ANNUAL REPORT 2018 A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Potawatomi plant growing numbers of people forestry-dependent ecologist Robin Wall who want to help defend it. communities, and supporting Kimmerer observes that more than a hundred “Knowing you love the earth Thanks to all those who volunteers to engage changes you, activates you to support our work, this year BC residents. defend and protect and we have been able to celebrate. But when you feel celebrate a number of We are profoundly grateful to that the earth loves you in victories. The House of each and every one of you return, that feeling Commons passed legislation for your support. As we enter transforms the relationship to ban crude oil tankers on our 50th year, we are from a one-way street into a BC’s north coast. Thanks to reflecting and gathering sacred bond.” Indigenous legal challenges strength. In this era of funded in part by our Pull climate crisis, our work and For all of us at Sierra Club Together campaign, the your help is needed now BC, the past year has been federal approval of the Trans more than ever before. one of both pain and hope. Mountain pipeline and Climate change and species tankers was quashed. Our Sincerely, extinction are accelerating Education Team celebrated rapidly, putting at grave risk its 20th anniversary of the future of healthy connecting children with ecosystems. Collectively, we nature, with 140,000 Hannah Askew are grieving the loss of many children reached since its Executive Director plants, animals and fish. We inception. are deeply worried about how a warming climate will Our campaign team made impact the future of our great strides in building the children and the world we movement for old-growth are passing on to them. As forest protection. They were we grieve, however, we are busy working in the field, strengthened both by the meeting with government ongoing beauty of the natural representatives, hosting world and by the rapidly dialogues in

Photo (top): Garibaldi Provincial Park - Jens Wieting INDIGENOUS SOLIDARITY

Sierra Club BC is committed Progress was made during members of several to recognizing and upholding 2018 to shift our approach Indigenous communities, Indigenous jurisdiction, rights to hiring and Board including kQwa’st’not~ and knowledge. In representation to strengthen Charlene George of the welcoming environmental diversity and guidance from t’Sou-ke peoples. and Indigenous rights lawyer Indigenous peoples in our Hannah Askew as our work. With support from our As Sierra Club BC enters its Executive Director in July of Board’s Indigenous solidarity 50th year in 2019, much 2018, we have been working group, Sierra Club work has yet to be done. We supported with the strategic BC now applies the two are preparing for a deeper vision to deepen this process lenses of climate change and audit in 2019 of the impacts further. Prior to coming to Indigenous rights to all of our our work has had on Sierra Club BC, Hannah was work. Indigenous peoples over the deeply involved in learning decades, so that we can do from Indigenous Nations The foundations for long better going forward. about their systems of law term relationships and and governance. mutually beneficial partnerships were built with

Photo (top): Flores Island, Clayoquot Sound - Jens Wieting Photo (bottom): Bald eagles in the Great Bear Rainforest - Daryl Spencer ANCIENT FORESTS

A love for the ancient forests of Vancouver Island and beyond has been at the heart of our work since Sierra Club BC’s inception. Half a century later, the loss of rainforests remains one of the most challenging issues and a major focus for Jens Wieting Sierra Club BC. As climate impacts intensify, it becomes ever more important to save what old-growth forests remain. In 2018, we worked to change the conversation about forestry on Vancouver Island by exposing old-growth clearcutting and collaborating with rural resource-based communities.

SETTING THE RECORD SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS-LED STRAIGHT CONSERVATION Revealed through a review of government Hosted the first in a series of Indigenous data and satellite imagery that logging on roundtable discussions to talk forest Vancouver Island is speeding up stewardship in the context of uplifting Indigenous governance Documented proposed old-growth cutblocks in the Nimpkish watershed, the Tsitika Amplified voices of Indigenous advocates Landscape, the Tahsish and Schmidt Creek working to stop new logging proposals, including the Ma’amtagila Nation‘s Blew the whistle on BC government-operated concern over government operated logging in Schmidt Creek that put sensitive old-growth logging orca rubbing beaches at risk Provided ecosystem mapping support to Garnered significant media attention for our Indigenous Nations and shared “White Rhino” map, distributed across information about conservation financing Vancouver Island, showing with in-depth and Indigenous Protected and detail remaining old-growth ecosystems Conserved Areas

