Whistler - Environmental Fund

The WBFEF provides financial support to registered non-profit organizations whose actions can show a benefit to the natural environment in the Sea to Sky Corridor. The Environmental Fund provides support by way of monetary grants annually.

Created in 2001, the WBFEF provides a means for Whistler Blackcomb staff members to get involved in supporting local environmental projects. The bulk of its funding comes from Whistler Blackcomb staff members who sign up to donate funds from their pay cheques. In turn, these funds are matched by the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation. The fund also receives support from the Raynier Foundation in Seattle and sponsors an annual Telluride Mountainfilm on Tour event. To date, the foundation has raised over $200,000 and sponsored 35 projects.

WBFEF has worked on the following projects this year:

AWARE Plastic Bag Ban Campaign - $7,277

AWARE seeks a plastic bag ban in Whistler and has put together a campaign to make it happen. Their goal is for Whistler to be free of plastic shopping bags by June 2008. The campaign will educate Whistler businesses and individuals on the benefits of a ban and will provide 3,000 Whistler households with reusable cloth bags.

STEWARDSHIP PEMBERTON – Fee Creek Restoration - $474

Fee Creek is just north of Owl Ridge in Pemberton. It provides excellent habitat for Coho salmon.

VILLAGE OF PEMBERTON – Bear-Proof Recycling Containers - $3,700

The Village of Pemberton will be purchasing three or more bear-proof sidewalk recycling containers in high foot traffic areas within the Village.

WHISTLER FISHERIES STEWARDSHIP GROUP – Crabapple Creek Restoration - $9,480

The WFSG will be rehabilitating a section of the Crabapple Creek stream bank in the Brio subdivision that is currently lacking in vegetation due to high gravel inputs from snow removal operations on Arbutus Drive. This will aid maintaining the health of aquatic organisms such as invertebrates, fish and tailed frogs.

WHISTLER NATURALISTS – BioBlitz - $2,470

BioBlitz is a 24-hour race against the clock to count as many species as possible in a given area – mammals, birds, plants, frogs, fish, and bugs. At least two surveys will be targeted, one in the valley bottom and one at the top of Whistler Mountain. The event will be happening on Saturday, August 11 and Sunday, August 12. The hub will consist of a large tent where scientists will scramble to count species under microscopes. Banners and a large tally board will help entice participation.

WHISTLER NATURALISTS– Fungus Among Us Mushroom Festival - $1,500

The FAU Festival is a two-day event that includes talks from experts on mushrooms in the Whistler area. There is also a field trip to local forests where public pair up with the experts to hunt mushrooms. Mushroom samples collected, labeled and displayed. There will also be a mushroom cooking demonstration.

WHISTLER OFF ROAD CYCLING ASSOCIATION – Hey Bud Rehabilitation - $5,000

WORCA will work to rehabilitate the existing Hey Bud trail, a Class 5 mountain bike trail that begins near the base of the Excelerator Chair on Blackcomb Mountain, descends through mature forest to the north of the Blackcomb ski area, and terminates above the Chateau Whistler Golf Course. Because of the steep terrain in the area, it requires significant rehabilitation work to ensure the trail is safe, enjoyable, and consistent with WORCA's policies of building and maintaining durable, ecologically sensitive trails. The project includes an ecological analysis of the area, identification of rerouting where required, rebuilding of existing trail alignment and new construction for reroutes.

SLOW FOOD CYCLE – Slow Food Cycle Sunday - $500

Slow Food Cycle Sunday is a unique back-to-the-land bike ride through the Pemberton Valley that creates an opportunity to connect farm folk with city folk, consumers with the source of their food, and everyone with their senses and the bounty of the earth. The foundation will be providing support through the provision of a shuttle bus for the event.

For more information about the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation Environmental Fund, please contact Allana Hamm at ahamm@intrawest.com or 604-938-7083.

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