Episode 08: Climate- and culture-friendly ecotourism

With Roy Jantzen and Laura Choo of the School of Tourism Management, Capilano University

How do wildlife-viewing guidelines differ from one place to the next? What can ecotourism companies do to be more climate responsible? What role do consumers play in this? Roy and Laura discuss these matters as well as share their insights about equitable engagement with local Indigenous communities. Also hear some stories about whales, sea-otters, and dippers!

Guests:

Roy Jantzen is a professor of Natural History, Ecotourism, Tourism and Climate Change, and Environmental Stewardship in the Faculty of Global and Community Studies at Capilano University. He teaches students in Tourism Management, Outdoor Recreation Management, and Global Stewardship. For over two decades, Roy has helped educate the public about the importance of biodiversity and our human place within it. Though he has a passion for local ecosystems and the species that inhabit them, he also has a strong desire to relate the environment to our lives and to larger planetary issues. Roy recently published a book entitled, Active Vancouver: A Year-Round Guide to Outdoor Recreation in the City's Natural Environments. He also leads an ecotourism and consulting company that he began 24 years ago. Roy holds a Master of Environmental Education and Communication from Royal Roads University and asks, “shouldn’t all education be environmental education?"

Laura Choo is a 4th-year student at Capilano University in the Bachelors of Tourism Management Program. She is also an alumna of the Outdoor Recreation Management Program, which she graduated from with Distinction in 2018. She is passionate about outdoor education, natural history, adventure sports, and especially environmental sustainability. She has worked as an outdoor educator, tour guide, naturalist, and tourism researcher. In December 2020, one of her qualitative research projects, which explored the success of COVID recovery strategies for tourism in the City of North Vancouver, won first place in a city-wide showcase! In 2021, along with completing her undergrad, she is looking forward to working as a research assistant for a project exploring and advocating for diversity and inclusion within tourism restart plans across Canada. If listeners want to connect with Laura with ideas for future projects or collaborations, she would be happy to network through her LinkedIn account.