Many modern travellers are concerned about the environmental impacts of travel and want to decrease their carbon footprint both at home and abroad. Even though Alberta isn’t often recognized for its environmental efforts, our capital city was ranked as the number one sustainable large city in Canada in 2009. Edmonton is also leading the way in encouraging the tourism industry to provide environmentally conscious and sustainable tourism opportunities.
“Edmonton Tourism is committed to sustainable living and to enhancing our eco-tourism efforts,” explained Ken Fiske, Vice-President Economic and Tourism Development. “We are focused on our commitment to greening the tourism industry and hope to be recognized as an eco-friendly destination.”
There are now more opportunities for travellers to Edmonton to lessen their impact on the planet while enjoying a visit to the capital region of the province.
Green hotels
When you think of eco-tourism, an image of someone sleeping in a tent may pop to mind, but you don’t have to sacrifice creature comforts to be more environmentally conscious. Many hotels are now offering guests the opportunity to lessen the environmental impact of a hotel stay by opting not to change their room linens every day.
In Edmonton, the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald has taken things a step further by offering each guest that checks into their hotel the opportunity to have a green stay at no additional cost. Guests who opt to go green forgo daily newspaper delivery, opt for electronic billing and get a tree planted and cared for in their name by the Carbon Farmer (www.thecarbonfarmer.ca). Each green guest receives a numbered certificate denoting their donation to the tree planting initiative. The Hotel MacDonald also extends complimentary parking to hybrid vehicles. This green program has been so well-received by hotel guests that other Fairmont properties are considering adopting it.
Eco-conscious restaurants
Sourcing local ingredients is one of the hot trends in the restaurant industry. Locally-produced ingredients are more environmentally friendly, because they aren’t shipped from a distant locale. Many chefs claim that local ingredients are also fresher, more flavourful, and healthier than imported products.
Some Edmonton restaurants go to great lengths to acquire local food and even identify the farms that provide their menu ingredients right on their menus. “Every Saturday we go to the local farmers’ market and choose the freshest items,” said Robert Simpson, Chef de Cuisine at Madison’s Grill. “Our goal is to source as much locally as possible. It takes extra time, but we get the freshest food and we reduce our carbon footprint.”
For a list of other restaurants in Edmonton and around the province that source local ingredients and serve regional cuisine, visit the Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development website and look for the list of restaurants participating in Dine Alberta 2010. (www1.agric.gov.ab.ca)
Eco-friendly shopping options
Consumers can find products and information to help them on the path to greener living at many stores in Alberta’s capital city.
A few particularly interesting shops to check out during a visit include the Carbon Environmental Boutique, the Habitat for Humanity Restore (www.hfh.org), Planet Organic food store (planetorganic.ca), Earth’s General Store (www.earthsgeneralstore.ca), and Wild Prairie Soap Company (www.wildprairiesoap.ca).
``People are looking for products that use natural ingredients from sustainable sources,” explained Tanya Zurock, President of Wild Prairie Soap Company. “Our soaps are made from all-natural ingredients, are produced in an environmentally safe way, and are biodegradable – including the packaging materials.”
Zurock began producing soaps and lotions in her kitchen in 1999 while on maternity leave from her position as a junior high school teacher. The demand has been so great for these natural products that she now has a shop on Whyte Avenue in Old Strathcona that produces more than 8150 kg (18,000 pounds) of soap annually.
Go green while getting around
• Walking/Biking/Skating: Edmonton has more than 160-kilometres of maintained multi-use trails that are ideal for a leisurely stroll, a bike ride or an inline skate. A top spot to go for a walk or jog is in the Edmonton River Valley. The 48-km city stretch of the North Saskatchewan River Valley has over 20 major parks and attractions and many kilometres of trail. For trail information, visit the city’s website (www.edmonton.ca). Bring your bike if you want to cycle along the trails, or if you are staying at the Hotel MacDonaldand are a member of their free President’s Club program, you can use one of the complimentary hotel bicycles.
• Streetcar: One of the most interesting ways to get from downtown Edmonton to the Old Strathcona area is via the High Level Bridge Streetcar. The historic streetcars are run and maintained by volunteers of the Edmonton Radial Railway Society (www.edmonton-radial-railway.ab.ca). The group operates the High Level Bridge Streetcar as well as the streetcars in Fort Edmonton Park. The Streetcar across the High Level Bridge runs from 11 am to 4 pm and costs $2 per direction to ride.
• LRT: Edmonton’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) is powered by electricity and carries more than 74,000 passengers on an average day. It’s a great way to get from one part of the city to another quickly. If you are attending a concert or a sporting event in Edmonton, taking the LRT can save you the frustration of fighting traffic and finding parking. Free LRT transfers are included when you purchase an Edmonton Eskimos ticket. You can purchase a one-way pass for $2.75.
Segway of Edmonton
Edmonton’s River Valley Park is 22 times the size of New York City’s Central Park. It is the largest urban parkland in North America and one of the newest eco-conscious ways to experience River Valley Park is via a guided Segway tour.
A Segway Personal Transporter (PT) is an electric motorized vehicle that you ride in a standing position, shifting your weight to steer in the direction you want to go. A Segway PT reaches speeds of up to 20-km per hour and can travel up to 38 km on a single battery charge. Most importantly, riding one is serious fun.
Segway of Edmonton offers guided one or two hour Segway PT tours through Edmonton`s River Valley –the first outdoor Segway tour in Western Canada. Rates start at $49.99 per person. For more information, visit www.segwayedmonton.com.
Debbie Olsen is a Lacombe-based freelance writer. If you have a travel story you would like to share or know someone with an interesting travel story that we might interview, please email: DOGO@telusplanet.net or write to: Debbie Olsen, c/o Red Deer Advocate, 2950 Bremner Ave., Red Deer, Alta., T4R 1M9.