Year after year, there is one thing that never changes, the goal of Day of IMPACT. We want to showcase the many diverse ways a community encourages sustainable and regenerative business practices, supporting and supported by both residents and visitors to the region.

The ideas we share are chosen to spark change and be emulated in other communities around the world. Hear from folks in the tourism industry who have been successful in implementing sustainable and regenerative business practices, sharing their challenges, and their mitigation strategies. Return home inspired and armed with resources and connections to make a difference where you live. In fact, all participants are encouraged to share their own best practices, so that the learning is as broad as it is enriching.

This year, we invite you to experience the Saanich Inlet and the remarkable landscapes that surround it.

We are grateful to our long-standing IMPACT partners and contributors, including Eagle Wing Tours, Prince of Whales and Pacific Northwest Transportation Services, who combined with some new organizations will help us create another memorable day of learning and discovery.

From Forest to Ocean

Our journey will take us onto the waters of Saanich Inlet, one of British Columbia’s extraordinary coastal environments.

As we travel toward the spectacular fjord-like reaches near Goldstream, we’ll have opportunities to experience the wildlife of the inlet—including seals, seabirds and other marine life—while learning about the geology, ecology and seasonal rhythms of this remarkable place.

We’ll explore the intricate connections between the forest, freshwater, salmon and ocean, and consider how the health of one part of this system depends upon the health of the others.

Salmon provide a remarkable thread through this story. From spawning streams and hatchery work to the surrounding watershed and forests, we’ll explore the importance of healthy freshwater systems and the role salmon play in sustaining the wider ecosystem.

We’ll explore why old-growth forests matter, how watersheds support both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and what these connections can teach us about stewardship and regenerative thinking.

From the Water to the Forest

Our experience will continue at Malahat SkyWalk, where we’ll experience the landscape from an entirely different perspective.

Moving from the water into the forest, participants will have the opportunity to see the coastal landscape from above and gain a deeper appreciation of the forests and ecosystems that surround Saanich Inlet.

The SkyWalk provides a powerful reminder that the forests are not simply a backdrop to the marine environment—they are an essential part of the larger ecological system we have been exploring throughout the day.

It is another opportunity to look at a destination through a regenerative lens: How do we invite people to experience a place while deepening their understanding of it? How can tourism help foster appreciation, connection and stewardship?

Throughout the day, we’ll meet people and organizations whose work demonstrates different approaches to sustainability, stewardship and creating meaningful visitor experiences.

As always, participants are encouraged to share their own experiences, ideas and best practices. The learning becomes richer when everyone contributes.

Our hope is that you return from Day of IMPACT not only having experienced a spectacular part of British Columbia, but with new ideas, new connections and perhaps a different way of looking at the places in which you live and work.

Come aboard. Explore Saanich Inlet. Follow the story from forest to river to salmon to ocean. Experience the landscape from water and sky. Meet the people doing the work. And be inspired to consider what tourism can contribute to the places we call home.

More details to come!