Les Sommets Achieves GreenStep Level 5, the Highest Level of Recognition in Sustainable Tourism

Les Sommets has achieved Level 5 of the GreenStep Sustainable Tourism Pathway, a Canadian organization that supports and assesses tourism businesses in their sustainability efforts. This marks the highest level of recognition within GreenStep’s Sustainable Tourism Journey program.

Led by two local families, les Sommets is a leader in the recreational tourism industry with its unique and diverse range of four-season activities in the Laurentians. Its five mountains offer an unforgettable experience for nature, sports, and recreation enthusiasts. The organization's mission is to create an environment where families and friends can come together to share moments of fun and unique experiences in communion with the mountains.

Second Ski Resort Group in Canada to Achieve This Level

Internationally recognized, GreenStep’s program is based on a rigorous assessment of businesses’ environmental, social, and economic commitments. By achieving Level 5, les Sommets becomes the second ski resort group in Canada to receive this distinction, standing out among organizations that demonstrate leadership, excellence, and innovation in sustainable tourism.

“This recognition is a tremendous source of pride for us, as it reflects years of commitment to our mountains, our employees, and our communities,” says Pierre Charest, Vice President of Operations and Retail Sales and Chair of les Sommets’ Sustainability Committee.

A Mountain of Actions for a More Sustainable Future

For more than 50 years, les Sommets' mountains have served as gathering places where people come together to have fun and create lasting memories. To ensure they remain that way for generations to come, the organization has made sustainability an integral part of its decision-making.

Over the years, this commitment has translated into numerous concrete initiatives, including:

• Every spring, employees come together to take part in a collective mountain clean-up initiative.

• Waste-sorting stations have been established across the resorts, introducing reusable and compostable alternatives while improving overall waste management practices.

• Sustainable transportation is encouraged through 38 electric vehicle charging stations and initiatives promoting carpooling.

• Since 2018, les Sommets has donated nearly 900 winter coats to people in need, giving gently used clothing a second life.

• The organization supports more than 18 community organizations and contributes to charitable events that make a meaningful difference in the communities it serves.

Recognizing Progress and Continuing to Improve

Achieving GreenStep Level 5 represents a meaningful milestone recognizing how far les Sommets has come—an achievement shared by everyone who contributes daily to improving operations.

This journey has allowed les Sommets to highlight the many sustainability initiatives already embedded in its operations, while identifying new opportunities for improvement. The organization remains committed to advancing sustainable tourism by continually evolving its practices and taking meaningful action, one step at a time, recognizing that caring for the places that bring people together means always striving to do better.

To learn more about their sustainability journey and initiatives, visit the Sustainable Development page on the Les Sommets website.

Founded in 2008, GreenStep helps small and medium-sized businesses measure and improve their sustainability performance. To date, the organization has supported more than 3,000 businesses and organizations of all sizes across a wide range of industries, including tourism and hospitality, retail, professional services, and manufacturing.

Through its Sustainable Tourism division, GreenStep provides assessment, training, strategy, and support services to tourism businesses and destinations. GreenStep is the only Canadian provider offering a sustainable tourism program that covers all types of tourism businesses and destinations. Learn more at www.greenstep.ca.