May 20 2010 » Media Releases
385km Stand Up Paddleboard Expedition Completed Successfully
Squamish
resident
Norm
Hann
has
completed
what
many
thought
was
impossible.
His
385km
Stand
Up
Paddleboard
expedition
through
Canada’s
Great
Bear
Rainforest
started
in
the
Haisla
Village
of
Kitimat,
B.C
on
May
8th,
and
ended
yesterday
in
the
Heiltsuk
village
of
Bella
Bella,
where
he
was
greeted
by
a
large
gathering
of
local
residents,
including
school
children,
hereditary
chiefs,
elders
and
other
community
leaders.
With
stops
in
Hartley
Bay,
Klemtu
and
as
far
west
as
the
Moore
Islands,
the
expedition
helped
bring
awareness
to
the
environmental
threat
the
proposed
Enbridge
oil
pipeline
and
tanker
traffic
will
have
on
the
Great
Bear
Rainforest,
its
people
and
wildlife.
Hann
also
visited
a
number
of
vital
food
harvesting
sites
for
First
Nations,
which
are
at
risk
from
potential
oil
spills.
The
expedition
served
to
galvanize
support
amongst
coastal
residents
in
opposition
to
the
proposed
oil
tanker
route.
“It
was
an
incredible
journey.
The
weather
allowed
us
to
visit
wild
and
remote
places
rich
in
wildlife
and
traditional
foods.
This
expedition
confirmed
how
special
and
rare
this
coastal
environment
really
is.
First
Nations
from
Kitimat
to
Bella
Bella
expressed
how
valuable
their
natural
resources
are
to
their
livelihood
and
sense
of
place.
They
were
in
full
100%
support
of
not
having
oil
tankers
on
our
coast.
Our
team
was
honoured
to
be
welcomed
into
their
communities
and
we
were
fortunate
to
have
their
guidance
throughout
our
trip.”
Hann
runs
Mountain
Surf
Adventures
in
Squamish
and
has
been
a
professional
outdoor
guide
in
the
Great
Bear
Rainforest
for
ten
years
and
is
very
connected
to
the
land
and
its
people.
As
a
fishing,
kayaking,
wildlife
and
bear
viewing
guide
he
has
introduced
people
from
all
over
the
world
to
the
Great
Bear
Rainforest.
To schedule an interview with Norm Hann, please call Shannon at 604‐818‐7426 or email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
To read a detailed account of the StandUp4GreatBear Expedition please visit http://www.mountainsurfadventures.blogspot.com
