Discover Stewardship
We strive to explore mindfully, tread lightly and give more than we take back to the land and our community. From building projects to the details in our guest rooms, decisions are carefully considered to reduce our environmental footprint so guests can celebrate the natural environment in eco-friendly comfort.
Our Approach
From the beginning, Sonora Resort has invested in operating as sustainably as possible to preserve and protect our pristine environment. With state-of-the-art technologies and conscientious planning, Sonora Resort’s infrastructure is both luxurious and sustainable.
Our initiatives grow with each season as we continue to innovate.
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Responsible Water Consumption
- Safe, clean drinking water is derived from seven wells on the property that are sand-filtered, UV-disinfected, and chemical-free
- Reduced-flow rain showerheads and low-flush toilets are in each guest room
- Environmentally-friendly cleaning products are selected across the resort
- Our laundry, kitchen detergents and equipment are supplied by Haddon, including the X3 solid laundry system, which is completely environmentally clean
Reduced Carbon Footprint
- High-efficiency diesel generators are used for moderate energy consumption
- Electric carts for employee resort transportation
- 4-stroke outboard engines on the guide boats consume less fuel and meet all California low-and-ultra-low emissions standards
- We operate a moderate water and energy consumption laundry program
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Conscientious Construction
We made every effort to leave the natural shoreline untouched during construction. For any meter of disrupted natural vegetation, we planted 10 meters of aquatic vegetation to ensure a thriving environment.
Experiences And Education
We are passionate about our surroundings and imparting our knowledge of the incredible biodiversity of the area.
Ethical Wildlife Viewing
We respect the needs of wild animals for space, natural vegetation, and an ecological community. At Sonora, we practice ethical wildlife watching to safely observe animals behaving in their natural habitats.
To do so, we:
- Photograph from an appropriate distance, using proper equipment like binoculars and telephoto lenses
- Avoid noises and activities that might stress the wildlife
- Do not approach young animals and avoid breeding or nesting grounds
- Do not feed the wildlife under any circumstances, including the proper disposal of food products
- Stick to the trails and avoid damaging natural vegetation
Responsible Fishing
We take pride in practicing and teaching our guests the true BC style of sport fishing. Sonora is proud to promote and encourage catch-and-release fishing, taking only what we need on our saltwater salmon trips. We stringently adhere to all fishing regulations as set by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and are a proud member of the Sport Fishing Institute of BC. Sonora Resort proudly supports the Gillard Pass Fish Hatchery to replenish the stock of Chinook salmon.
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Tours in Partnership
The popular Grizzly Bear Tour, in partnership with the Homalco First Nation, provides a minimally invasive way to view the bears of the pristine Orford Valley. The Philips River Tours, in partnership with the Kwiakah First Nations, benefit the Phillips River Conservancy which works to rebuild the region’s rich ecosystem.
Agencies
Sonora Island falls under the domain of several environmental branches at both the provincial and federal levels of government. We are proud to be an active and cooperative partner with all of these agencies. We approach them with our plans and listen carefully to their suggestions. Our aim is to use the agencies as a resource so we can make the most responsible decisions. Since many agencies do not have the funding to travel to remote areas to inspect the work, we hire an environmental consultant to report directly to them.
Together, we acknowledge the K'òmoks, We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum, Homalco, and Kwiakah First Nations peoples, on whose ancient and sacred land we live, work and play. Our longstanding partnerships with First Nations communities are deeply rooted in a mutual desire to honour, celebrate, protect, and educate resort guests about the natural and cultural legacy of those that came to be.