Released detailed maps on the shocking Offered support for land use planning amount of old-growth logging in the 25-year and conservation proposals in period since the Clayoquot Sound protests Clayoquot Sound Released disturbing images of destruction from a flyover of Vancouver Island

Continued our watchdog stance, monitoring government and industry commitments made in the Great Bear Rainforest Agreements

Photo (top): Juan de Fuca Trail - Jens Wieting MOBILIZING COMMUNITIES TO STAND ADVOCATING FOR SOUND FOREST TALL FOR FORESTS POLICY Surpassed our goal of 10,000+ letters and Met with the BC government to share our mobilized people across the province to maps and data and call for solutions for make phone calls calling in support of for intact forest areas and endangered old-growth protection ecosystems

Hosted 13 forest events on Vancouver Called on 437 municipal election Island for dialogue about forest concerns candidates to stand strong for ancient with community members, tourism forests operators, Indigenous Nations, logging sector leaders and government staff Coordinated a letter with 223 scientists calling on the BC government to protect Delivered a petition from 200,000+ people old-growth internationally calling for action, in partnership with tourism businesses Engaged in provincial review processes to call for major changes to professional Trained more than 100 forest campaign reliance, environmental assessment and volunteers and hosted a weekend action endangered species legislation training workshop

Spent 125+ days canvassing with teams in Victoria and Vancouver

Garnered endorsements from BC-born celebrities Bryan Adams, Alexander Ludwig and Rachel Roberts BIG WIN Published a Forest Action Taker’s Guide for 200,000+ voices BC residents concerned about poor logging standing tall for practices old-growth Supported rural community groups defending watersheds from logging

Photos: TJ Watt/Ancient Forest Alliance CLIMATE SOLUTIONS The climate crisis intensified in 2018 with another year of unprecedented wildfires and droughts. Sierra Club BC held politicians at all levels to account on the climate crisis, calling out provincial support for LNG, building the case for bolder climate action commitments and mobilizing people to demand rapid change.

HOLDING GOVERNMENT & PROMOTING CLEAN BUILDING SUPPORT FOR INDUSTRY ACCOUNTABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS CLIMATE ACTION Conducted a review Produced a popular Mobilized thousands to tell revealing BC’s emissions 11-part podcast series the BC government to stop rose in 4 of the past exploring clean energy subsidizing LNG and invest 5 years called Mission Transition in renewables instead

Called out provincial Reported on Haida Gwaii’s Coordinated groups support for LNG and the transition to 100% responding to the threat insufficiency of BC’s renewables at a LNG poses to water and climate targets in light of a Renewable Energy our climate, hosting an sobering IPCC climate Symposium hosted by the event with experts and science report Council of the Haida affected community Nation and Swiilawiid members Intervened in and Sustainability Society supported a court case Offered media commentary against the Coastal With Green Jobs BC, an on provincial climate plan GasLink pipeline that alliance of labour unions and called for even would serve LNG Canada and environmental groups, stronger commitments highlighted job Challenged in court the opportunities in the clean exemption of 2 fracking energy transition dams from environmental assessments

Provided rapid response media analysis following BIG WIN $670,000+ raised the release of BC’s for Indigenous legal climate plan challenges

Photo (top): Jeff Kubina Photo (bottom): Kwekwecnewtxw – Protect the Inlet mobilization against Trans Mountain, by Rogue Collective PIPELINES & TANKERS

Sierra Club BC continued to work in broad coalition with Indigenous Nations, diverse groups and thousands of concerned BC residents to stop the Trans Mountain pipeline and tankers and defend the coast and freshwater in BC from devastating oil spills.

