Posted on May 7th, 2013 by pauline
Breanne Quesnel, the owner of Spirit of the West Adventures, explains why they became members of 1% for the Planet….
From a selfish perspective, we all need healthy and functioning ecosystems for our own survival, to have clean water, air and food. As an eco-tourism business, our livelihood is also directly connected to beautiful wild places, open spaces and plentiful wildlife. We try our best to be a sustainable business and to consider the environment and the ramifications of our choices and actions in all that we do, but we also need to give back. We are able to generate revenue by sharing sea kayaking trips on the beautiful British Columbia coast with people from all over the world. We feel it is only right to direct some of that revenue back to organizations and groups that help to protect these wild spaces and wildlife.
We became 1% for the Planet members in order to help raise the profile of the need for all businesses to give back to the environment. While quietly donating to environmental charities gets money where it is needed, 1% for the Planet helps to encourage all businesses to share their success with environmental charities and highlights the fact that together we can make a greater impact. The brand recognition helps customers to make informed decisions, supporting companies who support the environment. I know when I see the 1% for the Planet logo at other shops or businesses, I feel better about purchasing their product or service. My dollar spend has the capacity for a greater positive environmental impact.
The mainstay of our business is providing tours which allow people to sea kayak with whales and a variety of other wildlife in wild and untouched spaces. It is for this reason that over the years as 1% for the Planet members we have chosen to donate to groups which help in protecting the marine environment, the food sources of the whales as well as our local community in which we operate our business. Past donation recipients have included (plus others who still need to apply to become 1% FTP approved nonprofit partners);
- Cetus Research and Conservation
- Save our Salmon
- The Wilderness Tourism Association of British Columbia
- West Coast Environmental Law
- The Sierra Club of BC
- Raincoast Conservation Foundation
- Quadra Island Salmon Enhancement
Donating 1% of all sales is a small contribution to a very worthy cause. I heard a great quote once which helps to sum it all up nicely, “The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of nature”.
Tags: British Columbia, Canada, Great Bear Rainforest, kayaking, Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Spirit of the West Adventures, Whales
Posted in Members, Non-Profit Recipients
Posted on April 17th, 2012 by pauline
It’s Tuesday, which means it’s already time to start looking ahead toward the weekend and make sure you have something fun planned! So do you have any big plans this weekend? And, have you ever been whale watching? Whether you have or have not, I would definitely recommend going! There is nothing quite like seeing a massive creature swimming so close to you! Read on to learn more about a great donation opportunity taking place with one of our newest members this weekend in British Columbia.
We are pleased to welcome Eagle Wing Tours to the 1% community – as our first whale watch touring company! Brett Soberg and his business partner, Don Stewart, founded Eagle Wing Tours in 2005 and incorporated a deep respect for the marine environment. They believe that by educating the public about whales and the wonders of the Salish Sea, they are able to inspire people to consider more environmentally-responsible choices in their everyday lives.
Eagle Wing Tours goes to great lengths to minimize the environmental impact of every aspect of its operations. They are Canada’s first and only carbon neutral whale watching company, offsetting all greenhouse gas emissions. Their clean Volvo diesel engines meet the strictest international standards and provide the lowest emission rating of any whale watching company in Victoria. The unique scarab and catamaran design of their three vessels incorporate the latest marine technology to reduce engine noise, minimizing underwater sound, wake and shoreline erosion.
This weekend, to celebrate Earth Day, Eagle Wing will donate $25 from every adult whale watching tour between Friday and Sunday to The Land Conservancy’s campaign to protect Brooks Point Park on South Pender Island. These waters are frequented by the southern resident killer whales and must be protected!
Environmental stewardship is at the heart of everything they do at Eagle Wing and their customers take pride in knowing that their tourism dollars are leaving a positive impact on the whales and the entire marine environment. Eagle Wing will continue working with the Victoria Foundation to administer its 1% for the Planet pledge to support local non-profit groups dedicated to the pursuit of sustainability and the environment. We want to extend a warm welcome to Eagle Wing Tours and wish we could get out to BC this weekend for one of your tours!
Tags: British Columbia, Brooks Point Park, Eagle Wing Tours, Earth Day, killer whales, The Land Conservancy, Victoria Foundation
Posted in Members
