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Sustainable development
The Écomarché de lîle is organized by Héritage Saint-Bernard, a non-profit organization whose mission is the protection, management and development of natural environments as well as the offering of educational and recreational tourism activities. .
Écomarché — a responsible festival
Over the years, Héritage Saint-Bernard has taken various initiatives to make the Écomarché a flagship event in terms of sustainable development. The goal is to ensure that the negative impact on the environment is minimized and the positive influence that the festival has on the community and economy is maximized.
Contribution to ecotourism
The Écomarché de l'île contributes annually to the ecotourism sector by ensuring the visibility of nearly 70 local and eco-responsible businesses to more than 10,000 festival-goers. This contribution encourages the economic growth of the Montérégie administrative region while mobilizing the various stakeholders to promote sustainable tourism centered on natural, cultural and heritage resources.
Accessibility
- Access to the event is free for all, as is all of the cultural programming.
- Designated spaces for vehicles of people with reduced mobility are reserved in the island parking lot. The artisan kiosks are all accessible to wheelchairs, since they are located along an asphalt path. EXO shuttles, allowing access to the island from various parking points, are also suitable. Bathrooms for people with disabilities will be accessible at all times at the Pavillon de l’île.
Promotion of culture
- The cultural programming of the event includes artists from the Quebec Francophonie and encourages emerging artists to participate.
Eco-responsibility
Proud to have won the Vivat Eco-Responsible Event of the Year award in Quebec during the 2019 edition of the Écomarché de l’île, Héritage Saint-Bernard is continuing its efforts and moving towards zero waste. Consequently, the event tends towards zero plastic and encourages the reduction of waste at source by using only recyclable or compostable plates, utensils, napkins and other containers, by not offering any plastic bags to visitors, by banning flyers and other forms of information in paper format and encouraging reusable cups and water bottles.
Food and drink
Water station
- The sale of single-use water bottles has been abolished since 2017.
- Visitors are invited to bring their own reusable water bottle or to use the Ecocup glass system set up for the event.
- A water station, provided by the MRC de Roussillon, allows visitors to cool off without creating waste.
Reduction of single-use plastic
- Écomarché organizers ask exhibitors to use only recyclable or compostable plates, utensils, napkins and other containers; not to distribute prospectuses or other forms of information in paper format; bring a cup for coffee and a bottle for water; and reduce waste as much as possible.
Waste sorting
Waste, recycling, compost and can
- Four-way sorting islands are placed throughout the site to reduce materials sent to landfill. A green brigade made up of volunteers also educates visitors about proper garbage sorting.
- A composting system is also located near the food concessions, the employee and volunteer cafeteria, as well as near the artists' dressing rooms.
Transport
Bike
Active transportation is encouraged and additional bike racks are installed for the duration of the event.
Shuttle service
A shuttle service is provided free of charge to the public by the EXO bus service from a satellite parking lot located near île Saint-Bernard. Shuttle departures are offered every day of the festivities.
100% electric vehicles
A fleet of 13 electric vehicles and one bicycle are used by the event organizers for transportation purposes on the site as well as between the different parking lots.
Carpooling
In order to reduce the carbon footprint of the event, and out of consideration for the limited number of parking spaces available on île Saint-Bernard, visitors are invited to opt for carpooling.
2023 — Tous droit réservés. © Héritage Saint-Bernard
