Bert Riggall's Greater Waterton,

Bert Riggall Environmental Foundation

Summary Timeline of Local Community Projects

 

1988

Group of friends camped out at Slacker Creek and saw the need and opportunity for creating a local organization to support environmental stewardship initiatives in the Pincher Creek region

 

1989

Officially recognized as a Society under Provincial and Federal regulations

(Doris Burton letter of permission to use her father’s name)

 

1990

Registered as a Charitable Organization with Revenue Canada

(First Annual report and financials $0)

Leased office in the Lebel Mansion

First “hands on” project: Pincher Creek Creek-bank Clean-up, supported by a Federal Student Temporary Employment Grant

Organized a community Roundtable on the South Castle area with participation from provincial conservation groups (AWA,CPAWS) that helped create the Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition (David Sheppard’s Notice of Meeting)

 

1991

Monthly circles for sharing information, particularly re. the projected Oldman River Dam (FEARO letter admitting BREF as an Intervenor)

 

1992

Ongoing local info sharing, particularly around the Westcastle/Vacation Alberta ski-hill expansion proposal.

Canada Environment and Development Support program to assist Ms. Radha Bhatt’s tour across Canada for awareness of threats to international water resources through large-scale developments.

Canada Environment Week Green Plan support for local coordinator.

 

1993

Development of the “Environmental Resource Centre” in the BREF/CCWC shared office at the Lebel Mansion.

“Common Sense” sustainability project for involving wise choices in daily living.

(Summary presented to Pincher Creek Town Council)

 

1994

Many different engagements in provincial initiatives by different members of the Foundation:

Alberta Forest Conservation Strategy

Environment Council of Alberta

Eastern Slopes Energy and Environment Committee

Castle River Consultation Group

Alberta Ecotrust

Clean Air Strategic Alliance 

Environmental Law Centre

BREF intervened at Amoco Canada’s Hearing before the Energy Resources Conservation Board re. the Whaleback.

Work with PC Economic Development Board on “Green Zone” designation

 

1995

Wendy Ryan and Nancy Tripp headed up Creek-bank Clean-up

Judy Huntley highly involved in AEN and CEN Steering Committees and organizing the National AGM at Echo Lake Saskatchewan

Canada World Youth project

Local Climate Change Forum

Input to the GOA’s “Special Places 2000” Policy initiative

 

1996

Community Assets / Animation Project, workshops and interviews

Pincher Creek Creekside Clean-up and Re-cycling initiatives

 

1997

Community Assets Mapping Workshops, supported by Health Canada

 

1998/9

No formal projects. Some informal volunteer activities in community

 

1999

Pincher Creek “Garbage Fair”, re-use, re-cycle and exchange, brought together a variety of locally active groups in a common venue (Advertisement).

Winter evening Speakers’ Series (Advertisements) (Summary Report to funder)

 

2000

Federal Community Animation Project to address local Oil and Gas activity

AEN, CEN and CASA activities on-going

Waterton/Castle Roundtable Workshop

 

2001

Oil and Gas information database/networking support

SASCI Steering Committee

Clean Air Forum Conference, Health Canada

 

2002

Pincher Creek Toxic Waste Round-up and support for the Pincher Creek Watershed Group’s Blue-weed Blitz, spearheaded by Wendy Ryan

Joyce Taylor initiated some Naturalists’ Walks in the area for family groups.

 

2003

Participation in Southern Alberta Sustainable Communities Initiative

Liaison/info sharing with Lethbridge’s SouthernAlberta Environment Group

Alberta Environment Network

Canadian Environment Network, Environmental Assessment Caucus

Federal “EcoAction” support for local projects and EarthDay events

Intervention vs. Polaris application before Energy and Utilities Board to re-open the Whaleback for drilling (CPAWS Postcard)

 

2004

Support for a youth participant at “Eco Village Design” week-long workshop

(Report from Lisa Willott)

Participation in variety of multi-stakeholder consultations: SASCI, Pekisko Landowners’ Group, Livingstone Landowners’ Group.

Support for public presentation of information re. Coalbed Methane projects Participation in Alberta Environment Appeals Board hearing on Water Issues re. CMR expansion

 

2005

BREF endorsed support for the Livingstone Landowners’ Group as a conservation and education project

Land-Use Framework consultation process initiated

 

2005-2012

No formal BREF projects. Occasional collaborative support for local events

 

2012-2018

Support and endorsement for Wendy Ryan’s Bert Riggall photographs exhibit and contract with TREXX. Subsequent backing for Beth Towe’s “Bert Riggall’s Greater Waterton” publication, and Canada 150 linked interpretative events with Waterton Park and the “Riggall Riders“.