The Community Foundation of Whistler has announced total grants of $105,000 to go towards environmental initiatives in the Sea to Sky Corridor.
Through the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, a $75,000 grant will go towards the creation of a virtual community resource library to support habitat preservation in the community.
The concept was developed in consultation with a wide range of environmental stakeholders, including the Resort Municipality of Whistler, First Nations, the Vancouver Foundation, the Environmental Legacy Fund Advisory Committee, Whistler-Blackcomb, the Whistler Off Road Cycling Association, and local experts on environmental issues.
The virtual library would pool together reports and studies relevant to the areas so that they can be easily accessed.
"Over the coming months, we will be working together with the environmental partners to further develop the details of this plan," said Christine Buttkus, the executive director of the foundation. "As one of eight organizations across Canada who received funding from the McConnell Foundation, we are in a unique position to share our experiences with other communities.
"One of the CFOW’s objectives through participating in the McConnell project is to increase our number of registered charity funds and environmental endowment dollars available to the charitable organizations in Whistler."
The CFOW also announced up to $30,000 in grants this year from the Environmental Legacy Fund.
The fund was created through a share of the tipping fee revenues the municipality collects at the Whistler landfill, with the interest going towards projects that preserve, enhance, conserve or restore the environment. The deadline for the first stage of proposals in April 11.
Some of the environmental groups to receive CFOW funding in the past include AWARE, the JJ Whistler Bear Foundation, the Whistler Naturalists, Alta lake School, and the Whistler Fisheries Stewardship Group in partnership with the Whistler Museum and Archives Society.
