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AWARE gets older, wiser

New board pledges to continue course, while refocusing on local projects

For the second year in a row the election to the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment board of directors had more candidates than spaces, with 15 individuals running for 12 spots.

"It’s not a problem we’re used to having, and it’s a nice problem to have," said Brad Kasselman, a six-year member of the board who was selected as AWARE’s new president at the group’s annual general meeting on Thursday, Feb. 3.

The next year will be challenging, says Kasselman, the co-owner and operator of Coast Mountain Photography.

It’s a huge commitment, and Kasselman debated whether he could accept the position. In the end he decided that it was worthwhile.

"I do work full-time, but on the other hand I also believe in this thing called Whistler and want to keep it a pristine resource. I’ve been on the board for six years, and decided it was time to step up and rise to the challenge."

Although the group is already working on several campaigns and projects, there are several areas that Kasselman would like to see AWARE focus on in the next year. The first area is the ongoing development of Olympic venues and legacies, which he believes will require more attention as construction gets underway.

"All of the projects that are supposed to happen will happen this year, or next year or the year after that, but the decisions on those projects are being made right now," said Kasselman.

"(AWARE) needs to engage VANOC in a positive and proactive way to give us some working examples of sustainability, which was a big part of the bid. The people of Whistler should know everything that’s being said and being planned right now, because we’re going to be the ones affected at the end of the day."

Although the Sea to Sky LRMP process has wrapped up and participants are waiting for the provincial government to address the recommendations, the process has revealed another area of concern for AWARE – the lack of a regional policy for Independent Power Projects (IPPs) in the Sea to Sky corridor.

"The LRMP participants, municipal governments and even our regional government the SLRD (Squamish-Lillooet Regional District), as well as the general public, have recognized the need for, and have called for, a regional IPP strategy," said Kasselman. "We fully support the concept of greener power but the unplanned, free-for-all attitude that exists currently can only damage this emerging industry.

"It’s not an issue we went looking for, it came to us and it’s really too big to ignore."

In 2005 AWARE will also continue to advocate for OWL, Our Wilderness Legacy, a proposal that would see most of the upper Soo Valley protected from resource extraction and development. VANOC does not currently recognize the proposal, but the provincial government will evaluate it as part of the Sea to Sky LRMP recommendations.

"On the ground we’d still like to see a good, working environmental legacy, that’s been a huge goal of ours since the start of the Olympic talk, and we’ve spent a lot of time and energy on (OWL)," said Kasselman. "(Board member) Eckhard Zeidler and (LRMP representative) Johnny Mikes have been unbelievable in getting that across.

"If there is no intention of putting something real on the ground – and we’re not talking about building the ski jumps with recycled lumber but a real sustainable legacy – then we need to know that so we can take the next step."

In Whistler valley, Kasselman says he’s still too new as president to address specific projects, but maintained that he would like to see AWARE support more streamwork and habitat restoration with other partner groups.

"I’d say that’s one thing we do have going for us, a great relationship with all of these other groups in the valley, and it’s something that’s translating into actual work on the ground," he added.

He would also like to see the issue of residential composting addressed, with most hotel, restaurants and bars already participating in a regional composting program with Carney’s Waste Systems in Squamish. With no household garbage pickup, due to bears and other wildlife, Kasselman says this will be a difficult issue to resolve. Whistler’s move to ship waste out of the community will also need to be addressed in more depth.

AWARE will also be involved in the release of the Comprehensive Sustainability Plan and is an advocate for more infill housing.

"People want infill housing for staff, they want green spaces, they want their mountain bike trails…. They want it all and they should have it all, it’s part of the Whistler dream," Kasselman said.

"At the same time AWARE wouldn’t support the development of housing in any sensitive areas such as wetlands. In fact, we should be working on finding brown fields and similarly affected sites and never build on our remaining wetlands and green corridors through the valley."

Recent proposals to build new developments outside of Whistler’s municipal boundaries also concern Kasselman, and it’s an issue that AWARE will need to address in the future.

Expanding membership will also be a focus for 2005.

Past president Wendy Horan stepped down after two years at the helm to concentrate on school, but stayed on the board of directors as Past President.

The 2005 AWARE board of directors includes: Brad Kasselman, Wendy Horan, Eckhard Zeidler, Vivian Lord, Al Whitney, Keenan Moses, Sholto Shaw, Jamie Mackay, Karina Andrus, Tina Symko, Carson and Bryce Leigh.