Island Etiquette - Quadra Island
Tourism is the largest industry in the world, with massive impact on people and nature. We are striving for responsible tourism‚ on Quadra - tourism that is beneficial to both visitors and the local community while also respecting our precious environment. We hope you find the following to be of interest. You can help us maintain the natural peace, beauty and safety on Quadra Island.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
Fire Hazard The past several summers have been hot and dry, with high fire hazard to our forests and homes. There have been total fire bans in place for most of the summer. Even campfires in fire pits have been banned at times. It is extremely important that all residents and visitors, are aware of the level of fire hazard in summer season, and act with care and responsibility. If you are a smoker, please use extreme care when smoking outdoors. Dispose your cigarette butts in a safe manner.
Water Conservation In hot, dry summers, the amount of water available may be compromised at some properties. It is very important to avoid excess usage. Because most properties have a septic system, please dispose of facial tissues and sanitary products in the garbage, not in the toilets.
Responsible use of Resources Please turn off lights and taps and turn down thermostats when leaving your vacation accommodation.
Idle Free Air Quadra Island is part of widespread initiative to reduce unnecessary automobile engine idling. In parking lots, ferry line ups and all over Quadra Island, especially public places, please turn off your car or truck's engine when not driving.
Recycling All garbage must be trucked to landfills off-island. To minimize the amount of garbage produced, we encourage recycling. Please separate your garbage into appropriate containers, and use the compost bin, if there is one.
Plastic Grocery Bags There are no plastic grocery bags available at the Quadra Island merchants. As a part of commitment to reduce waste and use of plastic they've been replaced by the use of reusable carrier bags. They are available locally to buy or bring your own.
Don't Drop Litter Please dispose of all litter in appropriate garbage cans; help keep our roads, parks, trails and oceans clean. Garbage can be hazardous to wildlife too, so please dispose of any trash responsibly.
Outdoor Activities Enjoying nature is one of the joys of being on Quadra. There are a few things we hope that you will remember. If you are on the water, keep a distance of at least 100 meters from seals, dolphins, birds and other mammals in order to avoid disturbing them. Don't be tempted to touch wildlife or disturb habitats whether on land or water. Personal water craft use is banned on local Quadra waters, and a 10hp limit applies to boats in the Main Lakes Chain Provincial Park.
Off Season Travel You may want to consider visiting Quadra during our low season. Not only will you avoid the crowds but the quiet season has a different beauty, including storm watching! Low season travel also prevents any over use of island resources.
COMMUNITY CONSIDERATIONS
Consideration of neighbours Please minimize noise such as loud music, car horns, etc. Noise travels clearly over water and to neighbours on land or water.
Highway Safety Please drive at or below the speed limit (60 km/hr or 40 mph) and watch for the many children, bicycles, pets and wildlife on our roads. Dusk is often the time that deer move around and are on the roadways.
Ferry Usage To minimize traffic congestion and your wait time, consider not taking your vehicle to Campbell River and instead walking on and off the ferry. If it is necessary to take your vehicle off Quadra during your stay, try to use off-peak times which, from the Quadra side, are before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
Support Local Business Whenever possible, we hope that you will use services, facilities and tours developed and operated by local people. This provides financial benefits to local families and contributes to the vibrancy and viability of our community.
We thank you for joining us in our efforts to help keep Quadra Island a strong, vital community that supports sound ecological principles.
