At the beginning of summer, the last section of the long-awaited multi-use path in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve was completed, connecting the communities of Tofino and Ucluelet. ʔapsčiik t̓ašii (ups-cheek ta-shee), as the route is called, means “going the right direction on the path” and winds its way through the traditional territories and homeland of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and YuułuɁiłɁatḥ. It offers bikers, walkers, runners, strollers, and wheelchair users a safe, accessible, and sustainable way to explore the rainforest. The existing parts of the 25km path have already seen tremendous use, and with use comes joy but also impact.

This August, Margaux Martin-Jarrand, our Sustainability Coordinator and Chairperson of our Sustainability Committee, came together with members of our community for a Multi-Use Path (MUP) Clean Up. Organized by the environmental ambassadors of the Wickaninnish Inn, Pacific Sands Hotel and Hotel Zed, in coordination with the District of Tofino and support from Tourism Tofino and other hotels, the event brought employees, families, business owners and visitors together to pick up waste from the popular route. Most of the garbage was recycled at the local recycling depot and through the Ocean Plastic depot in coordination with the Surfrider Foundation.

As Margaux says, “sustainability is all about teamwork and empowering people to do the right thing.” The goal was to start a movement by having fun, sharing best practices, and inspiring further environmental awareness in our community.

At the Wickaninnish Inn, sustainability is one of our core values, and living in a UNESCO-protected biosphere is something we never take for granted. We aim to implement as many of these best practices as possible, working together to organize these events and initiatives with our community partners. Our hope and efforts will continuously gear towards making the Multi-Use Path Clean Up a recurring event and protect this place we love for many generations to come. See you at the next clean up!

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