ORGANIZING IN SOLIDARITY INFORMING AND MOBILIZING

Helped raise $670,000+ for legal actions THE GRASSROOTS from the Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, Produced a video exposing risks of oil spills Coldwater and Stk’emlupsemc te from articulated tug barge (ATB) tankers, Secwepemc that overturned Trans engaging thousands to call for restricting Mountain’s approval through our Pull ATBs on BC’s coast and meeting with Together initiative authorities to highlight concerns Worked with allies to collect 70,000+ Ran radio ads and mobilized thousands of letters of comment on Trans Mountain people calling for a stop to the Kinder during a new round of NEB review Morgan buyout Worked with partners to mobilize support Produced videos to educate people for the Heiltsuk after a devastating diesel about oil spill risks and Trans Mountain, spill in their territory engaging thousands to call for better Amplified the voices of LNG opposition at spill response Madii Lii, Gitxsan territory Led a trip with photographer Louis Bockner Helped collect 12,000+ signatures on a to shed a light on the impacts Teck’s federal petition in favour of Bill C-48, the Frontier tarsands mine would have on north coast tanker ban Wood Buffalo National Park, highlighted in a series featuring stunning photos and videos in The Narwhal

BIG WIN North coast tanker ban passed in House of Commons

Photo (top): Gary Sutton KIDS & NATURE

Sierra Club BC’s education team was busy throughout the school year providing outdoor-based nature experiences to thousands of students and teachers across the province. These learning opportunities foster healthy development and cultivate environmental stewardship. We rely on donations to keep our programs free, accessible, and inclusive.

SUPPORTING EDUCATORS & CONNECTING KIDS WITH NATURE CAREGIVERS TO GET KIDS OUTSIDE THROUGH HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMS

Launched a program supporting Capital Celebrated 20 years, with 140,000+ Region teachers from 13 schools to take students reached since 1998! their students outside, with monthly Teacher Gatherings and one-on-one Engaged 4500+ students from K-8 with our mentorship programs in 2018

Offered Professional Development Began offering French language nature workshops for teachers across BC, programs for Kindergarten, Grade 1 and 2 engaging 400+ teachers in 2018 Contracted an external consultant whose Provided resources and creative tips for independent evaluation found our educators and caregivers through our programming to be exemplary website, regular features in Island Parent Collaborated with t’Sou-ke magazine, and our monthly Education knowledge-keeper kQwa’st’not~Charlene E-Newsletter George to refine the content and delivery of our workshops

Enhanced our Grades 6-8 program to facilitate student dialogue about climate change and its implications across BC, while BIG WIN encouraging student action Celebrated 20 years, with 140,000 kids reached

Photos: Student workshop participants - Mya Van Woudenberg PEACE RIVER VALLEY

When the BC government re-approved the Site C megadam at the close of 2017, Sierra Club BC vowed to keep opposing this disastrous project. Through 2018, Sierra Club BC continued to stand with Treaty 8 Nations, and shifted our focus downstream to where the Mikisew Cree are calling for action to protect the Peace-Athabasca Delta from further industrial impacts.

RAISING AWARENESS & ORGANIZING IN HOLDING GOVERNMENT & ENGAGING PEOPLE SOLIDARITY INDUSTRY ACCOUNTABLE Led a media visit to Helped organize stops on a Called on Canada to investigate downstream tour by Peace Valley implement a UNESCO impacts Site C would have farmers Ken and Arlene recommendation to on Wood Buffalo National Boon, which raised conduct an impact Park, highlighted through a $13,000+ for Indigenous assessment of the Site C collection of stunning legal challenges and the project on the photos, videos and articles Peace Valley Landowner Peace-Athabasca Delta in The Narwhal Association

Educated podcast listeners Supported Treaty 8 Nations on the barrier Site C through injunction hearings presents to distributed for their legal challenge to renewable energy Site C, live tweeting the generation hearings and speaking at rallies Helped lead a session at the Site C Summit in Victoria

BIG WIN Launched a new podcast, Mission Transition Photo (top): Peace River Valley - Louis Bockner Photo (bottom): (L-R) Peace Valley Campaigner Galen Armstrong with Mikisew Cree water technician Kevin Courtorielle and journalist Judith Lavoie tour the Peace-Athabasca Delta SOUTHERN ROCKIES As climate change intensifies, it becomes ever more important to conserve and connect spaces where wild species can adapt. In 2018, Sierra Club BC continued to raise awareness of threats to land, water and species in the Rocky Mountains of southeastern BC.

