Whistler's Enviro-Fest 2009
May 25 to May 31
Enviro-Fest is a festival where local residents and guests can learn about environmentally friendly choices offered in the community in a fun and interactive manner. With humble begging in 2002, the festival started as a way to celebrate Whistler's achievement in protecting our environment and moving toward sustainability. Now in its 8th year, the festival will be packed with fun-filled activities to keep people excited about the various environmental activities happening in Whistler from May 25th to May 31st around the theme "Think Global; Act Local". This timing coincides with Whistler Wellness Week, a community gathering of wellness offerings in Whistler, and will further emphasize the connection between humans' health and the health of Mother Nature.

Schedule
Monday, May 25th
6:30 to 10:00pm - AWARE Enviro Film Festival Opening Night @ Whistler Public Library (Admission by donation)
6:30pm - Introduction
6:45pm - Enviro-Films: "Who's Got the Power?" and "My Inventions"
Followed by a discussion on "What the elite doesn't want you to know? Conspiracy theory or not?" with Pina Belperio from the Council of Canadian.
>>> Backgrounder on film "Who's Got the Power" (57 min, 2008, USA) and "My Inventions" (15 min, 2008, CAN) click here >>>

6:00 to 10:00pm - Enviro-Films: "Who's Got the Power?" and "My Inventions" @ Whistler Public Library
Followed by a discussion on "What the elite doesn't want you to know? Conspiracy theory or not?" with Pina Belperio from the Council of Canadian.(Admission by donation)

Tuesday, May 26th
6:00pm - Enviro-Film: "Lessons from Rachel Carson" @ Whistler Public Library (Admission by donation)
Contemporary environmental leaders reflect Rachel Carson's legacy and on the challenges ahead, featuring David Suzuki, Theo Colborn, Richard Louv, Andrew Kimbrell, Jay Feldman, Gus Speth & Stewart Udall.

7:00 to 8:30pm - Whistler Forum: "Creation Care: The Role of Local Faith Communities in a Global Sustainable World" @ Whistler Public Library
Presentation by William Roberts of the Whistler Forum (http://www.whistlerforum.com) with panel discussion and dialogue on the role of local faith communities in a global sustainable world. What is faith? How can we be part of the solution? What should our priorities be towards achieving long-term sustainability?
Panelist: Monsignor Jerry Desmond (Our Lady of the Mountains), the Reverend Chad Chomlack (Church on the Mountain) and Chris Hill (The Planet Art Network).

8:45 to 10:00pm - Enviro-Film: "Belonging - A scientific and spiritual journey into Humanity's footprint on the Earth" @ Whistler Public Library Film followed by an intro to the Pachamama Alliance and their Awakening the Dreamer Initiative by Kim Needham.(Admission by donation)
>>> Backgrounder on film "Belonging" (58 min, 2008, CAN)click here >>>

Wednesday, May 27th
6:30 to 7:30pm - Nature Walk @ Lost Lake with the Whistler Naturalist (Free)
Join the Whistler Naturalists for a nature walk at Lost Lake. Meeting time is 6:30 by the ticket booth (Cross Country Connection) and the walk will last roughly one hour. The walk will be led by Naturalists John Hammons and Kristina Swerhun and cover forest and wetland ecology.

Saturday, May 30th
10:00 to 11:30am - AWARE Kid's Nature Club: "Signs of Spring Discovery Tour" with Cara Richard, AWARE Environmental Education Coordinator @ Whistler Public Library (Free)
For more infor go to AWARE Kid's Nature Club webpage >>>

12:30 to 5pm - AWARE present Climate Change 101 @ Whistler Public Library (Admission by donation)
1:00pm - Enviro-Film: "Truth about Climate Change"
"The Truth About Climate Change" is a two part documentary of one hour each presented by Sir David Attenborough who asks the question 'What is the future for our world?' 'Are humans to blame? '. The world is warming at an unprecedented rate far beyond any normal allowance for cyclical fluctuation and some extraordinary phenomena have taken place in recent times, but Sir David believes that we may be able to act to prevent a catastrophe and investigates some of the possible scenarios for the future, including rising sea levels, insect plagues and an increase in diseases.
3:30pm - Enviro-Film: "Adapting to Climate Change in BC"
Our Province is already feeling the heat, and we must be prepared for more drought, rain, pests and forest fires. "Adapting to Change" is the third and last part in a Climate Change documentary by Knowledge - BC's public educational media service, delivers a global warning close to home as it depict opportunity to reinvent and redesign our way of life.
Knowledgeis a not-for-profit organization providing trusted alternative for the commercial free exploration of life, connecting them to the world through television and the Internet and making a difference in British Columbians lives and communities.
4:15pm - Films followed by an intro to the "Transition Town" global movement and a discussion on Transition Whistler with Kim Needham.
How can our community respond to the challenges, and opportunities, of Peak Oil and Climate Change?

6:30 to 10:00pm - Enviro-Film: "A Sense of Wonder", a SPECIAL MOVIE PREMIERE presented by AWARE and Whistler Naturalist Society. @ Whistler Public Library. (Admission by donation)
The film is a dramatized one-woman play about the life of biologist Rachel Carson, the mother of the environmental movement. Rachel Carson's book "Silent Spring", published in 1962, shocked the world with its meticulous unveiling of the link between toxic chemicals such as DDT and their effects as far away as the Arctic. The film portrays Rachel Carson's unique appreciation of nature as well as the challenges she faced as a female ecologist and writer during the last gasps of the Cold War.
The film will be followed by a discussion of Rachel Carson's impact on the world: from a ban on the use of DDT, to an increased understanding of the interconnectedness of all life, to the environmental movement which began in earnest in the 1970s. The discussion will be introduced by Bob Brett from the Whistler Naturalists.
>>> Backgrounder on film "A Sense of Wonder" (54 min, 2008, USA)click here >>>

Sunday, May 31st - Enviro-Fair @ Upper Village Market
10:00 to 11:00am - Wild Things Scavenger Hunt with Cara Richard, AWARE Environmental Education Coordinator @ Rebagliati Park (Free)

10:00 to 1:00pm - Help Plant a Constructed Wetland @ North side of Lorimer Road opposite the entrance to the Village Day parking lot (Free)

11:00 to 4:00pm - Enviro-Fair @ Upper Village Market (Free)
The Enviro-Fair is focused on educating Whistler residents and guests about environmentally friendly choices offered in the community. Packed with interactive displays, fun activities, music performances and other entertainers, Enviro-Fair promises something for everyone to enjoy.

To volunteer or for more information, please contact Marie Fortin at 604-935-0772 or by email to marie@hilltrip.com.





Read Hilltrip's story about Whistler's Enviro-Fest 2008 here >>>
Read Happy Frog's story on Enviro-Fest 2008 here >>>