Sustainability
Our Commitment to the Park
Banff National Park is our office, our home, and our responsibility. Here's how we try to leave it better than we found it.
Our Commitment
Our Sustainability Plan
We’ve achieved a number of milestones already, but we’re not stopping here.
Sustainability isn’t just about doing our part for the environment. It’s changing our entire business approach to how we work with our habitat, staff, and communities. Our team is taking action to advance the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals with an ambitious agenda to tackle our 6 most important UN SDG’s.
We’ve got more work to do by 2030 with every goal measured along the way.
Our Environment
Our Commitment
It’s a privilege to host tours in nature. We believe we need to leave the Banff region better than we found it and contribute to conservation research, education, and environmental protection through our tours.
What We’ve Done So Far
- We are proud to have been offsetting since 2019.
- Reduction of GHG emissions by 32% (12% above our 2028 goal!).
- We are offsetting our CO2 emissions monthly with the Switch to Zero program.
- Staff Hoodoos viewpoint clean-up in 2023 — the team collected 10 bags of garbage.
- Cascade Pond staff clean-up in 2024 — we collected 7 bags of garbage.
- Since 2013, implemented vehicle telematics and driver feedback to reduce fuel consumption, eliminate speeding, and improve safe driving.
- All tours contain an educational element on “leaving no trace” and the importance of national parks — over 365 hours of teaching a year!
- Solar panel installation on two buildings and a 48.4% reduction in electricity emissions since 2018.
Further Actions Toward Goals
- Update and increase in-house, online educational materials on conservation, ecosystems, and animal populations.
- Improve energy efficiency in all our buildings.
- Initiate annual staff clean-up days.
- Continue to reduce paper consumption through digitization and process change.
- Additional solar installations.
- Electric vehicles for fleet — case studies review.
Our Community Building
Our Commitment
We believe our tours strengthen our connection to the land and people. We are focusing on educating our guests, contributing to Truth and Reconciliation, respecting wildlife, and making tours accessible to our local community.
What We’ve Done So Far
- Discover Banff & its Wildlife offered through the Banff Ambassador training program to educate local staff.
- 45% discount offered on our tours for local residents.
- $5,609 in transportation and 118 guided tours donated in 2023 to local organizations.
- Christmas food bank drive at our reservations store.
Further Actions Toward Goals
- Incorporate the history of Indigenous peoples and the traditional land on which we operate into training and onboarding programs.
- Add and create access to skills-based training in intercultural competency for managers and staff.
- Incorporate Indigenous Canada and/or other relevant courses into the staff training library for continued education.
- Join the Banff Access Program to provide experiences to low-income residents.
Our People
Our Commitment
We believe a healthy place to work is one that fosters holistic health — including work-life balance, financial health, professional development, physical and mental health, inclusivity, and diversity.
What We’ve Done So Far
- Health benefits offered to all full-time staff.
- Bi-annual staff retreats re-implemented.
- Calendar of staff events / team building created and available to all staff.
- Calendar of health-focused events created and available to all staff.
- Mechanic apprentice program offered.
- All staff on above-average wages for the Bow Valley.
- Library of in-house and external training available to all staff.
- RRSP matching offered to all staff.
- Conflict resolution training completed by management and offered to all other staff.
- Created a sustainability team to drive attendance at staff events.
Further Actions Toward Goals
- Monitor wage trends to maintain at or above average wages for the Bow Valley.
- Add training to onboarding to educate new staff on the full compensation package.
- Expand our library of resources (in-house and external) for professional development.
- Offer financial management information to all staff.
Full Strategy
Read our Sustainability Strategy
To find out more about our Sustainability Strategy you can download a copy of our detailed plan, including every 2030 goal and how we measure progress.