Les Îles de la Madeleine achieves the first GreenStep Gold Certification
May 21, 2026 · Read the full press release here
Les Îles de la Madeleine has become the first destination to achieve Sustainable Tourism Gold Certification under the GreenStep destination certification program, a milestone that reflects years of deliberate, community-driven work.
Destinations are evaluated against 117 criteria aligned with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), covering governance, protection of natural and cultural environments, local socio-economic benefits, and responsible tourism development. What sets Les Îles de la Madeleine apart was their ability to demonstrate not just current practice, but a long-standing commitment to sustainability embedded in how the destination has operated for years.
“Earning a Gold designation through GreenStep’s destination certification reflects a sustained, community-wide commitment to sustainability that goes well beyond any single initiative. For the Magdalen Islands, that commitment spans local businesses, organizations, and public institutions alike. Congratulations to everyone in the Madelinot community who contributed to this achievement.”
– Angela Nagy, CEO & President, GreenStep
The achievement aligns with a vision that has been in place for over two decades. A public consultation process carried out in 2004–2005 established guiding principles for tourism development on the islands that remain the foundation of decision-making today: that tourism should benefit the whole community, protect the natural environment, reflect local culture and identity, and complement other parts of the local economy rather than dominate it.
The certification process involved months of data collection and validation in collaboration with tourism businesses, municipalities, organizations, and regional partners across the islands.
“This recognition reflects an important collective effort and confirms the desire to develop the destination in harmony with the living environment and the people who call it home. It also demonstrates the strong mobilization of partners who agreed to contribute to this demanding process.”
– Michel Bonato, Executive Director, Tourisme Îles de la Madeleine
For Tourisme Îles de la Madeleine, the certification is framed as a foundation rather than a conclusion. Two workshops are planned with GreenStep and regional partners to identify where to focus efforts next, with findings feeding into an updated tourism strategy for the destination.
Les Îles de la Madeleine is a small, ecologically sensitive archipelago with a distinct culture and a community that has thought carefully about what kind of destination it wants to be. This certification reflects that.
