All of our policies are included in our employee handbook, which is always available to staff and sent electronically to all staff once a year after it has been reviewed. All employees are provided adequate time to thoroughly review and read all policies to ensure they are familiar with any changes that have been made in the last year. Employee education and engagement is very important to the culture of the hotel, and we strive for ongoing and continuous improvement in all areas. The below sections of the green policies include all environmental, conservation, social, economic, IT, and various other policies within the hotel.
Environmental and Conservation
The hotel is aware of our impact on the environment in everything we do. Environmental issues are able to be raised by all staff for the green committee to review. We have an action plan in place to discuss broad environmental strategies that are management supported. The accounting department tracks monthly all energy and waste usage, including gas, hydro, water, waste, and recycling. The Green Committee seeks ways to continuously improve results and reduce waste. The hotel has practices in place for the safe disposal of all hazardous and toxic materials if/when necessary. This is a part of our larger health and safety practices which are regularly reviewed and updated. Our maintenance and housekeeping departments (with help from the Health and Safety Committee) continuously monitor all equipment and chemicals for risk assessment (to eliminate or control) both employee safety and environmental hazards. While the hotel is conscious of biodiversity, this area is not in our geographical control. In our action plan we have included guest participation in our employee initiatives for yearly international/national days of environmental awareness.
The hotel purchases from local companies whenever possible and prefers working with small independent businesses. We recognize that shopping locally helps reduce our eco/greenhouse gas footprint. We have worked with suppliers to ensure all disposable goods (such as take-away containers) are eco-friendly, and most paper towels in the hotel are now post-consumer recycled materials. We have reduced the number of single use plastic bottles/amenities in our guestrooms by providing bulk amenities (such as shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, lotion, and soap) that are all in reusable bottles which get sent back to the company in Ontario, cleaned and refilled.
The hotel ensures proper accommodation is made for anyone with special needs (physical limitations, dietary, etc.), by collaborating with them to ensure their comfort and safety.
Social & Economic
The green committee keeps up to date with current events of ongoing social, cultural, and human rights issues so that we are cognizant of what is happening outside of our walls. We are mindful of the economic impact that these types of events/occurrences have on our guests, staff, suppliers, vendors and business partners.
The hotel works with local organizations from time to time in partnership for raising funds or awareness for their causes. Part of the ongoing action plan is to increase our initiatives, such as park cleanup, volunteering in our community, and increasing donations to charitable donations.
Information Technology/Systems
All computers and laptops within the hotel are set up to go to low power/power savings mode when not in use for a period of time. Computers that are not regularly used are shut off, and monitors are powered off. Employees who have a dedicated computer turn their computers and monitors off at night. In addition to this, our IT company does a system wide reboot with updates once a week to all systems in the hotel.
Our larger meeting rooms have a ‘close room’ function that will shut down all AV and cove lighting at once. All regular lighting in meeting rooms not in use are kept off.
Responsible Purchasing
The hotel always shops locally or within Ontario and favours small independent companies or family-owned businesses wherever possible. We purchase paper products for our housekeeping department that are all post-consumer recycled. Bulk cleaners that are environmentally conscious are purchased and dispensed into smaller receptables on site. We proudly order guest amenities in larger format bottles that are cleaned and refilled in Ontario which has eliminated a lot of single use plastic amenities from our waste. Our restaurant serves fair trade and organic tea and coffees, which also supports local and indigenous communities, and purchases locally sourced food products.
CFCs, VOCs and HCFCs
At the hotel, the only CFCs used on site is chlorine for the pool, so it is fully used up in the course of regular pool maintenance, disposal and equipment recovery is not required.
At the hotel, we do not have any products containing VOCs. All paints on site are all no VOC, so no employee exposure is possible.
What are Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)?
CFCs are a family of inert, nontoxic, and easily liquefied chemicals used in refrigeration, air conditioning, packaging, and insulation, or as solvents and aerosol propellants. CFCs are harmful to the earth’s upper atmosphere where their chlorine components destroy the ozone layer.
What are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)?
VOCs are a group of chemicals found in many common household products like paints and carpets that can easily vaporize. VOCs are known to cause health effects including irritation to the eyes, nose and throat.
What are Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)?
HCFCs are organic compounds used in refrigeration, air conditioning, aerosols and fire suppressions. There are many types of HCFCs, some of which have been banned for their ozone-depleting properties.
Last Modified: November 2025
