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September 16 2009 » Media Releases

Skeena Swimmer Wins First-Ever Patagonia 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.

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