
Before there was ecotourism, there was Bruce Wilkinson. No, he might not be a household name, but more than anyone, he put Mount Robson, and his community of Valemount, on the world stage. In the process, Bruce has shown a skeptical BC and skeptical hometown that finding balance between people and nature can be the recipe for economic success. Is his recipe one that can help strengthen other rural economies, while also protecting biodiversity? We asked Bruce in the visitor centre that he built, and asked him to share with us his story and the lessons he learned along the way.
What do you think?
- What do you think of Bruce’s approach to stewardship?
- Do we need more people in society to put forward new ideas that balance people and nature?
- Is it wrong to criticize something if we ourselves can’t offer up a better solution? Is that view too black and white or is there real merit to it?
- What is Bruce’s legacy in Valemount? Has he helped the community, the region?
- Can, or should, his model be duplicated in other communities like Valemount? Or will Bruce’s model just feed the growing tourism demand that creates different kinds of pressure on the environment and local cultures?
More on Bruce
Watch videos outlining his work: Swift Creek Salmon Habitat Restoration Project – Valemount, BC, Salmon Runs in Valemount & Area, Discover Valemount – Episode 1: Cranberry Marsh
Read articles about his work:Upgrades to Valemount salmon spawning lookout, More work to secure Swift Creek spawning grounds
Favourite Book: Green Republic: Birth of Ecotourism in Costa Rica
Favourite Magazines: I am an avid reader of Canadian Geographic and National Geographic, and would recommend students read these magazines to gain a better understanding of the environment.
