self-proclaimed cultural & adventure traveller, JP also enjoys time with family, running on local trails and skiing. -
Sydney McCabe | Eagle Wing Tours
Senior Marine Biologist
Sydney is a marine biologist whose studies have focused on marine ecology and conservation in the Pacific Northwest. Since joining Eagle Wing in 2014, Sydney has had the opportunity to explore many avenues of marine conservation and environmental stewardship. In the summer, she’s a marine naturalist, educating the public on the rich biodiversity of the Salish Sea. In the fall and winter, she leads our school outreach program, connecting the local youth to place and on the Salish Sea. And Sydney has found her true passion—marine education. “Connection to place is key in conservation and we build those connections through experiences,” she says. “With this deeper understanding, we inspire and empower them to protect the ocean in their everyday lives, and perhaps their future careers!”
Day 2: Waterside Chat
Brian Cant | 4VI
Vice President, Business Impact & Engagement
Brian is the Vice President, Business Impact & Engagement for 4VI, a social enterprise created to ensure that travel is a force for good for Vancouver Island – forever. He has worked in communications for more than 15 years developing and executing communications and engagement strategies. Inspired by his summer job guiding visitors through the underground mine at the Rossland Museum in the Kootenays, Brian has focused his career in the tourism industry. Brian previously worked as Director, Communications & Engagement for the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority. His career has also included roles with Destination Greater Victoria, Destination British Columbia, and tartanbond.
Brian is a three-time graduate of the University of Victoria, most recently an MBA, and sits as a member of the university’s Board of Governors.
Greg Takehara | Tourism Cares
CEO
There are many faces of Tourism Cares and as CEO, Greg feels fortunate to be one. He has strived to be a poster child for the organization since its very beginning. The inaugural Ellis Island event in 2003 sparked an interest to give back to our travel and tourism industry. Greg volunteered throughout the years, became a team leader, then a board member and from there, was honored to become its Chairman and subsequently, its CEO. He believes that progression wasn’t a coincidence. We have a lot of work to do, creating and inspiring positive social and environmental impact, to ensure an enduring sustainable future, so we need your help and support.
Experience + Volunteer Day Partners
.Please note: All projects and experiences are subject to change at any time due to weather and the needs of our partners. The Experience Day is an opportunity to give back AND learn more about local challenges, opportunities and how we can fuse more sustainable practices in our personal and professional lives! Ask questions and engage with your hosts and bring back what you have learned with you to your everyday.
Eagle Wing Tours
Check them out here.
Eagle Wing Tours is an award-winning Victoria-based ecotourism company that can best be described as a conservation organization that happens to run accessible year-round whale and wildlife watching tours. Their mission is to protect marine wildlife and the ocean environment through direct support of conservation and research activities, to build ocean awareness through education and outreach programs, and to promote environmental stewardship through industry-leading sustainability initiatives. Eagle Wing is a long-time member of 1% for the Planet, Canada’s first and only third-party verified 100% carbon neutral whale watching company, and has been Victoria’s #1-ranked whale watching company on Trip Advisor since 2007.
About the Experience:
For this half day experience on the Salish Sea Eagle Wing will be partnering with the Songhees Nation for both catering on board the vessel, and welcoming storytellers from the Nation who will add interpretive commentary, as attendees visit the traditional lands on which the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations have lived for the past 5,000 years. Hear from Eagle Wing’s amazing naturalists on board the vessel about the amazing biodiversity. Participants will get a firsthand look at the impact sustainability and collaboration can provide to local communities and the surrounding environment that are the building blocks of a destination.
About the Boat:
There will be coverage on the boat, but for those standing outside of the cover it will be very cold and windy. Proper clothing is a must (dress like you’re going skiing). Bathroom located on boat can be accessed via a flight of stairs.
Important Items:
Bring a full reusable water bottle; we don’t sell water on board.
Plan to spend most of your time outside the cabin, so wear layers, especially a wind-resistant outer layer. Gloves and woolly-type hats (toques) recommended. Baseball caps not recommended (they can fly off). Closed-toe shoes are required. Don’t forget sunscreen and sunglasses. Please follow this link to a blog on our site of what we suggest you wear.
