Permits/Licenses/Insurance

Batstar Adventure Tours has liability insurance, proof of which is the waiver that all guests sign before coming out with us.

Our insurance covers all of our employees which includes our guides. We do not hire independent contractors.

We have to give proof of liability insurance to all Federal and Provincial agencies that we hold licenses and permits with. We need these licenses and permits in order to access the beautiful wilderness areas in British Columbia that we operate in.

Permitted companies get information from Federal Wardens and Provincial Rangers. We interact with and liaise with enforcement officers from several Federal and Provincial agencies on land and on the water. Communicating with these agencies help make our trips better.

If a company does not have permits and licenses and are caught by enforcement officers, their trip risks expulsion from the field. Both Federal and Provincial agencies are stepping up enforcement of licenses and permits. We like seeing Wardens and Rangers in the field as they tend to reinforce stewardship issues, which we strongly support.

photo: Illegal Guides in British Columbia: this will happen to you and your guests if you don't have a permit.
In the summer of 2006, Batstar guides observed a company at Della Falls that stood out for their flagrant disregard for the environment and unfamiliarity camping in bear country. In compliance with our BC commercial operator permit we called BC Parks and reported this operator to them. The tour operator "guide" (2nd from left in front of truck) from Topas Tours (Denmark) was met at the trailhead by BC Park Rangers. During the interview, they told the Rangers that they've been doing this trip here for 3 years without a permit. They also did not contact the Hupacasath First Nation to let them know that they were doing business on their traditional land.

Batstar is currently working with BC Parks and Tourism, Sport and the Arts to develop a web system to help visitors to BC know who has valid permits to lead adventure tours on Crown and Park land. We are also working with Federal Customs and Immigration to help stop people and companies working illegally in BC. Guides who do not know what they are doing put the environment, the flora and fauna, and all visitors at risk by not having local knowledge.