Eco-Friendly Travel in Ontario: Inside Living Water Resorts’ Green Promise

There’s a certain kind of calm that happens when you arrive by the Bay when the pace slows, the air smells fresher, and the moments with people you love start to feel like the point of the whole trip.

At Living Water Resorts, we believe that same feeling should extend to the way we care for the place we’re privileged to call home: Collingwood, nestled between the Blue Mountains and Georgian Bay.

That’s why our Green Promise isn’t a single initiative. It’s a growing collection of choices: some visible, some behind the scenes, and designed to support conservation, reduce emissions, and keep improving the way we do hospitality.

What is Living Water Resorts’ Green Promise?

Our Green Promise reflects our commitment to conservation through measurable actions like renewable energy, on-site growing and composting, and local partnerships that reduce waste and support the natural environment.

We signed the 2030 Sustainability Pledge

As part of our commitment, Living Water Resorts signed the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge, a public commitment to measure and improve sustainability performance between now and 2030.

For our guests, that matters because it’s more than good intentions. It’s a long-term direction: continuously improving how we operate, how we source, and how we reduce our footprint year after year.

Garden-to-table dining: sustainability served fresh

One of the most meaningful sustainability moments at the resort happens quietly, often before most guests are even thinking about dinner.

At Lakeside Seafood & Grill, we’ve opened our greenhouse as a productive on-site garden that grows seasonal vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers to bring hyper-local flavours straight to your plate.

This isn’t a “nice-to-have.” It’s a practical way to reduce food miles and celebrate what’s in season right here, right now. And it’s powered by real people: our greenhouse effort is led by our Housekeeping team, and our restaurant team harvests what’s ripe each morning.

Waste less, grow more: closing the loop with composting

If you’ve ever wondered what happens to food scraps at a resort, you’re not alone.

At our on-site composting station, we transform 100% of restaurant food waste into nutrient-rich soil that returns to our greenhouse where fresh ingredients grow and complete the cycle.

Our process is simple and effective:

• Collect organic waste from kitchens

• Compost (managed by our Golf Course team)

• Grow by enriching greenhouse soil

• Serve: fresh ingredients return to your plate

It’s the kind of sustainability built into the way we operate.

Powering a greener future with solar energy

Some sustainability efforts are highly visible and we’re proud of this one.

In December 2023, we installed 495 solar panels across our properties:

• 266 panels at Living Water Resort & Spa

• 229 panels at Living Stone Golf Resort

Together, these panels:

• Reduce CO₂ emissions equivalent to planting 141 trees annually

• Generate 247,000 kWh of clean energy per year—enough to power 75–145 rooms & suites daily

That’s what we mean by practical progress: real infrastructure that supports a cleaner future for travel.

Sweet sustainability: local choices that cut food miles

Sustainability at Living Water Resorts also shows up in small delights, and you can also bring home from a trip.

We’re proud to feature local, regionally produced items that reduce industrial shipping and support nearby producers:

• Locally sourced farm-fresh eggs available at our Front Desk

• Buzzing Bush Apiary honey featured at Lakeside Seafood & Grill

Choosing local isn’t just about taste (though it’s hard to beat). It’s also a way to reduce food miles and support the community that makes this region what it is.

The spirit of collaboration: supporting partners who give back

We believe sustainability isn’t a solo effort. We look for partners who share our commitment to people, community, and the planet.

That includes supporting businesses such as Spirit Bear Coffee and the give-back initiatives they contribute to, including organizations like The Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter, OWL, Ocean Alliance, and Life Sport Canada.

Conservation is an investment in our shared future and collaboration helps it go further.

How you can be part of the Green Promise during your stay

If you’re the kind of traveler who wants your getaway to align with your values, here are a few easy ways to participate while you’re here:

• Choose menu items that feature what’s currently growing on-site

• Try local features like the honey at Lakeside Seafood & Grill

• Follow along as we share new green initiatives and join our mailing list to stay up to date (https://www.livingwaterresorts.com/contact-us)

Sustainability doesn’t need to feel complicated. It can feel like enjoying something fresh, supporting something local, and knowing your stay is part of something big.

FAQ

What sustainability initiatives does Living Water Resorts have with regards to food and energy?

Key initiatives include garden-to-table dining from an on-site greenhouse, composting 100% of restaurant food waste, and generating clean energy using solar panels across resort properties.

How many solar panels does Living Water Resorts have?

Living Water Resorts installed 495 solar panels total with 266 at Living Water Resort & Spa and 229 at Living Stone Golf Resort.

How does Living Water Resorts compost food waste?

The resort’s composting program converts 100% of restaurant food waste into soil used for the greenhouse garden.

What is the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge?

It’s a commitment by tourism businesses to measure and improve sustainability performance between now and 2030.