Smoke-Free on Grouse Mountain

May 31 was officially World ‘No Tobacco’ Day. Here at grouse Mountain, we took things literally and instituted a smoke-free resort. As such, staff and guests were asked to remove themselves from the property (yes, that means go all the way back down the mountain) if they wanted to light up. Our goal is to become the first ‘smoke-free’ resort in BC. We discovered this will likely be more easily attainable than first thought. Our guests were very supportive, and our staff who do smoke have been interested in the initiatives we have planned to help them quit. These include money towards smoking cessation products, prizes and days off with pay for milestones met, and more. In collaboration with the Canadian Cancer Society, we are working hard for the health and safety of our employees and guests.

With annual visitors reaching about 1.2 million, we have the ability to make a large impact. Likewise, we are the largest youth employer on the North Shore. With the youth population being one of the largest groups to take up smoking, we have a responsibility to take action. Check out this clip courtesy of Global TV who came to cover this event.

Grouse Mountain on Global Television all summer long

We're excited to bring the people of Vancouver a taste of Grouse Mountain all summer long via Global TV. Starting June 16th, this awesome 3o-second commercial will play not only on Global, but on the Tourism Vancouver TV network at tourism info centres and in hotel rooms throughout the city.



Whenever you ask someone if they know about Grouse Mountain the standard reply is, "Yeah, sure! I was at grouse, um... maybe 15 years ago." Well things have changed... a LOT. While we have kept some of the old favourites of years gone by - the Grouse Mountain Fly-In, for instance - we have way more to offer than you will remember from many years ago.

In summer, experience lumberjack shows, Birds in Motion demonstrations, scenic chair lift rides, guided or self-guided Eco-Walks, Ranger Interpretive Sessions at the grizzly bear habitat of the Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife, spectacular dining and now the brand new Air Grouse mountain zipline adventure - Vancouver's only zipline circuit.

The Grouse Grind opens June 4th!

THIS JUST IN:

The Grouse Grind will be opening tomorrow morning, Wednesday June 4th. Metro Vancouver has finally deemed the trail safe and as of tomorrow morning at 6:15am, the masses will, once again, be allowed to sweat their way to The Peak of Vancouver. The Grind will be open daily from 6:15am to 7:30pm.

With the opening of the Grouse Grind, the first Skyride down the mountain will be at 7:30am - Monday to Friday and 8:00am - Saturday, Sunday, and holidays.

Happy Grinding all! - Photo: North Shore News

Grouse Mountain Goes Smoke Free

May 31 is World ‘No Tobacco Day’. As such, Grouse Mountain will be entirely smoke-free this Saturday. This day marks the start of a campaign to become the first smoke-free mountain resort in BC. In collaboration with the Canadian Cancer Society, B.C. and Yukon Division, staff and guests will trade in cigarettes for twizzlers and wear 'kiss me I don't smoke' buttons to celebrate our tobacco-free environment.

As the largest youth employer on Vancouver's North Shore, and in seeing over 1.1 million visitors annually, we have the opportunity to make a significant impact. We are commited to the health and wellness of our employees. Smoking cessation products are provided for staff looking to quit. We also offer the opportunity to buddy up with a non-smoking colleague for support and encouragement. In addition, meeting set goals can include incentives such as paid days off and prizes.

While we are in full support of all staff wishing to quit, we want to extend this same support to our guests. It can be tricky to step out and take a strong stance such as this one, but the overall goal is to create a healthy environment for guests and staff. We want to celebrate the enjoyment of unspoiled nature that makes our province so special. With the right tools and a supportive approach, we are certain that we can inspire this commitment in everyone who steps foot onto the mountain.

Tobacco use remains the largest single preventable cause of death and disease, killing more than 6,000 British Columbians each year. Cigarette smoking causes about 30 per cent of cancers in Canada and more than 85 per cent of lung cancers. Second-hand smoke is also linked to the death of 140 British Columbians each year.

It is our hope that other companies will follow suit and join us in our commitment.

Think Sustainability Think Blue Grouse

At Grouse Mountain we practice green living and sustainability through our Blue Grouse philosopy. Grouse Mountain is a proud member of the Green Table Network, devoted to sustainable and responsible restaurant practices. We feel that eating out doesn’t have to cost the earth.

Grouse Mountain is also a part of the Ocean Wise program. Ocean Wise is a conservation program created to help restaurants and their customers make environmentally friendly seafood choices. To be sure you’re making the most responsible seafood choices; look for the Ocean Wise symbol on our menus at The Observatory and Altitudes Bistro. It’s your assurance that a seafood dish has been guaranteed ocean-friendly by the Vancouver Aquarium. So now you can enjoy a great meal – while doing your part to protect our oceans.

Visit BlueIsTheNewGreen.ca for more about Grouse Mountain's sustainability initiatives and the Blue Grouse philosophy.