Cameras are welcome: bring spare batteries and memory cards, and protect your camera with a case or bag to help waterproof it. Here are some tips on how to take amazing pictures.
Backpack for personal items
You will receive an event t-shirt, snacks and lunch onsite
Are you prone to motion sickness? If so, we recommend you consider preventive measures. (Rough seas are not the norm, but it’s good to be prepared!)
Don’t be shy to ask questions to our crew. They have an insane amount of knowledge that they’re bursting to share. They live for questions.
Attendees must sign the required waiver before boarding**
Peninsula Streams Society
Check them out here.
Peninsula Streams Society works to achieve healthy aquatic habitat that supports self-sustaining populations of native species in both freshwater and marine environments. Since our formation in 2002, we have worked to accomplish this objective through research, restoration, innovative projects, public education and private land stewardship.
About the Experience and Projects:
Working in conjunction with the PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation and SeaChange, participants will help take part in the SṈIDȻEȽ (SṈIDȻEȽ, pronounced sngeet kwith) Resiliency Project located in the Place of Blue Grouse (SṈIDȻEȽ, pronounced sngeet kwith), otherwise known as Tod Inlet. Local guides will combine immersive storytelling, education and volunteering to help tell the past, present and future of this sacred place. Volunteers will assist with the revitalization of the area to help with traditional food ecosystems at the inlet, providing native plants suitable for medicines, tools and food for local First Nations.
Projects will include the removal of invasives and depositing crushed oyster shell hash on the intertidal areas of the shores of the estuary to regenerate shellfish presence. Planting projects are weather dependent and will be determined shortly before the day of the program.
This group will be joined in the afternoon by the Power To Be team!
About the Site:
Participants break into groups and change projects after lunch. This project will require walking along a trail just over half a mile to the worksite and then back to the bus. Projects include bending, kneeling and some lifting. Public bathroom onsite with rain shelter. Moderate work level. Work project will be held rain or shine.
Important Items for your workday:
Bring a full reusable water bottle
Long pants and lots of layers
Closed-toe shoes are required
Backpack for personal items
Jacket/rain gear
Hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses
You will receive an event t-shirt, snacks and lunch onsite
PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation
Check them out here.
Our mission is to provide participatory education opportunities about traditional and healthy food systems to contribute to the restoration and revitalization of native ecosystems in the W̱SÁNEĆ homelands and to promote food security and indigenous food sovereignty in the W̱SÁNEĆ community and beyond.
About the Experience and Projects:
Working in conjunction with SeaChange and Peninsula Streams Society, participants will help take part in the SṈIDȻEȽ (SṈIDȻEȽ, pronounced sngeet kwith) Resiliency Project located in the Place of Blue Grouse (SṈIDȻEȽ, pronounced sngeet kwith), otherwise known as Tod Inlet. Local guides will combine immersive storytelling, education and volunteering to help tell the past, present and future of this sacred place. Volunteers will assist with the revitalization of the area to help with traditional food ecosystems at the inlet, providing native plants suitable for medicines, tools and food for local First Nations.
Projects will include the removal of invasives and depositing crushed oyster shell hash on the intertidal areas of the shores of the estuary to regenerate shellfish presence. Planting projects are weather dependent and will be determined shortly before the day of the program.
This group will be joined in the afternoon by the Power To Be team!
About the Site:
Participants break into groups and change projects after lunch. This project will require walking along a trail just over half a mile to the worksite and then back to the bus. Projects include bending, kneeling and some lifting. Public bathroom onsite with rain shelter. Moderate work level. Work project will be held rain or shine.
Important Items for your workday:
Bring a full reusable water bottle
Long pants and lots of layers
Closed-toe shoes are required
Backpack for personal items
Jacket/rain gear
Hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses
You will receive an event t-shirt, snacks and lunch onsite
Power To Be + Afternoon Lunch with SeaChange
Check them out here.
From hiking and kayaking, to camping and snowshoeing, Power To Be (PTB) creates access to nature for youth, families and people of all ages living with cognitive, physical, financial, and social barriers. These life-changing programs redefine courage, hope, inclusion, and ability.
PTB’s three areas of focus are Inclusion, the Environment and Community. Their mission is delivered by a team of committed, caring, and skilled staff and volunteers.
