With the season of giving underway, one Whistler organization hopes residents will keep environmental advocacy in mind.
The Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE) aims to raise $10,000 in a holiday campaign to support their operations going into the new year. From December to the second week of January, they ask for donations for organizational flexibility.
“It allows us not only to build organizational capacity but program development as well," said Pegah Pourkarimi, executive director for AWARE. "So it enables us to strengthen our foundation, expand our outreach, and, most importantly, continue to work towards building a more sustainable future for Whistler.”
Unrestricted funds ensure AWARE has appropriate staffing and outreach workers, which are valuable assets for education and awareness programming.
Pourkarimi highlighted a wide array of programs AWARE put forward in 2024 as reason enough to donate.
Over the last year, the group’s zero-waste campaigns resulted in 4,000 kg of waste diversion from landfills. Through the Zero Waste Heroes Program, which has been ongoing since 2013, AWARE attends community events and provides valuable primers for event organizers, ensuring they know how to avoid producing waste and how to appropriately sort recycling and organics. Post-event, they analyze outcomes, which provide tangible feedback for future events.
Their GROW program gives residents access to garden boxes to cultivate fresh, healthy vegetables, improving food security and reducing carbon footprint. More than 300 residents grew 5,200 kg of food this summer alone.
Then, AWARE’s support for GoByBike weeks saw 632 riders clock 21,393 kilometres by bike, saving 4,638 kg of greenhouse gas emissions.
Work within the circular economy through clothing swaps diverted almost 1,000 kg of clothes from landfills.
The group also partnered with Green For Life Environmental to divert compost from Nesters and Function Junction waste depots.
Of course, that’s just short-term. In 2024, AWARE released a new strategic plan for 2027, aiming to enhance programming, advocacy, research innovation, and operations.
All of this requires planning, staff and boots on the ground. However, AWARE's funding comes from grants for specific outcomes. Unmarked funds provide flexibility to move money where it needs to go and help ensure AWARE’s mission—protecting Whistler's natural environment—stays on track.
Find more info, or donate to the cause, at awarewhistler.org.
