MAKE TRAVEL MATTER

For a decade now, the TreadRight Foundation has been making things better. The not-for-profit organization is at the heart of The Travel Corporation’s (and its family of brands) commitment to making tourism a force for positive change around the world.

So it was quite a celebration in Toronto last night (Oct. 17) as industry VIPs joined TTC executives at the WE Global Learning Centre for an evening that featured inspirational stories from TTC chief executive, Brett Tollman; WE Charity co-founder, Craig Kielburger; indigenous activist, Sarain Fox; traditional men’s fancy dancer, Classic Roots; inspirational speaker, Spencer West; and hip-hop and WE ambassador, Kardinal Offishall.

Each and everyone of them had a story to tell that reinforced the simple dictum that travel matters; that it can change the world through the impact that it has on the people who are willing to make that journey.

TTC’s Tollman talked about TreadRight’s partnership with ME to WE and it’s support of its projects – and others around the world. In fact, he noted that in its first decade, TreadRight has supported over 50 sustainable tourism projects in 24 countries across the globe.

Here in Canada, TreadRight’s first project is the Manitbah Mukluk Storyboot School at the BATA Shoe Museum – https://www.treadright.org/project/storyboot-school ; http://www.batashoemuseum.ca/manitobah-mukluks-storyboot-school/ – which aims to revive the traditional arts by creating partnerships with elders and artisans who fashion mukluks and moccasins in the traditional way and offers weekly sessions to teach indigenous students this art.

It’s three pillars – People, supporting communities and cultures; Wildlife, protection and awareness; and Planet, sustainability and conservation – guide TreadRight’s activities and initiatives, with Tollman announcing that the Foundation was partnering with ME to WE on a new water project in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

And while TreadRight has done remarkable things in its first decade, Tollman reminded his audience that “we all need to do more” and he urged them to spread the word and make travel matter.

For more go to https://www.treadright.org/ .

In the photo

The Travel Corporation’s Brett Tollman and Jeff Element.