Sustainable Travel & Ecotourism

Although one could make the case that any journey that includes travel in a car or airplane can't truly be "green," there are several ways that you can make your trip to western Canada more sustainable. The Hotel Association of Canada (tel. 613/237-7149; www.hotelassociation.ca) offers a voluntary program called the Green Key Program (www.greenkeyglobal.com) that recognizes hotels and lodgings that are taking steps to reduce environmental impacts. Lodgings are rated from one to five Green Keys based on their performance in such areas as energy and water conservation, land use, and environmental management.

Canadagreentravel.com is another reference for green accommodations, activities, and restaurants in Canada.

In addition, both B.C. and the Canadian Rockies offer eco-tourism opportunities that join adventure and recreation with sustainable travel practices. Ecotour (www.ecotourdirectory.com) is a Web directory that provides listings for eco-tourism operators in Canada (and around the world).

Another valuable website is www.greenlivingonline.com, which offers extensive content on how to travel sustainably, including a travel and transport section and profiles of the best green shops and services in Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary.