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December 15 2010 » SWCC in the News » Interior News

Coalition Makes Top 10


10,000 Salmon, the project shown above, was an artistic collaboration and one of the many projects under the Skeena Watershed Coalition. The group was named to Tides Canada top 10 list.

By Shannon Hurst – Smithers Interior News

The Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition was recognized for their hard work and dedication to addressing important environmental and social issues and for their leadership and vision when they were named as one of Tides Canada Top 10 recipients last week.

For the past seven years, Tides Canada has profiled 10 outstanding initiatives and organizations that inspire Canadians to make the world a better place.

SWCC Executive Director Shannon McPhail said they are committed to continuing to work towards a greater future for the area and the communities they love.

“We’re honoured to help represent the communities of Northwestern B.C. and this award is a reflection of all the organizations and communities that have dedicated their time and energy towards a better future, we are only as strong as the people that support us,” said SWCC Executive Director, Shannon McPhail,

“We love where we live and the people who live here and will never stop doing this work.”

Since it’s creation in 2004, the SWCC has been working towards “cultivating a sustainable future from a sustainable environment rooted in culture and a wild salmon ecosystem.” They have spearheaded numerous great projects and were instrumental in keeping Royal Dutch Shell from further exploratory drilling for Coalbed Methane in the precious Headwaters of the Skeena. They have also been the founders of fun, community oriented projects such as the 10,000 wild salmon installation that was a collaboration of thousands of salmon designed by thousands of children across Northwestern BC. The colourful salmon decorated the banks of the Skeena in Old Hazelton last summer and were a huge hit with both residents and tourists. Yet their most notable project that is still gaining momentum is the Awakening the Skeena swim by Ali Howard that is creating waves across North America to this day. There are many other great initiatives that they are working on or have been a part of but it was the following that earned them the honour of the Tides Canada Top 10: Working effectively as a coalition of diverse communities united in their pursuit of environmental and cultural sustainability for British Columbia’s Skeena Watershed and Sacred Headwaters.

The unique school programs and a summer conservation camp for the region’s children and youth that teach about fish and wildlife, First Nations culture and the importance of the Skeena watershed.

For getting people focused on solutions over problems and working closely with First Nations to

teach the cultural components of their projects and programs.

As well as the major project, Awakening the Skeena, a film which follows Ali Howard on her historic swim of the 610-kilometre Skeena River, uniting communities with each other and with their shared watershed, and raising awareness of the threats to the Skeena’s health; it has premiered in film festivals across North America.

Other winners this year came from the Yukon, the Arctic, Nova Scotia and Alberta and Ontario. There focus was on things such as food, forests, water and watersheds, climate and energy, urban sustainability and indigenous cultures. All of which President and CEO of Tides Canada, Ross McMillan said all deserved recognition.

“It’s remarkable to see such diverse groups coming together to find solutions that work for people and the planet,” McMillan said. “The leaders behind these initiatives are having incredible impact as they promote new ways to solve some of our most pressing social and environmental problems. They all deserve recognition and sustained support for their great work.”

To learn more about the Tides Canada top 10, visit their website at http://www.tidescanada.org/top10

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