Who is Trailblazer?

BC is unreal. Trailblazer is the community protecting what makes it that way.

Trailblazer brings together the people, places, businesses, and culture that make British Columbia one of the greatest places in the world to get outside.

People outdoors on a sunlit trail. — Places worth exploring. Places worth protecting.

Trailblazer is a community of people who are passionate about BC being the greatest place in the world to get outside. Trailblazers preserve and enhance the places, people, businesses, and culture that make BC great.

Guided by

Outdoor Sector Coalition

The Coalition brings together leaders from across the outdoor sector around a shared goal: British Columbia being the greatest place in the world to get outside.

That includes recreation groups, stewardship and conservation organizations, lodging providers, gear businesses, tourism and outdoor experience operators, Indigenous sport and recreation, philanthropic organizations, educational institutions, advocates for people with disabilities, and others. The Government of BC is a key ex-officio partner.

Run by

BC Parks Foundation

BC Parks Foundation is the official charitable partner to Parks and Recreational Sites and Trails in British Columbia. It provides the staffing, funding, and infrastructure to advance Trailblazer.

Visit BCPF

For residents. For guests. For everyone who finds health, livelihood, joy, belonging, and responsibility outside.

The vision

What greatness actually needs.

A diversity of natural ecosystems that are healthy, full of life, and resilient.

Diverse, high quality outdoor and adventure experiences and products that connect people to BC's landscapes and cultures and support health, social, and economic vitality.

A diverse and active outdoor and parks support community characterized by stewardship, entrepreneurship, and evolution.

Positive and respectful relationships with First Nations.

Safe, reliable, and accessible physical and digital infrastructure, including trails, access points, campgrounds, recreational sites, visitor services, and monitoring systems.

A supportive and streamlined legislative, policy, and procedural framework.

An excellent education and training system that produces a highly skilled outdoor sector workforce.

Education, preparedness, and shared responsibility for residents, visitors, employees, and operators in dynamic natural environments.

Effective management and enforcement.

Adequate, sustained resources in line with the level of use, impacts, and benefits.

Values and principles

The rules of the trail.

Conservation and stewardship

Outdoor recreation depends on the integrity and diversity of habitats, fish, and wildlife across BC.
Use and enjoyment comes with responsibility to minimize environmental impacts and steward habitats, fish, and wildlife.
Science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge should underpin decisions.
Native species should have abundant, self-sustaining populations.
Stewardship should be practical, effective, and built with the people implementing it.

Respect for Indigenous rights and knowledge

Recognition of and respect for the constitutionally protected rights of Indigenous peoples.
Advancing reconciliation by seeking agreement and working together toward a shared outdoor sector vision, mission, and strategy.
Respect for Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

Respect for local leadership

Recognition and respect for volunteers, local organizations, and local jurisdictions conserving areas, maintaining infrastructure, and creating great outdoor experiences.

Equity and inclusion

Meaningful opportunities for all people to learn about and enjoy outdoor recreation.

Education and skills

Building awareness, understanding, education, and skills from a young age through highly technical training will strengthen connection and success in the outdoor sector.

Good governance

Clear outcomes, measurable targets, milestones, accountability, and continuous learning.
Complement, not duplicate, existing mandates and initiatives.
Clear roles, responsibilities, expectations, communication, and shared accountability.
Relationships aligned around vision and mission, efficient processes, and substantive results.

Financial sustainability

Strategies and actions are appropriately resourced and fiscally sustainable.

Trailblazer

For the places that make BC feel like BC.

Join the community helping preserve and enhance the outdoor places, people, businesses, and culture that make this province unreal.

Become a Trailblazer