Best Practices

Tucked away in the lush rainforest on Vancouver Island’s west coast near Ucluelet lies Wya Point, an Indigenous owned and operated tourism venture. Check out this Best Practice on Sustainable Indigenous Tourism Development - Click here for the full story. 



Cree Nation Youth Council - A Successful Mission - I recently returned from a week-long journey through Alberta and B.C. with four representatives from the Cree Nation Youth Council (CNYC). We were on a Best Practices Mission, with the main objective of learning from experienced outdoor education and cultural organizations. The CNYC has been working on developing a 'Cree Wilderness Training Centre' over the past few years and it is the hope of the Youth Grand Chief, Joshua Iserhoff, that this mission would help to inspire and motivate the CNYC to make this project a reality.
Click here for the full story. April 22, 2013 

Cree Nation Youth Council - Best Practices Mission. The Cree Nation Youth Council  (CNYC) is a progressive youth-led organization in Eeyou Istchee (James Bay Region, QC) whose vision is to ‘empower Cree Youth by directly integrating and involving them at the local and regional levels of government, politics and administration.’ The CNYC has been working on the development of a wilderness training centre over the past few years, which will serve as a world class training facility that links people, land and culture in both modern and traditional training methodologies and settings for human resource development. Click here for the full story.
March 11, 2013

Press Release: CES and Open Africa Join Forces to Coordinate Best Practices Missions for Indigenous Tourism Development. Click here for the full story.
August 8, 2012.


Aboriginal Women Entrepreneurs Best Practices Mission. Participate in an exclusive Best Practices Mission that connects Aboriginal women entrepreneurs. Click here for the full story.
May 5, 2011



Jessica Explains Best Practices. Click here for the video.
April 13, 2011

Jessica and Tourism Best Practices. I began working with CES in the fall of 2008. I had just returned from a volunteer research expedition to Northern Honduras and was finishing my honours thesis with the University of Manitoba. I was excited to start my career in the field of tourism and community development.

My initiation into CES began with assisting Clinton and Maggie in coordinating and facilitating COTA’s Best Practices Tour. These tours take tourism operators, planners and community leaders to successful tourism destinations to experience their products, services and development strategies and to learn from that experience. Right away, I was immersed in the development of learning exercises, marketing materials and liaising with clients and service providers. A week later I assisted Clinton in the facilitation of the Tour! The Tour made 11 stops along the St. Lawrence River in Quebec highlighting various nature and adventures based tour operators.

Click here for Part 1.  April 7, 2011

Click here for Part 2.  February 23, 2011

Best Practices Mission. Travel Manitoba's Aboriginal Tourism Best Practices Mission, planned and coordinated by CES in the fall of 2009 is currently featured in Travel Manitoba's Voyageur Magazine.

Click here for the full story. 

April 16, 2010

Aboriginal Tourism Best Practices Mission. Mistissini Tourism showcases sustainable Winter Best Practices Tour. Sponsored by the Mistissini Tourism Department (MTD), the Cree Nation of Mistissini, QC has partnered with CES to host their first Winter Best Practices Tour to highlight opportunities for winter and culture-based tourism activities. Click here for the full story.
March 15, 2010

Funding available for Aboriginal Tourism Best Practices Mission - 2nd Trip. CES is pleased to announce a second date with funding assistance for the Aboriginal Winter Tourism Best Practices Mission in Mistissini, Quebec – March 18 – 22, 2010! Click here for the full story. 

February 17, 2010

Winter Aboriginal Tourism Best Practices Mission.Time is running out to secure your spot in the Winter Aboriginal Tourism Best Practices Mission! What you'll experience . . .
Living off the land by sampling local cuisine.
Try your hand at making your own traditional crafts.
Learn trapping, hunting and fishing techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Journey to the past through legends and stories.
Indulge yourself with modern accommodations at Mistissini Lodge.
Fall asleep to the crackling fire and the sweet smells of boughs in your prospector's tent.

Click here for the full story. 

February 10, 2010

Discovering a Rich Cultural Heritage. Sponsored by the Mistissini Tourism Department (MTD), the Cree Nation of Mistissini, QC has partnered with CES to host their first Winter Best Practices Tour, designed to highlight opportunities for winter and culture-based tourism activities. Guests will experience how this progressive community has created a true balance between modern business practices and traditional ways that have been passed down through the generation, making this a unique place to visit. The tour will take place from March 4 - 8, 2010 and the associated costs of this opportunity are $5,770, but thanks to a generous subsidy from the Mistissini Tourism Department the cost is now only $3,500 per participant. The subsidized rate is only available for the first 10 participants that register so space is limited. Click here for the full story. 

February 5, 2010

COTA Best Practices Mission 2009. Jessica and Amanda recently facilitated COTA's second Best Practices Tour. The tour traveled from Val d'Or, Quebec to Manitoulin Island, Ontario and sponsored 14 participants from the James Bay Region in Quebec. Click here for the full story.

November 17, 2009