ADVOCATING FOR TRANSBOUNDARY EDUCATING AND ENGAGING PEOPLE WATERSHED PROTECTION Raised awareness of the biodiversity values Brought attention to Teck’s Elk Valley coal at risk in the Flathead River Valley and the mines for polluting watersheds with importance of this region for species trying toxic waste to adapt to climate change

Supported a water quality program to Did outreach and education to build public monitor effects of mining pollution support for a southeastern BC wildlife corridor, to be designated through a Highlighted concerns about impacts to government-to-government process with water quality on both sides of the border the Ktunaxa Nation as a result of BC’s lack of proper water quality regulation Educated the public about the impacts of the Columbia River Treaty and its renegotiation, mobilizing hundreds to call for the Ktunaxa, Secwepemc and Syilx Okanagan Nations to be included fully as partners in the talks

BIG WIN 36,000+ Sierra Club BC supporters

Photo (top): Flathead Valley - Garth Lenz Photo (bottom): Mountain goat in the Flathead Valley - Joe Riis DEMOCRACY

Recognizing that electoral reform could have a transformational effect on politics and give many of our environmental campaigns a greater chance of success, Sierra Club BC undertook a special short term campaign in favour of proportional representation during the provincial referendum.

Though the referendum didn’t pass, Sierra Club BC is tremendously proud of our many dedicated volunteers who worked hard to get out the vote. BIG WIN 10,000+ calls to CAMPAIGNING FOR get out the vote PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

Produced resources, opinion pieces and several videos to inform supporters about the proportional representation referendum

Called more than 10,000 supporters to remind them to vote

Trained dozens of volunteers to talk with BC residents about our democracy

Photo (top): Great Bear Rainforest - Jens Wieting YOU MADE IT HAPPEN

Sierra Club BC could not Did you know that as a Ensure your membership do this work without the member, you get access to is up to date by making a valuable contributions of exclusive invitations to minimum $15 gift at our volunteers and 2,000+ events, our monthly sierraclub.bc.ca/membership. members, of which over e-newsletter Sierra Life 600 are sustaining and the ability to vote at monthly contributors. our AGM?

Members who donate – especially on a monthly basis – provide the financial support necessary to keep the long term view in mind. Our core capacity to affect change is determined by the strength of our membership, which has been growing at a steady pace.

Members help carry the work that our community of more than 36,000 supporters rely upon for advocacy, education, and conservation.

Photo (top): Chilcotin region - Jens Wieting Photo (right): Brynne Morrice YOUR 2018 THANK VOLUNTEER YOU! IMPACT

Helped collect 10,000+ signatures in support of rainforest protection

Made 10,000+ calls to remind people to vote in BC’s electoral reform referendum

Spent 125+ days canvassing

Delivered a petition to the BC Legislature from 200,000+ people calling for forest action

Helped raise $670,000+ for Indigenous legal actions that overturned Trans Mountain’s approval

Our Quadra Island Local Photo: Victoria - TJ Watt/Ancient Forest Group raised $3,500 for the Alliance Peace Valley Landowner Association and Indigenous legal challenges to Site C

