Sustainability

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The Klahoose Nation is rich in land, water, and cultural resources. The Klahoose ancestors have managed this legacy of natural resources, honoring and protecting the environment and its inhabitants for millennia. 

The Klahoose Nation supports sustainable forestry, aquaculture, and an expanding tourism portfolio. Visitors can now explore this resplendent region like never before as they experience the Klahoose Coastal Adventures Grizzly Bear viewing and lodge at the Klahoose Wilderness Resort. True to their legacy, both operators are fully committed to continue protecting the environment, its wildlife, and natural resources for all future generations.

 
Their investment is committed to the preservation, conservation, and protection of our ocean, wilderness, marine, and terrestrial life as well as the local community by purchasing locally, employing Indigenous staff, and partnering with local artists.

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Klahoose Wilderness Resort has signed the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge, to demonstrate our commitment to improving the sustainability performance of our business between now and 2030.

The UN World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.”

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Each year, we commit to measuring and improving our sustainability performance in the following ways: 

 

• The off-the-grid Resort produces its own power. In 2022 the resort was awarded a grant from BC Government's First Nation Clean Energy Business Fund to help fund the redesigned and improve the resorts water intake, Pelton wheel (hydro-wheel) and storage capacity. This brand new hydroelectrical grid comes with state-of-the-art equipment, allowing us to harness the stream run-off water more efficiently, triple our energy generation, and most importantly, enable us to store energy (otherwise lost) so critical during peak consumption periods. The micro-hydroelectric project will eliminate diesel fuel generators at the off-grid resort, removing up to 38 tonnes of carbon emissions annually to help create a low carbon future for the resort. When you visit Klahoose, we would be happy to show the system through a tour of the back of house. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Klahoose Wilderness Resort includes the following: ​

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• Partnership with the Commercial Bear Viewing Association (CBVA) to develop industry standards, uniform guide training, and ongoing research to protect bear and wildlife habitat and supporting the Grizzly Bear Foundation. 

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• Supporting the North Island Marine Mammal Stewardship Association (NIMMSA). A conservation fee is collected from guests and funds go to support conservation and education in the northern Salish Sea region. 

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• Guest's conservation fees are collected, and included in each guest's tour package and goes towards conservation efforts including a portion of the funds that go to the CBVA and NIMMSA, but also to specific efforts to conserving, and enhancing sites, traditions, and the Klahoose First Nation of cultural, historical, archaeological, and spiritual significance. Some examples of this include our Klahoose Women's retreat and our Klahoose cultual learning program for our entire Klahoose team. 

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• Klahoose Wilderness Resort has undergone a comprehensive assessment to achieve Sustainable Tourism Silver Certified. The process includes a one-on-one review of our business practices with a GreenStep Assessor to see how we’re doing against their Global Sustainable Tourism Council recognized criteria. Following the assessment, we received a report that recognizes where we are doing well, and also highlights areas where we have opportunities for improvement, helping us to form an action plan for continued success on our sustainability journey. We will be reassessed every two years to maintain our certification and our momentum.

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• Contribution to the local economy to support regional coastal communities by purchasing locally sourced and sustainable goods, food, and supporting Indigenous and local artists. Examples of this include the purchase of art direct from Coast Salish Indigenous artist's including Ernest Pugless, with wood carvings in main lodge, Maynard Johnny Jr  with art in main lodge, and Adam Lewis with art in main lodge and guests rooms.         

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• We prioritize hiring from the surrounding communities where we operate.  We can't wait to share our home with you!​

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• For our gift shop we prioritize purchasing from local  business such as the Indigenous-owned Raven Song Soap and Candle company from Campbell River.

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• Purchased through Courtney, based  Local Rifllery, the resort uses refillable natural based ONEKA shampoo, conditioner, body & hand wash, and lotions or rooms and dish soap for our kitchen. This helps support a local company, while providing a high quality package-free product to help transition the resort to a plastic-free and lower our environmental impact. 

 

• Serving beer from locally crafted beer, Townsite Brewing, based in the historic Townsite District of Powell River, the beers are named for local sites and language including our recent collaboration beer called "Toba Inlet Lager" named after the majestic Toba Inlet.  

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• Recycling program; each guest will receive a Klahoose Wilderness Resort reusable water bottle to avoid single use plastics.

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• Support program and training for Indigenous careers in tourism. Recent training has included SVOP, Interpretive Guide Training, Grizzly Bear Guide Training and Marine Mammal training. 

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• We are working to align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We are committed to measuring and improving our sustainability performance each year between now and 2030.

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The above efforts help to offset the carbon footprint of Klahoose Wilderness Resort and it guests that visit.

 

Reconciliation Through Travel:

qʷaga kʷanačɩm - Come sit down, with us

Guests who choose to visit Klahoose Wilderness Resort will naturally support these great initiatives while etching memories through their personal adventures. This collective effort, a connection to place, its people, and time-gathered wisdom come together at Klahoose Wilderness Resort within the Klahoose Nation to cast lifelong memories while providing a positive impact for us all.

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Our commitment to Indigenous Tourism in Canada includes signing the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) 2030 Pledge. The pledges recognizes the importance of Indigenous Tourism in Canada and we join #IndigenousTourismTeamCanada to support Canada in becoming a global leader in Indigenous tourism by 2030.

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• The Indigenous Tourism Destination Fund (ITDF) established by the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC): When you make a reservation with us, it's your chance to support Indigenous Tourism in Canada, and help take action towards reconciliation and fulfill the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action #92: building respectful relationships and ensuring that Indigenous communities gain long-term economic benefits from activities taking place on their lands or using their resources. 

• Through the ITDF, investments are being made in infrastructure, human resources, and transportation, as well as business development and marketing. Indigenous tourism is an important way for Indigenous communities to diversify their economies for present and future generations and your contributions are helping to grow the Indigenous tourism industry in Canada from coast to coast to coast.

 

With the ITDF, guests can not only experience an Indigenous-owned business here at Klahoose Wilderness Resort, but now guests can also support Indigenous Tourism across Canada and help foster economic reconciliation. ​

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Our Partners:

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