Volunteers with the Comox District Mountaineering Club are getting provincial recognition.
The club was a 2020 BC Parks Volunteer award winner in the ‘Volunteer Group’ category.
Formed in 1927, the club promotes conservation and appropriate use of parks and wilderness areas, organizes hiking/expedition programs and also teaches leadership skills.
Local conservation efforts are supported by members through donations and volunteer time.
Province-wide, the winners of the 2020 BC Parks Volunteer Awards are:
- Individual volunteer: Rachel Shephard
- Volunteer legacy: Freeze family and friends
- Volunteer group: Comox District Mountaineering Club
- Community Partner of the Year: Sovereign Lake Nordic Club
“The passion our volunteers have shown for the protection and stewardship of our parks is profound,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
“Volunteers generously contribute their time and labour to parks in many ways, such as advocating for new parks to be established, contributing funds to buy land for parks and building and maintaining trails. Congratulations to our award winners and thank you to all of the volunteers for protecting and enhancing the spectacular natural environment we all cherish in B.C.”
The BC Parks Volunteer Program has more than 1,800 volunteers who are involved in a wide range of initiatives, such as trail maintenance, facility restoration, campground hosting, ecological reserve wardens, educational and interpretive programs, ecological monitoring and inventories, park management and planning.
“The volunteer awards are a reminder of how diverse our park volunteers are,” said Kelly Greene, Parliamentary Secretary for Environment. “From individuals who help monitor the health of park ecosystems, to families who commit together to maintain trails and organized groups who support our conservation efforts – we thank them all for the contribution they make to our world-class parks system.”
