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AWARE to focus more on campaigns

Wetlands, sustainability framework are top local concerns More than 70 people packed the Delta Whistler Resort for the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment annual general meeting Jan.

Wetlands, sustainability framework are top local concerns

More than 70 people packed the Delta Whistler Resort for the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment annual general meeting Jan. 19, which included a summary of the past year’s achievements, a financial report and the appointment of a new board of directors.

It was also Stephane Perron’s last meeting as president. With a baby on the way, Perron stepped down after three years leading AWARE. He did, however, accept a nomination to serve as a director for the organization.

"I really look forward to remaining active as a board member and having time to get involved in other aspects of the organization and its campaigns," said Perron.

The new board of directors includes many long standing members and past directors, including Perron, Laurin Kyle Boyle, Max Goetz, Brad Kasselman, Sara Leach, Johnny Mikes, Lisa Princic, Judy Stockton, Allana Hamm, John Mack, Inge Flanagan, Eckhardt Zeidler, and Mitchell Rhodes – Rhodes will also act as interim president until a new president can be found. The board of directors will sit down to better define the duties and responsibilities of a president, before offering the position to AWARE members and members of the community.

From a financial point of view, AWARE is in a good position, according to treasurer Zeidler, with net assets of $35,000. About $10,000 has already been set aside to fund a reclamation project in the Emerald Forest, and $1,500 was set aside to buy environment-related books for the public and school libraries.

As AWARE becomes more active in key issues, Zeidler would like to see the membership generate more money in donations and grants. "Right now, we’re sitting okay. A number of the directors are feeling quite strongly that any campaigns in the coming year have to be self-funding. And we’re going to have campaigns to run, like valley-bottom intiatives, in our wilderness backyard, with the sustainability initiative," said Zeidler.

Last year AWARE spent almost $6,000 on an Elaho educational report concerning the future of the proposed Stoltmann National Park and Elaho Valley, and Zeidler feels the money was well-spent. While logging in the Elaho continued, as part of a concerted effort with other environmentalists AWARE played a part in the regional forest district manager’s decision not to approve a logging road into the back of the valley. AWARE also helped raise public awareness.

The educational report was the most expensive AWARE campaign, but only the tip of the iceberg in terms of projects that were undertaken.

"I think the campaign that saw the most energy put into it this year was the Stoltmann Wilderness campaign, which focused primarily on the remaining wilderness of the Upper Elaho," said Perron. "Another campaign that also had good volunteer support was the protection of wilderness values in the Lillooet Forest District through the LRMP process going on there.

"Soon it became apparent that these two campaigns were linked, that they were about the same issue facing Whistlerites. They are about our backyard wilderness," Perron said.

"We live on the edge of wilderness. If we look to the south we have a landscape that has been biologically impoverished by an excessive amount of human intervention, while if we look to the north, we still have biologically healthy habitats that support such indicator species as the grizzly bear and blue grouse. We have to take care of that."

In addition to its involvement in the Elaho campaign and Lillooet Land and Resource Management Plan, AWARE helped collect over 1,000 signatures in support of the national park proposal. AWARE also made a presentation to the Whistler Chamber of Commerce and the local Rotary Club, organized field trips to the Simms and Upper Elaho valleys, and participated in the Council of Tourism Associations’ Elaho symposium.

AWARE also formed an alliance with the Whistler Fisheries Stewardship Group, followed up on municipal composting, and put a number of members on other committees and boards.

Vincent Massey sits on the municipal Forest and Wildlands Advisory Committee, Sara Leach and Jane Millen sit on the Transportation Advisory Group committee, and AWARE has been given a spot at One Whistler meetings. Zeidler and Kasselman represent the group on the Callaghan Olympic Committee, and Zeidler will also be representing AWARE as one of two Whistler representatives on the 2010 Olympic bid’s environmental committee.

AWARE has spoken out against plans to develop local wetlands, specifically the proposed Alpha Creek development proposed for an area immediately north of Function Junction. B.C. Rail’s pesticide spraying policies were also targeted, backing up the municipality’s efforts to stop spraying on Whistler land.

The group provided input for the Emerald Forest Management Plan, and will play a large role in the rehabilitation of the gravel pit areas. AWARE has lobbied, along with the municipality, for a Land Resource Management Plan for the Sea to Sky corridor and a Whistler Community Forest.

"Now that the organization side of AWARE is in order, we are able to do more," says Perron. "The purpose for all this, the reason why we need to have this strong organizational foundation, is campaigns."

The Whistler Sustainability Project, which is based on The Natural Step framework for environmental sustainability, will be a major focus in the coming year as the municipality prepares to roll it out to the public in March.

"Although Whistler is already in a good position to move towards sustainability because of the many progressive designs it enjoys, such as the high density pedestrian village, our valley trail network, our excellent public transit service, and our above average wastewater treatment plant… I see we have a lot of work to do," said Perron.

"I see wetlands still getting filled in… private homes being built so large they defy the concept of efficient use of resources… restaurants that offer their food only on disposable wear, a bag of brand new jackets, shoes and boots with the company tags still on them I found at the landfill two weeks ago that had been systematically slashed so that they would be unusable to anyone who found them – just a block from our Re-Use-It centre. These are not examples of sustainability."

The AWARE directors will decide on their positions within the organization at their first meeting next month, and begin a strategic planning process that will determine which issues the group will focus most of its time and resources on.