Harbour Air Expands Share the Fare Program to Include the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust

Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Center Clayoquot Biosphere Trust

Vancouver, BC, April 10, 2024 – Harbour Air, North America’s largest seaplane airline, announced today its partnership with the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) as part of its Share the Fare program. This collaboration underscores Harbour Air’s commitment to supporting coastal communities in British Columbia and advancing sustainable initiatives.

Jessica Dunn, Head of Marketing & Public Affairs at Harbour Air, emphasized the airline’s dedication to sustainability in the communities it serves, noting, “Our commitment to coastal BC communities through Share the Fare extends far beyond mere sharing. With the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust now part of the program, we’re actively bolstering crucial community initiatives. We’re honoured to support their vital work within the Biosphere region.”

Every Friday, Harbour Air designates as “Share the Fare Friday”, where the airline donates $1 on behalf of every passenger flying with them to selected organizations. The addition of Clayoquot Biosphere Trust to this program aims to bolster sustainable development, conservation, reconciliation, and youth empowerment efforts within the region.

Rebecca Hurwitz, Executive Director of Clayoquot Biosphere said, "We are deeply grateful to Harbour Air for their generous support of the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Centre! Harbour Air's commitment to sustainability and collaboration mirrors our mandate as a UNESCO Biosphere. Their partnership underscores our shared vision for thriving people and places, and by giving back now they will create a legacy for the future."

The Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Centre, built and operated by the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, will serve as a dedicated space to advance sustainable development, conservation, and reconciliation through education, research, and community programming within the Biosphere region.

The Biosphere Centre will be a space to deliver sustainable initiatives, advance climate action and conservation through research, and implement educational programs tied to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Additionally, it will function as a Living Building, embodying principles of regenerative, self-sufficient, inclusive, and sustainable design.

Harbour Air and Clayoquot Biosphere Trust acknowledges the territories of hiškʷiiʔatḥ (Hesquiaht First Nation), ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht), ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations), Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government (Ucluelet First Nation), and tukʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht Nation) in the spirit of truth, healing, and reconciliation.

For more information about the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Centre and the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, visit www.clayoquotbiosphere.org.

For more information about Harbour Air’s Share the Fare program, visit www.harbourair.com

About Harbour Air

Harbour Air is North America’s largest and the world’s first fully carbon-neutral airline. The company’s international seaplane service, which originally began in 1982 with two seaplanes, is now a quintessential west coast experience. With a fleet of 45 aircraft, Harbour Air offers up to 300 daily scheduled flights, scenic tours, adventure packages, and private flights. With 12 scheduled destinations connecting downtown Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle (WA), Nanaimo, Tofino, Whistler, Vancouver Airport/Richmond, Sechelt, Salt Spring Island, Powell River and Comox, B.C. Harbour Air transports around 500,000 passengers every year. For more information, visit www.harbourair.com.

About the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust
The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) is a registered charity based on the west coast of British Columbia. Established in 2000, the CBT is the only organization in Canada that is both a community foundation and a UNESCO biosphere region. We pair the spirit of community with the power of a global presence to bring more people together for a shared understanding. Our team works to strengthen the development of all citizens, communities, and the ecosystems on which we all depend, for a future we can all be proud of. To find out more visit www.clayoquotbiosphere.org.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

Jessica Dunn
Head of Marketing & Public Affairs
Harbour Air
Email: jdunn@harbourair.com

Michelle Hall
Clayoquot Biosphere Trust
Email: michelle@clayoquotbiosphere.org

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If you’ve driven from Port Alberni to the coast recently, you may have noticed a new sign 2km before you arrive at “the junction.” The sign welcomes you to the ḥaḥuułi of the five central region nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth) Nations — hiškʷiiʔatḥ (Hesquiaht), ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht), ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht) Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet), and tukʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht) — where the biosphere region is designated. 

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We are excited to announce the recipients of the 2024 Arts and Culture grants. This year, eleven inspiring projects in our region have been awarded a total of $30,000 in funding. These grants focus on supporting arts and cultural activities that encourage inter-generational participation. They aim to promote cross-community and cross-cultural engagement, facilitate learning and teaching opportunities, and strengthen arts capacity through workshops, collaborations, and education. Additionally, these grants prioritize equity-seeking initiatives that address barriers to equal access and participation in the arts, focusing on BIPOC communities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. 

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*This position has been filled!  We’re looking for an Executive and Finance Assistant to support the CBT across all program areas. The successful candidate will coordinate the day-to-day administration and operations of the CBT office, creating a welcoming space, hosting events, updating administrative practices, and maintaining records. They will work closely with the Executive Director to support the Board of Directors, as well as work closely with the Finance Coordinator to assist with bookkeeping processes. The Executive and Finance Assistant will work across the CBT to support our programs and events. Apply now!

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We're excited to announce the recipients of the 2024 Research and Environment grants. This year, the CBT awarded over $36,000 in funding to six inspiring projects in the region. These projects address threats to key species and ecosystems and uplift nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth) ways of knowing. Efforts also focus on habitat conservation, restoration, and protection for ecologically and culturally important species and ecosystems.

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Our Team's Experience at EuroMAB 2024

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In early June 2024, two members of the CBT team, Colin Robinson and Janessa Dornstauder had the opportunity to attend EuroMAB 2024 in the Elbe River Landscape, Germany – a UNESCO Biosphere. Because there are so few countries in North America, Canada, and the USA participate in the European network, while Mexico participates in the Latin network. Read more about their experience! 

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