Represented Sierra Club BC at 30+ events

Student volunteers hosted a hike raising $562 for Sierra Club BC LEAVE ACTING YOUR TOGETHER LEGACY FOR CHANGE Legacy giving means leaving Sierra Club BC is one of 20+ members of Greater Sierra Club BC a gift in your will Victoria Acting Together (GVAT), an alliance of or estate plan that will help us unions, faith groups, and environmental, protect the land and water in education and frontline service organizations honour of your memory for years working on Lekwungen territory. In 2018, our to come. groups undertook listening campaigns. Sierra Club BC hosted several potlucks and gatherings with Members of the Red Cedar Circle are committed to making Sierra our supporters, staff and Board to have Club BC part of their legacy. Like conversations about the issues we care most the Western red cedar, which can about and the ways we can work together to grow to be a thousand years old, make change. they are deeply rooted to this place and to Sierra Club BC’s This experience strongly reminded us of the work to protect it. importance of prioritizing authentic relationships with our members and we are truly grateful for There are several ways to become these deepened connections. a member of the Red Cedar Circle: bequests, in memoriam The results of this listening campaign helped gifts, gifts of insurance and gifts GVAT decide to tackle all of its campaigns through of securities. the lenses of climate change and Indigenous For more information on how rights, as Sierra Club BC does. Sierra Club BC will you can join the circle, visit be continuing to work across sectors in this sierraclub.bc.ca/legacy-giving or diverse coalition to achieve transformative contact: impacts where we live.

Elisabeth Hazell Manager of Donor Engagement (250) 882-3682 [email protected]

Photo: Grizzly bear - Andrew S. Wright TREASURER’S REPORT

Our total expenditures in 2018 were Looking into 2019, we’ve identified the $1,391,047, of which 84% supported our need for new approaches in addressing core mission operations and program climate change. To do our work most costs, with the remaining 16% used for effectively, we will direct a significant development and supporter engagement portion of our surplus funds towards activities. overdue investments in our information technology to both support and Through careful stewardship and a complement our field organization, generous transformative bequest from a program delivery and community donor choosing to leave a legacy in engagement initiatives. support of our organization, we generated a $154,371 unrestricted surplus, Sincerely, increasing our total unrestricted net assets from $164,556 to $318,927. Gordon Stewart, Board Treasurer

7% 3% 16% 40% Community Gaming Government Grants Development & Environmental Advocacy & Grant Supporter Engagement Awareness Programs

20182018Lorem ipsum 2018 Sources of Expenditures funding in support of our mission

34% 49% 32% 11% Donations Grants Core Mission Operations Education K-8 Programs

The above financial information is a summary only and not intended to reflect the complete financial status of the Sierra Club of BC Foundation. Please refer to our website for a full copy of our audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018. THANK YOU We offer deep gratitude to our funders, corporate partners, monthly contributors and major donors for their significant contributions in helping defend the land and water in BC. Thank you!

FUNDERS SpencerCreo Foundation Victoria Multicultural Society Stewart Fund held at Vancouver Foundation William J. Andrews, Barrister & Solicitor Benevity Community Impact Fund TELUS Blue Planet Links Foundation Tides Canada Foundation - Capacity for The Brainerd Foundation Conservation Fund SUPPORT FOR ACTIVITIES Charles and Lucille Flavelle Fund held Tides Canada Foundation - Full Circle Small UNDER PARTNERSHIP at Vancouver Foundation Grants Fund Conservation Alliance Vancouver Foundation AGREEMENT Funke-Furber Fund held at Victoria The Victoria Foundation The Ball Family Environmental Foundation Foundation The Wilburforce Foundation Bealight Foundation Gabe and Andi Davis Foundation held The Calgary Foundation at Vancouver Foundation The Catherine Donnelly Foundation The Gordon and Betty Moore CORPORATE AND SOCIETY Foundation SUPPORTERS Glasswaters Foundation Government of Canada (Canada The Langara Foundation Summer Jobs) British Columbia Government and Services Patagonia Environmental Grants Employee Union GVSCU Legacy Foundation Tides Canada Foundation - Pacific Salmon Comalatech The Harweg Foundation Watersheds Fund and Full Circle Small Carmanah Strategies Grants Fund The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation's Innoweave Initiative Eagle Wing Tours Lance Priebe Foundation Environment for Change NON-CHARITY PARTNERS The Laura L. Tiberti Charitable Evelyn Andrews-Greene, CPA Foundation Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) Generational Wealth Management at The McLean Foundation Raymond James Canopy Natural Sciences and Engineering Health Sciences Association Indigenous Climate Action (ICA) Research Council of Canada Horne Coupar Wilp Luutkudziiwus, Gitxsan Nation North Growth Foundation IONICA Inc. Patagonia Environmental Grants Fund Dr. Karen Palmer Inc. Patagonia Foundation LEGACY GIVING Kevco Tub Repair Estate of Chloe O’Loughlin The Province of British Columbia Modo Yoga Estate of Hilary Stewart Provincial Employees Community Services Fund Patagonia Victoria Estate of J-Anne Thornthwaite The Real Estate Foundation of British Roll.Focus. Productions These individuals contributed substantial legacy gifts Columbia Spirit of the West Adventures to Sierra Club BC. We are so grateful to have been chosen to receive these gifts as we celebrate them The Sitka Foundation Telus World of Science in memory.