About the Experience and Projects:
Participants will tour the grounds and brand-new facility opening on the day of your visit! Learn from the staff about the importance of removing cognitive, physical, and social barriers to the outdoors and see what accessibility for all can look like.
Project Update: The needs of our partner have changed and attendees will be focused on an outdoor project of invasives removal. The invasives along the trails create a tripping and safety hazard for guests. The work group will help to ensure the grounds remain safe and accessible for all. Indoor projects will include important yearly gear checks and maintenance.
Due to the afternoon opening of the brand-new facility, participants will power through the day and join the SeaChange group at the Tod Inlet for a late learning lunch. Tod Inlet is located 15 minutes from the Power To Be facilities. This group has the unique opportunity to meet multiple partners throughout the day!
About the Sites:
Power To Be: IMPORTANT NOTE -There are wasps in the area. Please consider known allergies when selecting this project. Power To Be is located 30 mins from our host hotel. This project will require walking along trials that are easily accessible for all. Projects include bending, kneeling and some lifting. Public bathroom onsite with rain shelter. Moderate work level. Experience will be held rain or shine.
SeaChange: The Tod Inlet is accessed through a trail that is just over half a mile from the bus drop-off. Public bathroom onsite with rain shelter available onsite.
Important Items for your workday:
Bring a full reusable water bottle
Long pants and lots of layers
Closed-toe shoes are required
Backpack for personal items
Jacket/rain gear
Hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses
You will receive an event t-shirt, snacks and lunch onsite
Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture
Check them out here.
The Sandown Centre is 83 beautiful acres of working farm, forest, wetland, and meadow located in North Saanich, just north of Victoria. The organization strives to foster and build the practices critical for climate change-resilient food production and ecological stewardship. The Sandown Centre mission is to build interdisciplinary learning, research, and action in food sustainability and ecosystem stewardship through concrete, living collaborations .
Our priority goals are threefold:
To Steward Biodiversity. Demonstrating best practices with soil health while stewarding biodiversity, water, flora, and fauna on the Sandown lands.
To Foster Growers. Supporting thriving growers in regenerative techniques on site and beyond.
To Engage Community. Developing community understanding and involvement in regenerative agriculture.
To learn more about agrotourism in Victoria please check out https://www.flavourtrails.com/.
About the Experience and Projects:
There is tremendous potential in bringing together the worlds of tourism and agriculture. Each season on the farm brings scents, sights and flavours that serve as a remarkable stage for farm-based events, culinary experiences, learning opportunities and meaningful connections.
The big question is: How can working farmers and tourism professionals come together to create agri-tourism opportunities that are viable, equitable and beneficial to all parties? Successful partnerships require an understanding of the culture, expectations, timelines and priorities of each sector. It is truly the bringing together of two worlds. At the Sandown Centre, we will spend some time thinking about the needs and realities facing those working in the local food system and those in tourism.
Attendees will be divided into small groups and move through different activities throughout the day to engage in multiple experiences. Attendees will hear from Dinah and Stephanie, who are “farmpreneurs” looking to expand their businesses beyond farming by creating unique and memorable value-adds for their guests. Dinah is the creator of Little Crescent Farm, where attendees will enjoy harvesting flowers and building their own bouquets. Stephanie is the owner of Fireweed Farms, a medicinal herb and vegetable farm, where attendees will assist with planting perennials, putting in mulch pathways, and weeding. Learn more about Dinah and Stephanie and the work they do here.
Tourism Cares attendees will further their impact by planting garlic that will later be sold to the local community and restaurants. Having been built on what was once a racetrack and parking lot, groups will help Sandown's staff by competing to see who can remove the most rocks from the soil to prepare the soil for planting.
About the Site:
Minimal walking onsite. There is a porta potty onsite and rain shelter. Projects will involve kneeling and bending with some lifting. Moderate work level. Sandown is a unique and beautiful farm located 30 minutes from our host hotel.
Important Items for your workday:
SeaChange Marine Conservation Society
Check them out here.
SeaChange engages coastal communities through education, conservation and restoration of marine nearshore environments in the Salish Sea of British Columbia, Canada. SeaChange is privileged to restore the Traditional lands and waters of the W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip First Nation), which is called SṈIDȻEȽ (Tod Inlet). SeaChange has worked towards land and estuarine recovery for the last 25 years and are eager to share their collective knowledge with Tourism Cares attendees.
