Local heli-skiing business Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH) has been honoured with an industry award.
CMH Heli-Skiing and Summer Adventures received the prestigious Responsible Travel and Tourism Forum Leadership Award last week at a special ceremony in Toronto.
The award was presented to Dave Butler, CMH's Cranbrook-based director of sustainability, who is also president of the Cranbrook and District Chamber of Commerce.
"We're especially pleased to receive the Responsible Travel and Tourism Forum Leadership Award as it is recognition for the hard work of our entire CMH staff to make a difference in the world, while providing amazing experiences to our guests," said Butler. "And it's great encouragement to continue our ongoing journey toward sustainability."
The award is presented by Baxter Travel Media and was sponsored by Air Canada. It recognizes a travel or tourism organization that has "demonstrated commitment to socially, economically, and environmentally responsible practices." It can be awarded to a tour operator, hotel, resort or tourism board.
This year, CMH was given the award because of its sustainable practices, many of which have been practiced for its entire 50-year history.
CMH's environmental initiatives include a project to ensure used skis don't end up in landfills, and a commitment to sustainable construction and energy efficiency.
It was also recognized for community outreach, such as its support of local food banks and its adventure-based therapy programs that bring local teenagers back to nature.
CMH describes itself as "stewards of the mountains on which it operates and the communities where its staff live, work and play."
Offering heli-adventures since 1965, CMH is the world's oldest and largest heli-skiing and heli-hiking operator. From their head office in Banff, CMH operates mountain experiences based from 11 lodges located in the Bugaboo, Purcell, Selkirk, Monashee, and Cariboo ranges of British Columbia, Canada. Heli-skiing takes place each year from December through April, and CMH Summer Adventures take place from July into mid-September.