ANNUAL REPORT 2021
- MESSAGE FROM CHAIR
- 2021 PROJECTS & PROGRAMS
- MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- FINANCIALS
- PARTNERS AND FUNDERS
- TEAM, BOARD, CONTACT
- DOWNLOAD PDF COPY
MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
After a tumultuous few years of the Covid-19 pandemic, ERA has landed on its feet and is headed in bold new directions. Our capacity and capabilities have vastly improved with the addition of three amazing staff members (Kaileigh McCallum, Evgeni Matveev and Anne-Caroline Kroeger). We have expanded our hydrometric and water monitoring programs, improved our data management, and are collecting valuable data on climate impacts for decision-makers and future adaptation work. A focus on project and program development has resulted in a broadscale Cottonwood ecosystem restoration program across the Elk Valley. We also saw the start of the Elk River Access Improvement initiative, which will be an exciting component of our education and outreach programming in 2022. As restrictions lifted we were able to return to in-person volunteer events, and we are incredibly grateful to Elk Valley residents for rolling up their sleeves and working to preserve this watershed. We are also very grateful to local business supporters for their contributions to our work, in particular Teck Resources and Big Bang Bagels. We look forward to continuing this work, and we thank our funders, partners, donors, and supporters for believing in our mission.
CHAD HUGHES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | BSc Environmental Science
chad@elkriveralliance.ca
Exploring and learning about this amazing river has been a passion ever since I swapped the Outback deserts for the mountains of the Kootenays. I’m so glad to have the opportunity to use my skills and experience to protect the place we fish, float, and live. I feel the community has a huge role to play in environmental conservation and through the ERA I want to help citizens and visitors of the Elk Valley safeguard the river on which we work and play.
GEORGE GREENE | CHAIR
George Greene has worked since the early 1970s on conservation and sustainable development issues at the interface between resource industries, NGOs, governments, and Indigenous nations and groups. George specializes in environmental governance, and in the design and implementation of collaborative initiatives to address environmental and social issues in the natural resources sectors. He is active as a volunteer in the nature conservation community in the Elk Valley, in Canada, and internationally. George’s passions include being on the snow in winter, and biking and being on the water in the summer. He is a member of the volunteer ski patrol at the Fernie Alpine Resort.