The Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE) will roll into event season with a smaller environmental footprint this year, thanks to the addition of a fully electric van to its fleet.
Unveiled this week, the van is a major boost for the community non-profit’s on-the-ground waste diversion and education efforts. The vehicle was purchased through a grant from the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation and will support the Zero Waste Heroes program throughout the 2025 season and beyond.
“This new e-van is a game-changer for our team,” said AWARE executive director Pegah Pourkarimi in a press release. “Not only does it help us reduce emissions, but it also symbolizes the kind of forward-thinking solutions we need to embrace as a community. We’re deeply grateful to the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation for making this possible.”
The van will allow AWARE’s staff and volunteers to get to events across the Sea to Sky region without generating tailpipe emissions—aligning with the non-profit’s mission to foster local environmental stewardship and sustainability.
The Whistler Blackcomb Foundation, which supports environmental and community-based projects, said the investment reflects its own priorities as well.
“We’re proud to support AWARE Whistler’s efforts to make sustainability more accessible and visible in our community,” said Mei Madden, executive director of the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation. “The new electric van is a practical and impactful step toward reducing emissions and promoting environmental responsibility at the events we all enjoy. It’s exciting to be part of a solution that helps the community reduce its environmental footprint.”
The Zero Waste Heroes program is a familiar presence at community events like the Whistler Farmers’ Market and GranFondo. Teams help educate the public on how to properly sort waste while also assisting event organizers with pre-event waste-reduction planning. The goal, AWARE said, is to prevent waste before it’s created and to shift community habits toward reuse, recycling, and more sustainable practices.
AWARE has operated in Whistler for more than 30 years. Its vision is of a community that is “knowledgeable, engaged and empowered to preserve and enhance the natural environment on which we depend.”
