-Rod Layman and Brian McHattie

On October 5, the Bruce Peninsula Environment Group (BPEG) hosted a forum on sustainable tourism at the Rotary Hall in Lions Head, with over 150 citizens attending. These attendees included seasonal and permanent residents, business owners, councillors of North and South Bruce, Bruce County staff, and representatives from various community organizations.

Tourism has exponentially expanded in Tobermory and other locations on the Peninsula resulting in the need to develop a plan.

Acting Park Superintendent John Haselmayer presented at the forum, reporting that visits doubled to Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park between 2008 and 2016. In 2016, an estimated 138,0000 day users visited the Grotto shoreline, with over 150,000 people turned away at the Park entrance. Other speakers were Sean Liipere of the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association, Rick Salen of the Blue Heron Company, Darci Lombard of Summer House Park, Marydale Ashcroft of the Lion's Head Promotion Group, and Catrina Dodge of the Bruce Peninsula Tourist Association.

The BPEG Sustainable Tourism Working Group reviewed over 250 ideas from the forum, identifying seven key areas for further research and action: :

• Developing a sustainable tourism brand for the Bruce Peninsula
• Establishing a code of conduct for tourism development and visitor behavior
• Developing more attractions to distribute tourists to more locations
• Improving infrastructure and services responding to the volume of tourists, including water, sewer, waste management, washrooms and visitor facilities
• Seeking funding from upper levels of governments and from visitors to the Peninsula
• Piloting a seasonal shuttle project for Tobermory and nearby attractions
• Supporting entrepreneurship that aligns with the goals of sustainable development

BPEG Chair Megan Myles presented the forum report to the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula's Economic Development Committee on October 31. Myles states the community has a strong leadership role in sharing  ideas and injecting energy, but notes that local government, Parks Canada, the private sector, and other levels of government must partner to provide the necessary support for initiatives.

BPEG will continue to work with others in the community to ensure that momentum continues for the ideas developed at the October 5 forum, with hopes of implementing some initiatives as early as the 2017 season if there is sufficient support and resources. If you would like to stay informed about this sustainable tourism initiative, please email [email protected].