TRAVEL IS A PRIVILEGE.

Travel is an opportunity to discover differences and learn from them rather than bring your day-to-day life on tour. Responsible travellers respect the guidelines set by Indigenous communities and seek to understand more about historical and cultural differences. Here are some tips to help you be a responsible and respectful traveller in Indigenous territories.

RESPECT LOCAL INDIGENOUS STEWARDSHIP AND GOVERNANCE.

As stewards of the land and keepers of culture, Indigenous governance and communities guide local protocol. When visiting Indigenous communities it is important to respect Indigenous sovereignty and abide by any requests that they make of visitors to their lands.

SEEK AND FOLLOW THE WISDOM OF INDIGENOUS GUIDES ON THE LAND.

You are a guest. Your off-the-beaten-path campsite discovery has been somebody else’s home for generations. That secret swimming spot you’ve found could be a sacred site or traditional fishing hole. The land is medicine for us all. Please avoid travel into unknown backcountry and adhere to the advice of locals. Engage with animals in a non-invasive way and only with the direction of local guides.

TRAVEL LESS. STAY LONGER.

Travel slow and take it all in. Expanding your cultural knowledge is not a contest, and a non-stop itinerary can leave you feeling like you’ve checked all the boxes but missed it all. Choose a destination that allows you to stay, learn, and contribute in one geographic area. Practice travelling with intention, not hyperspeed.

STAY AND SPEND LOCALLY.

Follow an itinerary that contributes economically or otherwise to the local community. If you can book accommodation at an Indigenous lodge instead of a multi-level hotel or eat a meal with your Indigenous host instead of stopping for fast food, please do. Set a goal to put your travel dollars in the pockets of your Indigenous hosts.

INTERACT RESPECTFULLY WITH INDIGENOUS LANDS.

Visitor activity can create additional challenges or increase vulnerability for the Indigenous community you are visiting. Wildfires, stranded or injured backcountry visitors, and increased pollution to waters and lands place extra strain on Indigenous communities and resources. If you just can’t keep away from the wilderness, please enrich your experience by increasing your respect for the water, plants, and animals that have sustained the people for millennia. Take direction for your adventure and wildlife experience from local Indigenous guides.

COME PREPARED AND THINK SUSTAINABLY. 

Another negative impact of travel is an increase in carbon emissions. You can’t build relationships or deepen knowledge as you zoom past en-route to the next too-short experience. Stay local and consider moving between places in alternate ways to increase the time you have to learn and engage. Walking and water tours are kinder to the environment and offer a higher return to hosts and your travel party.

The Parksville Qualicum Beach area spans from Nanoose Bay to Deep Bay and inland to Cathedral Grove. The region encompasses some of Vancouver Island's most welcoming communities and stunning natural phenomena. From the towering ancient cedars of Cathedral Grove to the endless sandy beaches of the stunning east coast of Vancouver Island, the area is a popular destination for both local and international travellers.

In the summertime, Parksville Qualicum Beach is one of the sunniest and warmest spots on Vancouver Island. The calm, warm waters are perfect for swimming and splashing. When low tide hits, the beaches here widen and expand, for plenty of space to explore. Visitors enjoy the beaches and coastlines year-round for sunset strolls, world-class birding, boating, and fishing.

Rathtrevor Provincial Park is one of Vancouver Island's most popular beach destinations for families and campers looking to explore the sandy shoreline and vibrant tidepools that expose themselves at low tide.

Each year over 100,000 people attend the Parksville Beach Festival, known around the world for their Master Sculptor sand sculpting exhibition. Running for five and a half weeks from mid-July through August, the family-friendly event kicks off with the sculpting competition and features weekend concerts, daily buskers, an artisan market and a music festival.

The MABR is situated within the traditional territories of seven First Nations communities and spans approximately 1200 square kilometres. The vertical elevation ranges just over 2100 meters from the highest peak on Mt. Arrowsmith (1817m) to 300 meters into the Salish Sea. This vertical range makes the MABR unique among Canadian Biospheres.

The geographical boundary is defined by five watersheds: Englishman River, Little Qualicum, French Creek, Nanoose Creek, and Bonnell Creek.

UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization)  Biosphere Regions are areas of global ecological significance that make an ongoing commitment to the United Nations to strive for sustainability. They are not parks, and they have no legal authority. They are places where people are inspired to find ways to live and work in harmony with nature. 

The Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region was officially designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2000.

The MABR works collaboratively with First Nations, Community Groups, Businesses and Governments to find innovative ways to achieve a balance between the needs of humans and nature. They have developed a number of resources that can be used by the community to engage with their environment, and host events every year focused on education and sustainability. Head to their website to explore their programming, learn more about their mandate, and explore their 10 Amazing Places in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area.

For those looking for a scavenger hunt style adventure, the Official Amazing Places GeoTour takes you on a geocaching journey through the diverse landscapes of the region. Written by knowledgeable locals, the GeoTour Field Guide not only helps you locate each of the caches, it will provide you with meaningful insights into the places you visit and detailed maps of each location. The Amazing Places Geotour provides a full day of fun for explorers of all ages. For those that find all the caches and manage to solve the clues are eligible for a prize: ​​a customized Amazing Places Geotour geocoin!

The Parksville Qualicum Beach area is home to an impressive collection of organizations committed to the arts, culture and conservation. Depending on your interests and the season in which you visit, you have many opportunities to deepen your understanding of this remarkable region.

If you have an interest in local history, a visit to the Parksville Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of early settlers. Continue to ignite your curiosity and learn about natural history with a visit to the Qualicum Beach Museum where you can explore numerous displays including a permanent exhibit dedicated to the Qualicum First Nation.

If you are passionate about nature and conservation, then a self-guided tour of the Deep Bay Marine Field Station is an excellent opportunity to learn about marine conservation issues and how you can help protect the marine environment. During the summer season, spanning the May long weekend to the first weekend in September, the facility is open to the general public. Engaging touch tanks, captivating aquaria, and enlightening exhibits stand ready to unveil the marvels of local marine life. You can also take a peek into the research labs from the viewing mezzanine and gain insights into ongoing studies that revolve around shellfish aquaculture.

If you enjoy the intersection of carefully curated gardens and towering old-growth trees a visit to Milner Gardens and Woodland is a must-do during your time in Parksville Qualicum Beach. The gardens, developed by Veronica and Ray Milner, are renowned for the juxtaposition of an English country garden against a Pacific Northwest backdrop. Just prior to Veronica's passing in 1998, the gardens were transferred to Vancouver Island University. The university’s goal is to maintain the gardens for education purposes for students in the Horticultural programs and for the community's benefit. Visitors to the gardens can enjoy scones in The Camellia Tea Room and explore the open rooms of the house which contain many historical photos including mementos of visits from members of the Royal Family.

Founded in 1985, theNorth Island Wildlife Recovery Association (NIWRA) is a non-profit, world-class rehabilitation facility situated on 8 acres of immaculately manicured grounds, caring for animals with all types of needs, including birds with broken wings, orphaned black bears, electrocuted eagles and much more.  A visit to their facility allows you to learn about their rehabilitation program, meet one of their 60 resident, non-releasable animals and directly support their vital work.