Photo: A rocky beach along the BC coast - Travis McLachlan MAJOR DONORS Larry Appleby Thomas Hall Eileen O’Byrne OUR 2018 Harvey Armstrong Linda Hannah Karen Ochs David Askew Andrew Harmsworth Chloe O’Loughlin Chantal Barchard George Heyman Margo Palmer Gunilla Barnett Gabriela Hirt Dennis Perry TEAM Laurie Bloom Lorna Hogg Brian and Diane Pinch Margo Boyd Patricia Jacobson Susan Pook Leanne Brothers Elizabeth Kaller Alison Prentice STAFF Laurence Brown John Keay Nancy Price-Munn Hannah Askew Georgina Brunette Lannie and Ralph Keller Lisa Ross Galen Armstrong Bonnie Brownstein Kristina Knowles Leonard Schein Lynn Bakken Gwen Cawsey Jim Kragtwyk David Slade Chantal Barchard Yvon Chouinard Jackie Larkin Diana Smith Kirsten Dallimore Judith Coffin Christine Leclerc Joan Stelling and Sarah James Davis Frisch Jan Craig Alison LeDuc Simone Cotterill Patrick Stewart Marion Cumming Frances Litman Elisabeth Hazell Thomas Stewart Dorothy Cutting Jeanine Lucas Britton Jacob-Schram Harry Swain Thomas DeMarco Marlene MacKenzie Roxanne Le-Goff Graham Tarling Jan and Jan Drent Lisa Matthaus Amira Maddison Carole Ward Ken Farquharson Margaret Matthews Karli Mann Sheila Watson Donald Ferris & Jeanne Trevor Matthews Brynne Morrice Roanne Weyermars Tim Pearson Keith-Ferris Douglas McArthur Vanessa Wiebel Liz Reed Rosemary Fox Mel McDonald Eileen Wttewaall Caitlyn Vernon Shirley Franklin Betty and Bob McInnes James Wyse Jens Wieting Anne Gartshore Robert Mitchell Anonymous (3) Mark Worthing Nigel Gutzmann Laurie Morgan Maureen Yao Tom Hackney Anne Moul Kat Zimmer Michael Hale Leora Nugent

BOARD How-Sen Chong, Member James Coccola, Secretary Jamie Coutts, Member Valine Brown, Chair Spencer Greening, Member Geraldine Kenny, Legacy Member Christine Leclerc, Chair Patricia Lane, Legacy Member Jackie Larkin, Legacy Member Nadia Nowak, Member Jarrad Reddekop, Vice-Chair Gordon Stewart, Treasurer Roanne Weyermars, Member 301-2994 Douglas St. Victoria BC, V8T 4N4 Lekwungen Territory P: (250) 386-5255 E: [email protected]

Cover photo: Garibaldi Provincial Park - Jens Wieting

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