FIVE DO-GOOD TRAVEL IDEAS
These initiatives encourage people to give back, in ways big and small
Today, the opportunity for sustainable, responsible travel reaches far beyond reusing towels and packing a water bottle. Instead, we have hotels transforming their buildings to achieve zero-carbon status (see: Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York), and regions building infrastructure for EV road tripping (now easier on Route 97 in B.C.’s Thompson Okanagan region, thanks to additional charging stations).
And on top of this, travellers can find a growing number of tourism experiences that enable them to make responsible choices while contributing meaningfully to the destination — in ways big and small. Here, some sustainable travel ideas to get your planning started.
British Columbia
For two weekends each fall, visitors to Revelstoke, B.C., can “volunteer and stay for free” as part of Thanksgiving Back, the city’s regenerative tourism campaign. In exchange for helping with specific projects, travellers staying at least two nights can have their accommodation reimbursed (up to $500), all in an effort to connect tourists more deeply with the destination and to mitigate any detrimental impact from tourism. Past projects have included mountain bike trail building with the Revelstoke Cycling Association, working in community gardens with the Revelstoke Local Food Initiative, and volunteering with Arts Revelstoke.
Alberta
On its busiest days, Banff will see upwards of 50,000 visitors — five times its population. That’s a lot of people moving through town, grabbing a coffee en route to the surrounding national park. A waste audit last year found that 18 per cent of garbage in Banff’s public bins consists of single-use cups, about 1,000 a day thrown out. This year, the town will launch Banff Borrows to help drastically drop that number. When you order from participating bakeries, cafés and restaurants, you can have your drink served in a free-to-borrow reusable cup, which you can keep during your stay (up to 30 days).
Ontario
At the end of each summer, during monarch migration season, Niagara Parks’ popular Butterfly Conservatory runs their free Majestic Monarchs event, which allows visitors to participate in the important process of tagging these colourful creatures before they flutter south. This tagging allows researchers to track migration routes and monitor changes in insect behaviour, essential data for supporting this endangered species. The tags are also posted online, so you may even be able to follow your butterfly’s journey after it’s been released.
Yukon
An impactful program will return to the territory in 2025: Rugged Apprentices is a Tourism Yukon initiative that has visitors working closely with locals in several towns to improve community infrastructure, so that both groups can enjoy the Yukon to its fullest. Past projects have included trail cleanups and community garden maintenance. No experience is needed, and participants accepted into the program will be provided with accommodations, meals, and transportation within the Yukon. (The application process for 2025 hasn’t opened yet, but keep an eye on travelyukon.com.)
Nova Scotia
Parks Canada offers opportunities to participate in conservation efforts, some more hands-on than others. At Kejimkujik National
Park and National Historic Site in southwest Nova Scotia, you can work with researchers and park staff to monitor the population of wildlife such as brook trout — considered a valuable indicator of the overall health of the freshwater ecosystem. Experienced flyfishers can sign up to volunteer in two specific watersheds between April and June (depending on river conditions), collecting data about their catch and reporting back to park staff. The data will help staff understand the impacts of climate change and invasive species. Registered volunteers will also receive free camping accommodation when available.