Many years ago I delivered a worm bin to a cousin of mine who lives in Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver Island. I don’t think the worms survived the first winter. I’m heading there this week and will be blogging about the community’s sustainability efforts. I have already been snooping around on a few web sites and it seems like business is serious about going green. The Chamber of Commerce organizes a monthly green breakfast and several resorts have come together to form the Green Business Initiative. The participating resorts have implemented a range of programs from composting to local food sourcing, water and energy conservation, geo-thermal heating systems and more. One of the resorts claims to have a vermicomposting system in place (that’s worm composting!).
I’m interested to learn how Tofino is dealing with its water issues. It’s not that this seaside rainforest town doesn’t get enough water, it’s where and how to store it that is the problem. In 2006, at the peak of tourist season, the town ran out of water and many businesses, including hotels had to shut down. As they haven’t been in the headlines since (at least not for a water crisis), presumably they have found a solution.
I will be touring around with Aaron Rodgers, the District’s Manager of Community Sustainability who is currently enrolled in the SFU Sustainable Community Development. Good on him!
Stay tuned for the next episode.