Spring has arrived and that means the shutters are about to swing open for another glorious season at the Delawana Inn Spa & Conference Resort on Georgian Bay.
We’ve been busy over the winter. In fact when sitting down and reviewing our “green” perspectives and corporate responsibility at the resort, we have in fact been making some great strides in pledging our commitment to the environment and community that surrounds us.
We’ve been quite passive and quiet about broadcasting and sharing our efforts. And, for some unknown reason have just casually been making a conscious effort, one department at a time, without anyone really knowing… at times, even us!! It’s another testament to our passion for making the resort a better place of business and a better environment for our guests. I guess you could say it comes naturally to us!
Now obviously, it is impossible for an organization to become ‘green’ overnight. However, we do believe that every opportunity that is feasible at the time should be considered and implemented. So, recently I thought I would just start writing down some of the great initiatives we’ve accomplished silently over the past year or so and I thought I would share them with you…
- Our entire resort uses energy efficient light bulbs
- Onsite Recycling Program - Recycling bins are located in multiple, convenient and visible locations
- Resort wide Towel/Linen Reuse Program in all the rooms
- Low Flow Showerheads in all the rooms
- Reusable Cups, Dishes, & Cloth Napkins in our food & beverage departments
- Beverages at coffee breaks are served in bulk
- Eliminated individual bottled water in meeting rooms – large water jugs are used
- Use of Fair Trade Coffee in all food and beverage outlets
- Most condiments are from refillable bulk containers
- Food Waste – supplied to local pig farmer as food for the pigs
- Oil Waste – supplied to local engineer for heating his house
- Old furniture products are given new life by offering them free of charge to families in need
- Reusable and recyclable take-out containers are used in all food & beverage outlets
- Packaging is minimized by buying products in bulk
- Guests are offered complimentary loaner bicycles to enjoy during their stay
- Utilize local guides and suppliers to maximize economic benefits for our community and region
- We incorporate national park visits into our itineraries. Guest fees to the park are paid by the Delawana Inn Spa & Conference Resort and help support park upkeep and conservation projects, which in turn help to preserve our natural heritage
- We support the local community by providing jobs to residents and developing projects that improve the quality of life for locals
- We contribute to the community by donating to local charities dedicated to the preservation of Canadian wildlife as well as events like Midland Bike Day that supports healthy, green comminities
- We educate our guests on local flora & fauna, wildlife, species, habitats and wetlands through our partnership programs with the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre
- Old towels and bedding are donated to the OSPCA wildlife rehabilitation program
- We consistently monitor water quality
- We’ve introduced the Trees Ontario Program – for all our meeting and events held at the resort, the Delawana Inn Spa & Conference Resort supports the efforts of Trees Ontario in helping organizations take the necessary steps to officially designate their meetings or events as being “green.” We encourage organizations to help offset their environmental footprint by participating in a Trees Ontario program
- Our suppliers of fish and seafood are Ocean Wise certified. Ocean Wise is a Vancouver Aquarium conservation program created to educate and empower restaurants and their customers about the issues surrounding sustainable seafood
We’re not making all these small step changes for accolades! Being on the shores of Georgian Bay we see and experience the beauty and wonder of our surroundings everyday. Being responsible and sustainable should not be considered a chore or errand. It is a dedicated duty to insure that our environment is nurtured and cared for. Better yet, perhaps we should consider it a contractual obligation with ‘Mother Nature’ in the fact that we are really just leasing HER land.
In addition to our ongoing development of our ‘green’ initiatives the Delawana Inn Spa & Conference Resort also supports the following:
- 2005 - 2015: Water for Life Decade - The Delawana Inn Conference Centre proudly supports the UN in the International Decade for Action in Water for Life.
- 2010 - Year of Biodiversity- The Delawana Inn Conference Centre proudly supports the UN in the 2010 Year of Biodiversity.
- Georgian Bay Littoral Biosphere - With extreme diversity in plant and wildlife ‘The Thirty Thousand Islands’ is a complex association of bays, inlets, sounds, islands and shoals lying along the edge of the Canadian Shield bedrock. In 2004 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization) designated the area as a Biosphere Reserve.
And just one more little tidbit of how we help…
- Supporting Our Troops For the fifth year in a row, the Delawana Inn Conference Centre is pleased to provide Base Borden Military and Borden Family Resource Centre - Family Separation and Reunion Services, ten complimentary weekends for returning service personnel and their families. The complimentary weekends are distributed to families of troops who have recently returned from serving in foreign destinations including Afghanistan.
Now, I’m sure I haven’t covered everything, and I’m sure as the season progresses, we will continue to add to our list of ‘green’ initiatives and corporate responsibilities. Many small steps will lead to big change – and we’re proud of our small steps, as is Mother Nature I’m sure!
Lisa Lauder
Sales & Marketing Manager
