Back in October of last year the British Columbia Government announced the formation and finding of the BC Partnership for Sustainable Tourism designed to:
- Establish best practices for sustainability specific to tourism businesses;
- Develop and implement a certification program for “green” tourism operators;
- Set up a system for tracking and reporting sustainable tourism indicators;
- Offer practical carbon calculators for small and medium-sized tourism enterprises;
- Embark on communications and outreach for businesses and travellers; and
- Hold workshops across the province to educate businesses on carbon emission strategies and best practices.
The partnership received initial funding of $560,000 from: the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, the Climate Actions Secretariat, COTA, Aboriginal Tourism Association of BC, Tourism Vancouver, BC Hotel Association and the BC Sustainable Tourism Collective.
Those persons that worked so hard to put such a fine collaboration together and their respective organisations should be applauded as true agents of change. The founders of the Icarus Foundation wish them well and hope we can work together to make tourism in BC truly sustainable, prosperously low carbon and a model for other Canadian provinces.
Our support and encouragement are also extended to Judy Adams, the new Managing Director and Valerie Sheppherd, Senior Manager, Sustainability Program Manager.
Judy Adams, formerly CEO or Essential Strategy and prior to that a senior employee within Fairmont Hotels with direct responsibilities for fostering sustainbility practices is ideally suited for this leadership position as is Valerie Sheppard who made such a significant contribution to the Ministry's thinking and action on sustainability. Good times ahead - despite the recession! We wish you every success.
Our support and encouragement are also extended to Judy Adams, the new Managing Director and Valerie Sheppherd, Senior Manager, Sustainability Program Manager. Vancouver, British Columbia --(April 21, 2009) - Judy E. Adams has been appointed as Managing Director for the BC Partnership for Sustainable Tourism (BCPST). As a not-for-profit society, the BCPST works to ensure the environmental, economic, social and cultural sustainability of the tourism sector, one of BC's largest industries. A unique partnership among government, industry and non-government partners, the BCPST is committed to ensuring tourism's long-term viability by helping provide the tools and strategic direction to enhance sustainability practices by tourism businesses throughout BC. As Managing Director, Ms. Adams will take the lead in engaging tourism and community stakeholders throughout the province to finalize and implement a tourism sustainability strategy for BC. A resident of North Vancouver, Ms. Adams has been involved in the service industry for over 23 years, including executive level experience. She has worked for diverse hospitality management companies such as Delta Hotels & Resorts and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. In 2006, she created EssentialStrategy Inc., which provided start up consultation as well as solutions-based services to assist organizations to overcome financial, cultural or systems based challenges with a particular focus on creating organizational sustainability, which Judy considers the essential foundation for success within the service industry. The creation of the BCPST was formally announced at the BC Tourism Industry Conference in February, 2009 by the Honourable Bill Bennett, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts. In addition to creating a strategy, the purpose of the society also includes: - Enhancing the sustainability of the tourism industry in British Columbia - Providing tools and strategic direction for improved sustainability practices by tourism businesses in British Columbia - Raising funding to enable the Society to pursue the above purposes - Developing key indicators for sustainable tourism - Reviewing options for and implementing a sustainable tourism certification program - Educating and informing sector businesses and other partners Funding partners of the BCPST include: The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Tourism British Columbia The BC Climate Action Secretariat The BC Sustainable Tourism Collective The BC Council of Tourism Associations Aboriginal Tourism Association of BC Tourism Vancouver The BC Hotel Association BC Lodging & Campgrounds Association At the first meeting of the Board of Directors, Paul Vallee, Executive Vice-president of Tourism Vancouver was named Chair.
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