About the Experience and Projects:
Working in conjunction with the PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation and Peninsula Streams, participants will help take part in the SṈIDȻEȽ (SṈIDȻEȽ, pronounced sngeet kwith) Resiliency Project located in the Place of Blue Grouse (SṈIDȻEȽ, pronounced sngeet kwith), otherwise known as Tod Inlet. Local guides will combine immersive storytelling, education and volunteering to help tell the past, present and future of this sacred place. Volunteers will assist with the revitalization of the area to help with traditional food ecosystems at the inlet, providing native plants suitable for medicines, tools and food for local First Nations.
Projects will include the removal of invasives and depositing crushed oyster shell hash on the intertidal areas of the shores of the estuary to regenerate shellfish presence. Planting projects are weather dependent and will be determined shortly before the day of the program.
This group will be joined in the afternoon by the Power To Be team!
About the Site:
Participants break into groups and change projects after lunch. This project will require walking along a trail just over half a mile to the worksite and then back to the bus. Projects include bending, kneeling and some lifting. Public bathroom onsite with rain shelter. Moderate work level. Work project will be held rain or shine.
Important Items for your workday:
Bring a full reusable water bottle
Long pants and lots of layers
Closed-toe shoes are required
Backpack for personal items
Jacket/rain gear
Hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses
You will receive an event t-shirt, snacks and lunch onsite
Local + National Partners:
Be sure to check out our Meaningful Marketplace vendors below.
See these partners and more on our Meaningful Travel Map of North America.
Cascadia Seaweed / Kove Ocean Foods
Check them out here.
Cascadia Seaweed is growing to be the largest North American provider of ocean cultivated seaweed — a regenerative crop with a variety of uses requiring only the sea and sunlight togrow. By cultivating seaweed at scale in the ocean, we will improve human health, support coastal communities and heal the Earth!
*Meaningful Marketplace Vendor
Market Collective
Check them out here.
Market Collective created an opportunity to celebrate local + handmade when COVID related closures made in person shopping of craft style Markets unavailable in 2020. Market Collective is grateful to continue with the opportunity to collaborate with over 120 local + handmade artisans in two incredible locations in a mini Market experience. These stores facilitate a gathering point for tactile shoppers who appreciate supporting the creatives in their own community and gifting unique and quality items.
*Meaningful Marketplace Vendor
Invasive Species Council of British Columbia
Check them out here.
The Invasive Species Council of BC (ISCBC) is a registered charity and non-profit society. Our mission is to take action to build healthy landscapes, including habitats and communities, through education and responsible practices to prevent the spread of invasive species. Much of BC’s tourism industry relies on the province’s amazing biodiversity and variety of landscapes. Did you know that invasive species damage ecosystems, landscapes and native wildlife–the very things that draw visitors here?
Tourism operators are key partners in preventing the spread of invasive species. ISCBC is partnering with tourism operators across BC on the Invasive-Wise Tourism program, a training and support program for BC’s tourism industry. The overall goal of the program is to protect species at risk and BC’s rich biodiversity from the threats of invasive species by focusing on high-risk pathways such as movement by tourists, anglers, boaters, floatplanes, and recreationists. The program includes an eLearning course, print and digital resources for staff and clients, support from ISCBC, and a recognition program.
*Meaningful Marketplace Vendor
Truffles Catering
Check them out here.
We offer seamless catering for conferences and meeting at Victoria's premier event venues. Travelers attending a conference that has an off-site catered event may experience creative cuisine featuring locally grown food and bar offerings that feature local beer, BC wine and ciders.
Truffles Catering has maintained a commitment to innovation in environmental stewardship since the inception of its sustainability program in 2008. This program encompasses management principles for purchasing, transportation, waste, energy and water, community involvement and climate action. We purchase from local suppliers who can deliver products that meet our commitment to sustainability; we source Ocean Wise certified products. Truffles works to create the green standard for “low impact” events by successfully diverting 95% of waste through the adoption of a comprehensive composting and recycling system used in-house and on-site at events.