Giving Back

We are trying to do our part as a business. It just seems to make sense that we should all be doing something every day to protect our little home in the universe and to make it better.

Here is some of what we are investing into:

In 2012 we joined 1% for the Planet (we are member 142 in Canada). If you haven’t heard about 1FP please check it out. The name sort of says it all: we commit to donating at least 1% of our gross revenues to an approved non-for-profit. This brilliant little organization was started in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder and CEO of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, owner of Blue Ribbon Flies. Since then $50M has been directed to environmental work through member companies. Pretty cool. And we are jazzed to be doing our part. How about you?

After nine fantastic years directing the youth leadership sea kayaking programs in memory of my brother Dan I have put that chapter to rest. It was a great ride and some 200 youth benefited from this week on Jedediah Island under the gentle hands of Sarah and Jamie Mani. Many thanks to the Board of Directors that made the tough decisions and Linda Abbott-Simons for making sure that details weren’t forgotten and that every person she supported was just a bit better as a result.

We continue to financially support entrepreneurs internationally through KIVA http://www.kiva.org/

Again in 2010 I was given the opportunity to donate time to the staff at the David Suzuki Foundation. This is a wonderful experience for me and I leave inspired and hopeful. I am constantly amazed at the scope of challenge that they are willing to take on and the insightful approach they take. Each person I meet there is clearly a leader. http://www.davidsuzuki.org/

We have recently supported the hard work of Wayne McCrory and the Valhalla Wilderness Society in the purchase of a large piece of the Cariboo region of British Columbia http://www.vws.org/index.html

In 2011 we are completing our 12th City of Kelowna Mayor’s Youth Forum. This is an exciting program that tackles tough social issues by going to the generation that will have to own it next (grades 9-12 high school students. http://www.kelowna.ca/CM/Page2115.aspx

I will be announcing a new not for profit venture this year, more to follow on that.