Trout Point Lodge of Nova Scotia
 a boutique hotel in the Canadian wilderness

Sustainable Nature Tourism Policies and Practices at Trout Point Lodge of Nova Scotia

    As a nature lodge located in a pristine protected wilderness area adjacent to a major river system, Trout Point Lodge, Limited carries out various policies and practices that:
  • Encourage appropriate and sustainable use of the local environment
  • Diminish or eliminate negative impacts on the local environment and culture
  • Create positive impacts and inputs in the local economy
  • Encourage self-sustaining systems using local and renewable resources
  • Diminish the use of non-renewable resources

Trout Point Lodge has received a 5 Green Key rating from the Hotel Association of Canada Green Key program:
5 Green Key Rating
"A hotel that exemplifies the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility throughout all areas of operations. The hotel employs cutting edge technologies, policies, and programs that set the international standard for sustainable hotel operations."

    Green Accolades
  • Parks Canada Sustainable Tourism Award
  • Finalist, Geotourism Challenge, Power of Place: Sustaining the Future of Destinations, National Geographic Society
  • Green Restaurant Award, Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia
  • "sustainability with an eco-luxury twist" GoGirlfriend
  • 5 Best Eco-Friendly Hotels and Lodges in the World Greenopia
  • "Cool Green Hotels in Canada," MSN Travel
  • "Culinary Ecotourists Turn Wilderness Foraging into Dinner," Scientific American


The Lodge's practices and policies include:

Construction, Grounds, & Buildings

Utilizing ceiling fans, 3 foot roof overhangs, and cross-ventilation for cooling and not using air conditioning or HVAC systems

Utilizing natural light in guest and public areas whenever possible

Use of energy-efficient lighting (CFL, LED) in all possible public and guest room locations and in employee work and storage areas -- now surpassing 90% of all lighting in the Great Lodge

Routine maintenance of heating and refrigeration systems

No use of aerosol sprays

Installing a professionally designed and large-capacity waste treatment facility

Gray water/waste feeding of vegetable, herb, and flower gardens

100% Use of solar-powered and/or rechargeable landscape lighting 

The use of natural materials in constriction, including materials with high thermal mass and 100% natural color wool carpeting

Wood-fired outdoor cedar hot tub instead of electric heated tub

Defined swimming area and floating docks in the Tusket River, in lieu of treated swimming pools

Monitoring energy use in order to create more efficient practices

Housekeeping & Guest Services

Using bulk dispenses for amenities, and not using single-use containers, thus reducing waste

Use of non-chemical, natural cleaners in guest rooms, public areas, and whenever feasible in all areas of Lodge buildings

Separation and recycling of plastics, paper, glass, cans, and organic wastes, including placing recycling bins in guest rooms & cottages

 Encouraging guests to use towels over more than one day, thus cutting down on detergent, water, and electricity use

Laundering sheets only on every third day, or upon check-out, unless requested sooner

Making minimal use of paper products for marketing efforts and within the Lodge, use of 100% recycled paper for rack cards, toilet paper, and paper towels

Providing guests with information about the local environment and the Tobeatic Wilderness Area, in particular (scroll down)

Encouraging low-impact and LEAVE NO TRACE enjoyment of the Lodge property, local wilderness area, river, and lakes amongst guests

Cold-water washing and/or use of high-efficiency washers

Kitchen & Cuisine

Emphasizing the use of sustainable seafood resources, in consultation with organizations such as www.seachoice.org, such as harpooned swordfish, longlined haddock, farmed oysters and mussels, trolled yellowfin and big eye tuna, and American lobster

100% of baked goods made in-house from organic flours whenever possible, eliminating wasteful plastic packaging

Use of greens, vegetables, flowers, and herbs from the Trout Point gardens and on-site production of cheeses  

Composting of organic wastes for use in the Lodge's vegetable, flower, and herb gardens

Meal service managed in prix-fixe manner eliminating food, energy, and water waste through careful planning

Purchasing food ingredients in bulk whenever possible, minimizing packaging waste

