It's been a whirlwind the past three days. Yesterday we landed back in civiliation, aka, Whistler, via Sea Plane. Flying over the mountains and sea was spectacular as the glacial lakes sparkled in the sun. The previous three days were spent meeting with various members of First Nations tribes. It has been an eye opening experience. There are still hundreds of First Nation tribes across BC with different dialects and traditions. Almost all are poor wtih an unemployment rate of 70 - 85%. And with that level of unemployment come the associated societal ills. We heard chiefs speak of their challenges, witnessed a blessing of a sawmill in Ahousat and toured the pride of the community, a school, in Hesquiaht. Hesquiaht is a small tribe with 770 total members, but only 70 people live on the island. The school has brought the community together. It provided jobs, used local materials to build, captured the elements of nature to heat and cool the building and uses rain water for non-potable purposes (aka toilets). Life is hard, and simple on these islands, but the people who inhabit them are fiercely proud.
- Jackie
ABOUT THE TRIP
CHANGE ACTION TEAM 2010
From September 12-20, 2010, Aeroplan Canada will lead Groupe Aeroplan’s second Change Action Team experience in beautiful British Columbia, Canada.
The 2010 Change Action Team is composed of nine Groupe Aeroplan employees: one employee from Aeroplan Canada, three from Groupe Aeroplan-UK, three from Carlson Marketing, one employee from Air Miles Middle East and one from Nectar Italia.
Working with Offsetters, Groupe Aeroplan’s and Aeroplan Canada’s carbon management partner, the Change Action Team will travel to the Canadian province of British Columbia.
Lead by Alden Hadwen, CSR, Groupe Aeroplan, and a representative from Offsetters, employees will spend a week learning about climate change, carbon emissions, carbon offset projects and how local communities are linked with these projects. The CAT will visit clean technology projects in Vancouver, First Nations communities in Tofino and the resort of Whistler in the Coastal Mountains.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
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FUN FACTS ABOUT THE TEAM
Jo-Ann: In 2006, I had my head shaved during the Shave to Save campaign to raise funds for the fight against Breast Cancer.Laura: I recently achieved my personal goal to visit 30 countries before I turned 30 and celebrated with a visit to Brazil at Carnaval.
Will: I hold a private pilot’s licence and have been flying since I was 16 years old.
Jackie: When I was in high school I won a contest to name a ride at a local amusement park – The Flitting Flume of Festal Frenzy! It was a log water ride. I won a $100 savings bond, six case of Coke and a season pass to Valleyfair. Oh, and let's not forget the coverage in the local newspaper...ha!
Brendan:The Metro (London’s free newspaper) once sent me on a blind date to Paris, along with a film crew who normally worked on documentaries in war-zones.
Marcello: I visited Geogia during Russian air raids, Ukraine after Orange Revolution and I’ve just come back from former war countries in Balkans: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro. I use my trips as inspiration, writing for newspapers and magazines, I’ve even created a blog: http://www.marcellopeluso.it/. I’ve also published some books…and more are coming! It’s my way to describe the world.
Sanju: My love for animals constantly worries my wife as she isn’t sure what new addition I’ll bring into our home at anytime.
Emma-Lee: I used to work for Bridgeclimb in Sydney. I’ve climbed 1,439 steps to the top of the Sydney harbour bridge over 500 times – that’s 719,500 steps in total! Once I was caught in a freak storm at the top of the bridge with 50 tourists, the winds were over 140Kmph and we were completely exposed to the elements, unable to move until the storm passed.
Majeed:I love to eat - my favourite saying is: “People eat to live, while I live to eat”.
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