Winners of 2024 Ecostar Awards announced

This year’s awards, presented by Island sustainability non-profit Synergy Foundation, were handed out at a Thurs. night gala at Laurel Point Inn.

The Ecostar Awards recognize outstanding environmental achievements and since 2015, have been honouring Island businesses, schools, governments, and individuals who have led exceptional environmental initiatives.

With the recognition, this year’s 15 winners received a uniquely designed trophy made from recycled chopsticks and plastic bottles.

Clean Oceans Winner: Rugged Coast Research Society

Rugged Coast Research Society has removed 160+ tonnes of marine debris from 1,200 km of Vancouver Island’s coastline since 2017—its work in Nootka Sound in 2023 alone extracted more than 77 tonnes, 70% of which was recycled by the Ocean Legacy Foundation.

Climate Action Winner: 4VI Social Enterprise Group

4VI Social Enterprise Group is working to develop a roadmap to decarbonize the Island’s tourism industry. By 2030, it aims to reduce emissions from 195 kgCO2e per visitor to less than 100 kgCO2e.

Community Leadership Winner: The Den Refillery

The Den Refillery offers zero-waste hygiene and cleaning products through its retail stores. It has also transitioned more than  14 hotels and 120 bed and breakfasts  from using single-use plastics and harmful products. Direct community engagement includes hosting beach clean-ups and sustainability workshops to educate youth on environmental stewardship in partnership with the Surfrider Foundation.

Design and Construction Winner: Wescon Cedar Products Ltd.

The only Passive-House certified door and window manufacturer in North America. A family-owned and operated business, that creates an estimated 25K doors and 5K windows each year using locally sourced wood and materials. The company is committed to waste diversion.

‍ Ecological Stewardship Winner: QENTOL, YEN/ W̱SÁNEĆ Marine Guardians Program

It’s developing a Marine Conservation Program to ensure W̱SÁNEĆ involvement in protecting and monitoring the endangered Southern Resident killer whales and other marine mammals in W̱SÁNEĆ traditional territory.

Ecopreneur of the Year Winner: Sadie Fox of The Sustainable Fox

Sadie Fox offers waste reduction consultation with an intersectional lens for households, workplaces, and events through her business The Sustainable Fox. Through waste auditing, Fox helps people understand their waste and create strategies to change it at a systemic level. Events using TSF’s consultation and waste diversion services average a 97%+ diversion rate, the company said.

Experiential Tourism Winner: Malahat SkyWalk

Malahat SkyWalk provides a unique, accessible, and educational experience that connects visitors with the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Vancouver Island, while partnering with the Malahat Nation. Cultural heritage and traditional

ecological knowledge are central to the park. The organization has reduced barriers to accessing nature by launching a free shuttle service from downtown Victoria, providing electric scooters for those with mobility challenges, and providing discounted tickets for school groups.

Greenest Retailer Winner: Grove Outdoors

As Victoria’s only consignment outdoor gear store, it offers easily accessible, and high-quality gear to ensure products are being used for their entire lifespan. Grove offers repairs in partnership with Basecamp Repairs and donates unsold clothing to those in need via Our Place Society and Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

Innovation Winner: Clean Air Yard Care

Landscape designing with carbon neutrality in mind—the company uses battery-powered equipment, fully electric trucks, electric bikes, and solar trailers in their fleet. It also uses eco-friendly vegetable-based lubricants and other products for equipment maintenance.

Inspirational New Venture Winner: Wireless PnC Inc.

Established in 2023, Wireless PnC is a Victoria-based, woman-led cleantech company offering a high-efficiency universal wireless charging system for e-bikes and e-scooters regardless of brand or battery type.

Leadership in Hospitality Winner: Pendray Inn and Tea House

It’s been around since 1896, but this Biosphere-certified Tea House is working to improve the future—it became the first Canadian restaurant to achieve The PLEDGE on Food Waste certification, finding ways to reduce food waste by 50%. The inn, located by the Inner Harbour, also was the first business in Victoria to convert private land into a community garden.

Local Food Winner: Victoria Community Food Hub Society

Supporting farmers and food producers in Greater Victoria through two initiatives: South Island FarmHub, an online farmers’ market; and Kitchen Connect, a commissary processing kitchen. It has subsidized $200K+ of local food for Greater Victoria charities and schools in the last two years.

Social Impact Winner: Reciprocity Trusts Society

In partnership with Indigenous Nations, the society collects reciprocity payments from homes and businesses and distributes them to 10- First Nations who have core territory within the CRD. Since its launch in June 2023, more than $100K has been raised from  250+ homes and businesses, to be used for projects, including the establishment of a new big house in the Tsawout Nation, and a youth-elder mentorship program in the Songhees Nation.

Sustainable Workplace Winner: Prince of Whales - Whale and Marine Wildlife Adventures

Its sustainability policies address diverse issues ranging from water- and energy-saving equipment to low-emission staff commuting. On the water, it offers zero-waste catamaran tours with compostable and recycling options and unpackaged foods. Prince of Whales in the process of installing new propellers on its fleet to enhance fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

Waste to Resource Winner: I Used To Be A Pallet

Upcycling pallets into more than 700 products, including Little Free Libraries and stability platforms for seniors. In the past eight years, it has diverted 12-15 tonnes of wood from landfills.