Synergy Foundation

A round of applause for this year’s Local Food Award winner, Victoria Community Food Hub Society! 🥕Victoria Community Food Hub Society supports farmers and food producers in Greater Victoria through their two initiatives - South Island FarmHub, an online farmers’ market, and Kitchen Connect, a shared commissary processing kitchen. 🥬The Local Food Award, sponsored by Schneider Electric, commends an organization that is focused on producing or retailing Vancouver Island products, thereby increasing access to local food and beverage options. Head to ecostarawards.com to learn more or contact us if you'd like to get involved with next year's gala! #2024EcostarAwards #businessawards #greenbusiness

We’re hiring! 📢 BC Green Business is seeking a Regional Advisor for Central Kootenay Region! In this role, you will coordinate and conduct site visits for BC Green Business members in the region and help us grow our membership base in this region. You’re a great fit if you: 🚗 Have your own vehicle 💚 Are passionate about sustainable business 🕸️ Are well-connected to Central Kootenay’s business community ️ 🔍 Are seeking a flexible additional income opportunity Want to know more? Check out https://lnkd.in/g7FgG_zi. Interviews start on January 6 and will be conducted on a rolling basis until we find the right person for the role. #bcgreenbusiness #greeneconomy #hiring #greenjobs

Give it up for Malahat SkyWalk, who took home this year’s Experiential Tourism Award! 🌲In partnership with Malahat Nation, Malahat SkyWalk shares cultural heritage and traditional ecological knowledge throughout the park, fostering a deeper understanding of the land’s significance for visitors. The organization works to remove barriers to accessing nature by providing electric scooters for those with mobility challenges, launching a free shuttle service from downtown Victoria, and offering discounted tickets for school groups. 🐻The Experiential Tourism Award, sponsored by Destination Greater Victoria, celebrates an organization that is leading the way in nature-based tourism, creating positive environmental and social impacts in their industry. Head to ecostarawards.com to learn more and sign up to be notified when 2025 applications open! #2024EcostarAwards #businessawards #greenbusiness

A round of applause for this year’s Sustainable Workplace winner, Prince of Whales Whale & Marine Wildlife Adventures! 🐳Prince of Whales fosters a sustainable workplace both on and off the water through a range of proactive measures, including the adoption of sustainable technologies and the implementation of waste reduction strategies. 🌊The Sustainable Workplace Award, sponsored by Monk Office, honours an organization with impressive environmental practices and social policies in place to create a work culture centered around sustainability and well-being. Head to ecostarawards.com to learn more or contact us if you'd like to get involved with next year's gala! #2024EcostarAwards #businessawards #greenbusiness

Meet the participants exploring new ways to integrate circular practices and zero-waste models into their operations. 🌎 🔁 Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort & Conference Centre, located in Parksville, is a significant economic contributor to the region. The resort runs a robust waste diversion system and has implemented several environmental and sustainability programs, including a linen reuse initiative aimed at reducing water, energy, and waste. 🥦 Vancouver Island Conference Centre is a key venue for conferences, meetings, and events on Vancouver Island, excelling in procurement practices and innovative solutions, including the adoption of software designed to minimize food waste. 🌲 Strathcona Park Lodge & Outdoor Education Centre offers a wide range of accommodations and specializes in outdoor recreation and educational programs that connect youth with the local environment. The lodge’s reuse practices include repurposing items, such as retired canoes, old linens, and towels. Want to find operational efficiencies and identify new revenue streams? Book a discovery call today https://lnkd.in/gSskQpnf (link in bio) The Accelerator Program is open to businesses based on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. This project is delivered by Project Zero with support from PacifiCan, Island Coastal Economic Trust and our regional partners, including City of Nanaimo. #businessinnovation #circulareconomy #closedloop #thisisprojectzero #vancouverisland

Meet The Den Quality Goods & Refillery, recipient of this year’s Community Leadership Award! 🌊The Den Refillery is catalyzing the shift to sustainable living in the Pacific Rim region by offering zero-waste household and wellness products through their retail stores and leading community education on environmental responsibility. Its Sustainable and Circular Accommodation Program has helped transition over 14 hotels and 120 B&Bs away from using single-use plastics and harmful products, reducing over 3 million single-use plastics. ⭐The Community Leadership Award honours an organization that has made an outstanding contribution to the environmental movement and sparked change throughout Vancouver Island. Head to ecostarawards.com to learn more and sign up to be notified when 2025 applications open! #2024EcostarAwards #businessawards #greenbusiness

Check out a few pictures from the Small Business, Big Impact event! We're still buzzing from all the work shared and hope you left feeling inspired, well-fed, and having made valuable connections! 💡 🌎 A big thank you to Destination Greater Victoria, Peter B. Gustavson School of Business and Capital Regional District for your support, and to everyone who helped make the night happen! 🥕Delicious food provided by The Nom Nutrition made with upcycled veg from Michell's Farm! 🎤Inspiring speakers and tablers: FED Urban Agriculture, ANCORD Design Co, joni® 21st-Century Period Care™, First Growth Reclaimed Design, Holocene Distilling Project, Soap for Hope Canada, Salt Legacy, Victoria Coolkit, I Used To Be A Pallet, The Sustainable Fox, Habitat for Humanity Victoria, BC Green Business, and Project Zero. It is always a joy to gather and connect with like-minded folks. Stay tuned—there’s more to come in 2025! 💚 #sustainability #regenerativefuture #greenleaders #innovation #vancouverislands #SBBI #smallbusinessbigimpact

The 2024 Waste To Resource Award went to I Used To Be A Pallet! 🪵I Used To Be A Pallet upcycles pallets into over 700 products, some of which are offered at a discount to community members, including furniture for classrooms, stability platforms for seniors, and Little Free Libraries. In the past eight years, they have diverted 12-15 tons of wood from landfill. 🔁The Waste To Resource Award, sponsored by Capital Regional District, celebrates an organization that has diverted waste from the landfill by turning waste into a value-added material for new products. Head to ecostarawards.com to learn more and sign up to be notified when 2025 applications open! #2024EcostarAwards #businessawards #greenbusiness

For the second year in a row, we partnered with Reciprocity Trusts Society, an organization that makes land acknowledgements more meaningful! 🧡 For each ticket purchased, $5 was donated to the Indigenous-led South Island Reciprocity Trust. Contributions to the Trust are shared equally and disbursed annually amongst the ten Indigenous Nations who have interests in the CRD. The good news? Anyone in the CRD can participate, whether you’re a business-owner, organization, or individual. Head to reciprocitytrusts.ca to learn more! #ecostarawards #reconciliation #reciprocity #reciprocitytrusts #businessawards #circularbusiness #greenbusiness #leadership #innovation #vancouverislandevents #vancouverislandbiz #vancouverisland

Give it up for Wescon Cedar Products, who took home this year’s Design and Construction Award! 🚪Wescon Cedar Products is the only Passive House-certified door and window manufacturer in North America. Committed to waste diversion, the company has kept over 520 tonnes of dry sawdust waste out of landfills by repurposing it into fire briquettes and using all offcuts for side projects. ⚒️The Design and Construction Award, sponsored by ANCORD Design Co, recognizes a business or project within the construction industry showcasing environmental leadership and innovation. Head to ecostarawards.com to learn more and sign up to be notified when 2025 applications open! #2024EcostarAwards #businessawards #greenbusiness