Churchill Wild wins Sustainable Tourism Award for Polar Bear Walking Safaris
Manitoba, Canada (PRWEB) October 08, 2015 -- Churchill Wild, the pioneering developer of the world's only polar bear walking safaris based out of remote luxury eco-lodges in northern Manitoba, Canada, is proud to announce that they recently received the 2015 Sustainable Tourism Award at the 17th Annual Manitoba Tourism Awards.
"We're very honoured to receive this award," said Mike Reimer, co-owner of Churchill Wild along with his wife Jeanne. "We'd also like to congratulate our fellow nominees FortWhyte Alive and the Winnipeg Folk Festival. We've worked very hard over the past 30 years to ensure our remote lodges and polar bear safaris have minimal impact on the wildlife in the pristine Arctic environments we operate in. We're proud of what we've accomplished, and it's wonderful to be appreciated for our efforts."
The Manitoba Tourism Awards recognize excellence in the promotion and delivery of high quality tourism experiences throughout Manitoba. Churchill Wild was specifically recognized for providing customized adventures in the Arctic ecosystem without disturbing its inhabitants, and for promoting conservation of native wildlife and vegetation while also creating social and economic benefits for local communities.
Wildlife activities at the Churchill Wild lodges, which include Seal River Lodge, Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge, Dymond Lake EcoLodge and North Knife Lake Lodge, are as low impact as possible, using established trails and beach ridges to minimize their effect on the environment. Guests do not pursue or pressure wildlife, but instead allow animals to approach on their own terms. Hiking is the preferred mode of transportation.
Built by local craftsman using recycled materials and woods harvested sustainably from the forests of Manitoba and Minnesota, the Churchill Wild lodges are a significant and steady purchaser of local goods and services. Churchill Wild also provides employment for local youth and First Nations people, many of whom -- like the Reimer family -- have significant historical ties to the northern areas in which the lodges are located.
Churchill Wild lodges serve a menu of local “country foods” to minimize shipping and maximize flavour and quality, including sustainably and humanely harvested local fish, game, wild berries and salad greens. Only safe and sustainable oils and ingredients are used in food preparation.
"Reduce. Recycle. Re-use," is a phrase often used to describe Churchill Wild's efforts to be environmentally friendly. Recognizing that the future is their environment, they practice and promote wise and sustainable resource use and sound conservation principles and practices for all habitats and wildlife in their surrounding ecosystems. "Our goal is to become 100 percent self-sufficient using renewable energy sources such as solar power," said Mike Reimer. "We're almost there."
Churchill Wild's primary objective is to minimize the impact they have on the environment while also maximizing guest experiences. "Our guests notice even the little things we do with regards to the environment and the wildlife," said Jeanne Reimer. "We really appreciate that."
"It's our way of life."
About Churchill Wild
Churchill Wild is the world’s first and only provider of polar bear safaris that offer on-the-ground access to polar bears. Their polar bear safaris run from mid-July to mid-November with a 100% success rate at the only fly-in polar bear eco-lodges on the Hudson Bay coast, which is home to the largest and most accessible polar bear population on the planet. Additional information and booking details may be found at ChurchillWild.com or by calling (204) 878-5090.
Melanie Swenarchuk, Churchill Wild, http://www.ChurchillWild.com, +1 (204) 878-5090, [email protected]
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