For us, sustainable travel has never been a strategy or a trend, it has always been part of how we live and work. Terre Boréale was built around values of respect for nature, people, and place, long before we had the language to call it “sustainability.” Living in harmony with what surrounds us is simply part of Max’s and my way of life.
That said, we are far from perfect. Living in Whitehorse, in Canada’s North, makes certain realities unavoidable. Most food is transported from thousands of kilometres away, and access to local fresh produce year-round is limited. Complete sustainability is not realistic in a remote place like the Yukon. What is realistic is making thoughtful choices, both personally and professionally.
In our daily lives and within our business, we try to make decisions that reduce our impact where possible. We prioritize local meat, source bulk food through suppliers who share similar values, support local businesses, reuse equipment whenever we can, and reduce waste where possible. These principles shape how we operate our Yukon wilderness tours and how we define responsible travel in the North.
Discovering the B Corp Framework
In 2020, we were introduced to the B Corp certification. At the time, we had never heard of it, but we were immediately drawn to its core principle: using business as a force for good.
B Corp certification evaluates companies on their social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. It looks at how a business treats its employees, supports its community, manages its environmental impact, and governs itself — not just at what it sells, but how it operates.
Later that same year, we had the opportunity to join a program designed to support businesses working toward B Corp certification. Our initial goal was not to become certified. We wanted to better understand where we stood and identify areas where we could improve our way of doing business.
The process turned out to be both demanding and encouraging. It highlighted that many of the practices we already had in place — particularly around community engagement, environmental responsibility, and team wellbeing — were aligned with high sustainability standards. Encouraged by this, we decided to continue, and in June 2023, Terre Boréale became a Certified B Corporation, with a score of 92.5 under the former points-based system.
Certification, Perspective, and Common Sense
It is important to say that B Corp certification is not perfect. No certification system is. For a small business, the cost, administrative work, and recertification requirements are significant, and we are still reflecting on whether recertification is realistic for us in the future.
That being said, when you choose a B Corp certified business, you can be confident that it has been assessed thoroughly and that it is committed to operating beyond minimum standards. At the same time, many small, local businesses are doing remarkable work without any certification — often simply because they lack the time or resources to engage in such processes.
As with many things, common sense matters. Ask questions, look at how businesses operate, and pay attention to where your money goes. Certifications can be helpful indicators, but they are not the only measure of integrity.
Sustainable Travel in Remote Yukon Landscapes
In a place as remote and fragile as the Yukon, sustainable travel is not optional — it is a responsibility. When travelling through vast wilderness areas, the impact of human presence is more visible and long-lasting. This is why low-impact travel and respect for the land are central to how we design and guide our trips.
Supporting the local economy is also a key part of responsible tourism in the Yukon. We work with local suppliers and partners whenever possible so that the money spent through Terre Boréale circulates within the community. This strengthens the local tourism economy and supports the people who live and work here year-round.
Equally important is our team. Sustainability, for us, also means building a workplace where people feel invested, supported, and aligned with shared values. Our guides and staff care deeply about the land, about each other, and about the long-term health of the business. This collective commitment shapes every experience we offer.
Choosing How We Travel
If you have read this far, you are likely already mindful of the choices you make as a traveler. Sustainable travel does not require perfection, but it does require attention. Small, thoughtful decisions — choosing local operators, asking questions, understanding impact — can make a meaningful difference.
Travelling responsibly in places like the Yukon will not solve every environmental challenge. But it can contribute to a more respectful relationship with the land and the communities that depend on it. For us, that is reason enough to keep trying to do better.