The

What Works Series

The Business of a Healthy Bioregion, A partnership between The Tyee, Salmon Nation Trust, and the Magic Canoe

In December 2023, the Salmon Nation Trust and Magic Canoe partnered with The Tyee, the award-winning online, independent news magazine based in Vancouver, BC, to produce a solutions-focused series called “What Works.” It profiles dedicated, creative individuals working across our bioregion to create enterprises that are low carbon, locally-rooted and regenerative.

Areas of Interest:

Modern eco-friendly homes with green roofs in lush landscape at sunset.

High Hopes for Hempcrete

Indigenous Habitat Institute founders explain using hemp to build healthier, climate-proof houses.
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A Revolutionary Approach to the World’s Protein Problem

Searching for a meat substitute, this Vancouver company found one in the rootlike structure of mushrooms.
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An Indigenous-Owned Model for Sustainable Tourism

How the Klahoose converted a closed BC fishing lodge into a place to immerse in nature and culture.
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Postcard from Seattle, Birthplace of Modular Home Design

Robert Humble of Hybrid Architecture started making homes from upcycled shipping containers in the early 2000s, a milestone in eco-design.
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When Golf Courses Go Wild

How non-profits, trusts and cities are converting manicured greens into places where wildlife, plants and people flourish.
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The Future of Home Heating? It’s in the Dishwater

In a first in North America, wastewater is being harnessed for energy in Vancouver’s Olympic Village.
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West Coast Seeds marketing specialist Jason Tweten walks through a test garden at the company’s Delta facility. The company has roughly an acre of gardens where it tests seeds for germination and purity. Photo for The Tyee by Katie Hyslop.

How a Wildly Successful Seed Company Stays True to Its Roots

Retaining its focus on pollinators, climate change and soil health, West Coast Seeds sells over three million seed packets a year.
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Spincycle Yarns founders Kate Burge, left, and Rachel Price. They call themselves the Spinsters. Photo supplied.

A Tale of Two Yarn-Makers Reviving the Local Mill

Spincycle is at the forefront of an artisanal boom in Bellingham. With stunning results.
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Our Community Bikes collects and resells used bike parts, usually sourced from community donations. Photo for The Tyee by Katie Hyslop.

The Enduring Power of Community Bike Shops

The scalable model keeps thousands of bicycles out of landfills every year, and helps cyclists fix their rides on the cheap.
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We’ll Help You Get Off Gas, Says Washington’s Top Gas Supplier

By helping customers pivot to electrification, Puget Sound Energy presents a jobs-boosting model to the bioregion.
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A Coastal Revolution in Hospital Food

How health-care visionaries are creating tasty, culturally friendly menus while cutting waste and carbon emissions.
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Commecial salmon fishing boat near shore in fog in Southeast Alaska in summer.

Dream of Crewing an Alaskan Fishing Boat? Start Here

How a seagoing mentorship program trains ‘greenhorns’ and changes lives.
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Salmon fillets for sale at a fish market displayed with a patchwork effect

Hook, Line and Cannery: Decolonizing Seafood

How five First Nations on Vancouver Island are joining to redefine fishing industry success. A Tyee Q&A.
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Herdwick sheep on Old Winchester Hill Hampshire England

Shear Genius: Turning Waste Wool into Clean Fertilizer

Tons of sheep clippings are dumped or burned. Meet folks reusing them instead to create jobs and a circular farming economy.
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We Can Outsmart Food Package Waste. Cody Irwin Tells How

The cups and dishes you get at takeouts don’t have to end up in landfills. ShareWares invented a way to make them reusable.
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Cleaning Dirt for the Climate

Construction digs up vast amounts of contaminated soil. GRT Resource Regeneration found a low-carbon way to transform it for new uses.
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Crowd at concert : Silhouette people crowd happy and cheering with led foam stick light in front of bright colorful stage lights

Bright Idea: This Natural Glow Stick Doesn’t Pollute

Lux Bio invented a bioluminescent alternative to the toxic plastic wands that litter landfills and oceans.
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Boxing Up a Solution to Food Waste

Peko was launched by students to save groceries from the landfill. They’re helping to cut food bills and climate emissions.
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How to Foster Local Food Businesses? Create a Stir

This Kamloops non-profit is feeding the dreams of local chefs passionate about community food systems.
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Would You Choose Wood Tiles over Ceramic Ones? This Startup Bets Yes

Timber Tiles on Vancouver Island offers a climate-friendly alternative to an ancient craft that today relies on fossil fuels.
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‘4VI really helped us open our eyes,’ said Kevin Bradshaw, shown leading kayakers for his Hello Nature Adventure Tours off of Vancouver Island. ‘They looked at every aspect of the business and how it can give back on some level.’ Photo by Andi Wardrop.

Vancouver Island Made a Big Change in How It Defines Tourism Success

For social enterprise 4VI, it’s about visitors and their dollars leaving the place in better shape than they found it.
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freshly harvested hops on hands

How a BC Biologist Is Changing the Craft Beer Scene

Ji Yang is working to create a climate-resilient beer brewed with locally grown hops.
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Crab Shells Have a Wonder Ingredient. So This Company Got Cracking

From husks that would go to waste, Tidal Vision extracts a polymer with many green uses.
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The Thriving Business of Rewilding

How wizards of wetlands restoration are bringing biodiversity back to West Coast landscapes.
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