September 16 2009 » Skeena Swim » Terrace Daily Standard
Skeena Swimmer Wins First Activist Award
Outdoor clothing giant Patagonia has awarded Ali Howard its Activist Award for her historic swim of the 610-kilometer Skeena River earlier this summer.
Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard presented Howard with the award which comes with $5,000 yesterday at the Skeena Salmon Habitat Conference in Smithers.
“I was so inspired by hearing about Ali’s swim, that at Patagonia we decided to start a Patagonia Activist Award. And I think of no one better in the last year to give this award to than Ali,” Chouinard told the crowd.
“Some of us have a lot of free time and can volunteer for good causes, some of use are good speakers and can get up and speak about the injustices of the world, and some people have strong arms and legs and great courage and can swim the Skeena,” Chouinard said.
Howard’s swim took her from the alpine meadows of the Sacred Headwaters where the Skeena is born, to the tidal estuary where the river meets the Pacific Ocean. She undertook the swim to raise awareness of the Skeena and threats to its health, including coalbed methane drilling and pipeline development.
In receiving the award, Howard noted Chouinard’s own contribution to environmental conservation:
“Under Yvon’s leadership, Patagonia continues to be a corporate leader in sustainability. I’m humbled and grateful at the response the swim continues to receive.”
Spirit of the Skeena Swim 2009 is a project of the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition.
