The Ecostar Awards have returned for a ninth year of celebrating Vancouver Island’s movers and shakers.
The annual awards, hosted by Synergy Foundation with the support of Vancity Credit Union and Destination Greater Victoria, recognize outstanding environmental and social achievements on Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands. The awards are presented to businesses, organizations, and individuals who have demonstrated initiatives, projects, and innovations that contribute to a vibrant future in which our community and environment both prosper. Douglas magazine is pleased to be a sponsor.
Other Synergy initiatives include BC Green Business, Project Zero, and FED Urban Agriculture.
Last year’s gala marked record-breaking attendance as green leaders from as far away as Homalco First Nation gathered in celebration at the Inn at Laurel Point in Victoria. Among the winners were Paper Heart Films, who took home the Community Leadership award for their Sustainably Wed docuseries and resource about green weddings and events, and Julian Hockin-Grant of Allied Certifications, who was named Ecopreneur of the Year for his work on the Tribal Parks Allies program in partnership with the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation.
Award applications are currently being accepted and will close on Monday, September 2nd 2024 at 11:59 pm.
The 15 award categories for the 2024 Ecostar Awards are:
- Clean Oceans – Recognizes an organization that is demonstrating environmental leadership to protect our oceans.
- Climate Action – Recognizes an organization that is working to measure, mitigate, and offset greenhouse gas emissions.
- Community Leadership – Honours an organization that has made an outstanding contribution to the environmental movement and sparked changed throughout Vancouver Island.
- Design and Construction – Recognizes a business or project within the construction industry showcasing environmental leadership and innovation.
- Ecological Stewardship – Commends an organization who is actively working to restore or protect natural ecosystems.
- Ecopreneur of the Year – Celebrates the work of an individual who has started an impactful eco-venture that has been in operation for 3 or more years.
- Experiential Tourism – Celebrates an organization that is leading the way in nature-based tourism, creating positive environmental and social impacts in their industry.
- Greenest Retailer – Honours a progressive retail business which has reduced environmental impact in both operations and products sold.
- Innovation – Recognizes an organization that has demonstrated innovative sustainability practices, products, services and/or technology in their industry.
- Inspirational New Venture – Celebrates an inspiring new venture that has demonstrated its potential to create widespread positive change, organization has been operating for less than 3 years.
- Leadership in Hospitality – Celebrates a restaurant, lodging, spa, or salon that demonstrates actions to reduce waste, energy consumption, water usage, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Local Food – Commends an organization that is focused on producing or retailing Vancouver Island products, thereby increasing access to local food and beverage options.
- Social Impact – Celebrates an organization that has made significant impact on addressing social needs.
- Sustainable Workplace – Honours an organization with impressive environmental practices and social policies in place to create a work culture centered around sustainability and well-being.
- Waste to Resource – Celebrates an organization that has diverted waste from the landfill by turning waste into a value-added material for new products.
The awards gala will take place at the Inn at Laurel Point in Victoria on November 14th. Learn more and apply at ecostarawards.com.
