Whistler Blackcomb Wins 2005 Golden Eagle Award

Whistler Blackcomb won the ski industry’s top prize for environmental excellence out of a field of 62 applicants from ski resorts across North America.

Administered by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), the award was presented last weekend at the NSAA National Convention in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Whistler Blackcomb earned the 2005 Golden Eagle Award for Overall Environmental Excellence. NSAA said the ski resort has the most sophisticated and comprehensive Environmental Management System in the industry.

When announcing the award, NSAA cited Whistler Blackcomb’s environmental stewardship, which includes: energy savings of 4,138,000 kWh, or 18 percent of overall consumption for the 2003/04 and 2004/05 seasons; dedicating $320,000 for conservation initiatives this season; and reducing waste by more than 540 tons per year.

“This award is for the environment, but is because of people. I couldn’t be more proud of our staff, our guests, and our community,” says Arthur De Jong, Mountain Planning and Environmental Resource Manager for Whistler Blackcomb. “Every fall we train thousands of new staff on recycling and waste management, and we’ve reduced waste by almost 50 per cent since the year 2000. Careful placement of recycling bins means our guests helped us recycle 3,000,000 beverage containers this year. And thanks to community partnerships like adopting The Natural Step Framework, the Habitat Improvement Team, and the Employee Environmental Fund, we are making real progress.”

Other Whistler Blackcomb environmental accomplishments:

• Purchased 32 snowmobiles that produce 50% less emissions
• Grooming fleets consume 18% less fuel per hour
• New trail construction techniques result in higher bear and marmot counts
• Employee carpooling program reduces emissions by 585,856 pounds per year
• Environmental Fund has raised over $100,000 and completed 13 local projects
• Furthering research on 32-gigawatt “run-of-the-river” project and wind generation
• Over 3,000 guests have participated in bear and ecology tours
• Four GM hybrid trucks placed in fleet for testing

Whistler Blackcomb won a Golden Eagle in 2003 and is a five-time Silver Eagle award winner. While the awards signify growing awareness and commitment to sustainability, De Jong says there is no time to sit back.

“We have both the need and the capacity to make far greater steps in environmental, social, and economic sustainability,” says De Jong. “Our vision is to be a global tourism leader in sustainability. We have to continue to work harder and more passionately towards sustainability, most importantly by reducing traditional energy consumption and increasing efforts to generate greener forms of energy.”

Whistler Blackcomb is an Intrawest resort. Intrawest has interests in 10 mountain resorts in North America's most popular mountain destinations, including Whistler Blackcomb, a host venue for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Article provided by Whistler Blackomb Resort.

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