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.

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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.

By: Inder Nirwan

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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.

By: Abby Francis

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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.

By: Samantha Holomay

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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.

By: Josh Kozelj

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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.

By: Christopher Cheung

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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.

By: Katie Hyslop and Amanda Follett Hosgood

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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.

By: Marissa Tiel

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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.

By: Katie Hyslop

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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.

By: Peter Fairley

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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.

By: Tim Lydon

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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.

By: Brendan Jones

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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.

By: Ryan Stuart

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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.

By: Andrea Bennett

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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.

By: Katie Hyslop

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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.

By: Andrew Findlay

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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.

By: Pippa Norman

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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.

By: Jen St. Denis

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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.

By: Marissa Tiel

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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.

By: Andrew Findlay

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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.

By: Ryan Stuart

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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.

By: Samantha Holomay

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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.

By: Pippa Norman

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The Thriving Business of Rewilding

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

By: Isaac Phan Nay

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Visitors mingle with Titan’s fleet of electric Class 8 freight haulers at the company’s Portland headquarters. Electrification is advancing fastest in passenger cars, but far heavier trucks contribute a lot more greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution, vehicle for vehicle. The dirtiest are semis, buses and garbage trucks. Photo supplied.

Unveiling the West Coast’s Electric Big Truck Future

The heaviest diesel semis are the dirtiest. Titan Freight Systems chose the electric lane and says it’s paying off.

By: Peter Fairley

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