Using locally-grown organic fruits and vegetables as first priority, and non-locally grown organic products whenever feasible including local farmers such as River View Farm in Caanan and vegetable-grower Matt Cottreau in Kemptville

Environment, Ecology, & Society

Hiring locally in the Kemptville, Nova Scotia community and using local guides 

Spearheading the development of the sustainable enjoyment of the Tobeatic Wilderness Area and committing to long-term value of wild area, in cooperation with the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and the La Societe Touristique Bon Temps d'Argyle

Providing guests with interpretive experiences of the surrounding Acadian Forest ecosystem

Promoting the preservatin of the region's natural star light and dark sky features

Volunteering for the Board of the Southwest Nova Scotia Biosphere Reserve Association

Selling back 100 acres of wilderness land to the Province, to join the Tobeatic Wilderness Area

Maintaining on-site vegetable, flower, and herb gardens that use no chemical pesticides or herbicides

Building and creating roads, trails, and paths that minimize impact on the local environment and forest

Encouraging car-pooling among employees and for supply-purchasing trips & encouraging bicycle use on the property 

Regular maintenance of hotel vehicles

Cooperation with the Nova Scotia Departments of Environment, Labour, and Natural Resources and compliance with all regulations

Supporting other local businesses through preferential purchasing

Encouraging employee continuing education and on-the-job training, including travel opportunities and online education courses 

Charitable donations, including to the Sierra Clubs in Canada and the United States, Ecology Action Center, Longue Vue Gardens, and the Kidney Foundation

Encouraging and contributing to the development and maintenance of the local community infrastructure

In addition to the HAC ECOmmodation rating of 5 Green Keys, Trout Point Lodge has received the top rating of 6 green triangles from Best Green Hotels, and a 5 Star rating from Eco Hotels of the World .

 Best Green Hotels        

The Tobeatic Wilderness Area

103,780 hectares; Landscape representation - Shelburne River Plain; Roseway River Glacial Plain; Tusket River Drumlins; South Mountain Rolling Plain; Fisher Lake drumlins

Spanning parts of 5 counties, the Tobeatic Wilderness Area is the largest remaining wild area in the Maritimes. The region is characterized by unique barren and semi-barren landscapes with outstanding undisturbed glacial landforms including esker fields, moraines, kettles and outwash plains. It protects remote and undisturbed wildlife habitat, protects expansive wetlands, pockets of old-growth pine and hemlock forest, and the headwaters of 9 major river systems flowing to both the Atlantic and Fundy coasts. Taken together with the neighbouring Kejimkujik National Park and Historic Site the Tobeatic Wilderness Area forms the central core of an expansive protected landscape within interior southwestern Nova Scotia.

The Tobeatic Wilderness Area makes a significant contribution to the protection of biodiversity in Nova Scotia. It is also a refuge for wildlife, and has been managed to achieve these purposes since a portion was designated a Game Sanctuary in 1927, and later a Wildlife Management Area in 1968. Today the Tobeatic Wilderness Area continues to provide protection for native biodiversity, with undisturbed wildlife habitat for many species, including a small but provincially significant remnant native Nova Scotia moose population, healthy and abundant black bear, and a re-introduced population of American marten. Within the Tobeatic lie the spectacular forests of old-growth pine and hemlock found at Sporting Lake Nature Reserve and Silvery Lake (IBP site), and outstanding examples of fire barrens at the Shelburne Barrens (IBP site).

The Tobeatic is interconnected by lakes, streams and rivers, offering outstanding wilderness canoeing, camping and hiking. It is a storied region of the province known best for its moose herd, trout streams, and rugged canoe routes through rocky lakes and wild rivers. These routes, first traveled by Mi'kmaq, supported a world-class "sportman's" guiding tradition through the late 19th and early 20th century. The traditions of hunting, fishing, trapping and guiding are alive today, with the travel ways of the Tobeatic frequented by local recreational enthusiasts, youth organizations, and professional outfitters alike.

For additional information, maps, and resources on the Tobeatic, please visit the Environment Web Site.