The New Outdoor Sector Coalition: Why BC’s Outdoors Needed a Stronger Voice
You’re standing at a trailhead at 6 a.m. because you know the parking lot will be full by 8 a.m. You’ve planned your summer adventures around reservation windows and booked campsites months in advance to secure those coveted spots.
As more people head outdoors, BC’s parks, trails, campsites and recreation areas are struggling to keep pace with demand. Popular destinations are becoming increasingly crowded, maintenance backlogs are growing and the organizations responsible for caring for these spaces are feeling the strain.
A newly formed Outdoor Sector Coalition believes there is an opportunity to address these challenges while strengthening one of BC’s greatest assets: its outdoors.
Why BC’s Outdoors Are at a Tipping Point
If it feels like BC’s outdoor spaces are busier than ever, that’s because they are. Seventy-nine percent of British Columbians regularly participate in outdoor activities. Park visits have increased to 27 million a year, including 3.5 million campers.
More people are discovering the benefits of spending time outside, but growing demand is creating new challenges for the parks, trails and recreation areas that make BC such a sought-after destination.
Popular trails now require early starts to beat the crowds, campground reservations disappear within minutes and infrastructure is struggling to keep pace. “British Columbians and guests from around the world love our outdoors, but it’s under a lot of pressure,” states Andy Day, CEO of the Outdoor Sector Coalition.
A New Coalition with a Big Goal
Recognizing these challenges, more than 2,000 organizations from across the province have come together under a newly formed Outdoor Sector Coalition. The group brings together everyone from recreation and stewardship organizations to outdoor businesses, local governments, educational institutions and Indigenous partners.
“When I saw that the government was going to introduce an economic strategy for BC, Look West, and that that strategy was going to focus heavily on major projects. I recognized that this was the moment to establish the outdoor sector as one of the eight pillars,” says Day.
Rather than individual organizations lobbying separately, the Coalition hopes to bring everyone to the same table. Day explains that “we need to secure the values that make BC the greatest place in the world to get outside and that is what this Coalition is all about.”
The Outdoor Economy Is Bigger Than Most People Realize
Most people don’t think about economics when they’re packing up a mountain bike or heading out for a weekend camping trip. But outdoor recreation has become one of BC’s most significant economic drivers.
It’s easy to take a well-maintained trail or a favourite campground for granted. But the outdoor experiences British Columbians enjoy every weekend are supported by a vast network of guides, outfitters, tourism operators and local communities.
According to a 2025 study by the Government of BC, the sector supports 80,000 jobs across the province and generates $17 billion annually. And these numbers don’t include spending on outdoor equipment and apparel, which have shown steady growth and bring additional money into local communities.
The Health Benefits Go Beyond Fresh Air
The value of outdoor recreation can’t be measured solely in dollars. Whether it’s a trail run after work, a weekend seawall bike ride or a quiet paddle on a mountain lake, time outside offers a chance to disconnect from daily pressures and reconnect with nature.
Anyone who has returned from a hike feeling calmer or a camping trip feeling recharged has experienced the benefits of time outdoors firsthand. Research backs up that feeling. A 2019 study estimated that parks and protected areas save an astonishing $6 trillion USD in healthcare costs globally each year.
Conservation, Stewardship and Indigenous Leadership
The growing popularity of outdoor recreation comes with a responsibility to care for the landscapes that make these experiences possible. More visitors mean increased wear on trails, pressure on wildlife habitat, overcrowding at popular destinations and greater demands on the volunteers and organizations responsible for maintaining outdoor spaces. The challenge is ensuring those experiences remain sustainable as visitation continues to grow.
For local communities and First Nations, outdoor recreation can create valuable economic opportunities and support community wellbeing. At the same time, there is a shared commitment to ensuring that increased visitation respects the land, cultural knowledge and local protocols that have shaped these places for generations.
Day believes stewardship is a critical piece of the puzzle. “The key to all of this, to me, is building a very diverse and active community and then that community having a culture of enjoyment and stewardship,” he says.
Indigenous leadership will also play an important role in shaping the future of outdoor recreation in BC. According to Rick Brant, CEO of the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council, Indigenous communities bring generations of knowledge and teachings about caring for the land and fostering healthy communities through outdoor activity. He believes collaboration across the sector can create new opportunities for Indigenous participation in outdoor recreation and strengthen stewardship efforts across the province. As Brant puts it, working together can help support “guardianship of their territories.”
What Happens Next?
There is no single solution to BC’s outdoor recreation challenges. But Coalition members believe a stronger, unified voice can help secure greater recognition, investment and support for the outdoor spaces and experiences that have become such an important part of life in British Columbia.
According to Day, success looks like “more people getting outside, but in an organized, sustainable way; you’ve got more products and services being sold and then you’ve got more revenue that’s going back into conservation. It’s a perfect, virtuous cycle.”
As demand for outdoor recreation continues to grow, the Outdoor Sector Coalition hopes to ensure that BC’s greatest asset—its outdoors—remains healthy, accessible and inspiring for generations to come.
