Congratulations to the winners of the ACC's 2018 grants program
Editor's note: The Alpine Club of Canada maintains or administers permanent funds to which people may apply for financial support for their mountain-related projects and initiatives. Support is provided in the form of annual cash grants and scholarships to individuals and groups who are judged as best meeting the selection criteria.
Today, we're proud to announce the 2018 winners of the ACC Environment Grant, the Jen Higgins Grant for Young Women, the Jim Colpitts Memorial Scholarship and the Karl Nagy Memorial Scholarship. In total, the ACC will be awarding $17,675 in funding to the following applicants this year. Congratulations to all of our winners!
ACC Environment Grant
Recipient: ACC Vancouver Section
Project: to assist in building a composting toilet at the Jim Haberl Hut in the Tantalus Range near Squamish, BC.
Funding awarded: $2990
The Jim Haberl Hut is a popular destination for alpine enthusiasts who wish to gain access to various alpine climbing routes in the area. The composting toilet would be a huge benefit to the environment around the hut by minimizing the impacts and maintenance on this facility.
jim Haberl Hut.
Recipient: Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative
Project: to collect research and field samples from alpine habitat in British Columbia (BC)’s Wild Hart ranges, and to provide film and photography to communicate the value of the Hart landscape and wildlife to key audiences in support of conservation action.
Funding awarded: $2990
Y2Y is a joint Canada-U.S. not-for-profit organization with a mission to connect and protect habitat from Yellowstone to Yukon so people and nature can thrive. The activities listed in the grant application are a vital part of a multi-year conservation campaign to protect critical remaining wildlife habitat and areas of outstanding natural beauty and ‘quiet’ wilderness recreation in the northeastern Peace Region of BC. The campaign will ultimately benefit wildlife, local communities including First Nations, and recreationalists.
Wild Harts landscape in northern BC.
Jen Higgins Grant for Young Women
Recipients: Sam French, Melissa Makepeace, and Sarah Sasges
Objective: ski tour south to north in Mt. Edziza Provincial Park, BC, crossing over the Spectrum Range and Mt. Edziza itself.
Funding awarded: $3500
The planned traverse is 68 km long with 4,325 metres of elevation gain and 4,190 metres of elevation loss. They are undertaking this trip to inspire and encourage other women in the outdoor community to take responsibility for their own development as leaders.
Proposed route in Mt. Edziza Provincial Park
RECIPIENT: Isobel Glover
Objective: hike the complete length of Vancouver Island (700km), from tip to tip, utilizing the VI Spine Trail.
Funding awarded: $2800
Isobel Glover.
Isobel plans to traverse the complete length of Vancouver Island, in one go, starting from her front door, and passing through the easternmost point (10-mile point, in Saanich) and the westernmost point (Cape Scott) of the Island, entirely on foot. In doing this, she will contribute to building a hiking community on Vancouver Island, particularly by lowering the barrier to wilderness hiking for people with little experience. She will demonstrate that hiking on Vancouver Island can be accessible, low cost, and environmentally responsible.
Proposed route crossing Vancouver Island.
RECIPIENTS: Gemma Wilson and Rose Pearson
Objective: to make the first female team ascent of the Moonflower Buttress on Mt Hunter, Alaska.
Funding awarded: $2200
The route is well known in the climbing community as a world-class objective. They are inspired to climb this route because they are both passionate about ice and mixed climbing. Combined, they have climbed ice and mixed routes in Chamonix, New Zealand, Scotland and the Canadian Rockies.
Jim Colpitts Memorial Scholarship
Recipient: Logan Grasby
Funding amount: $500
This award will go towards Logan taking his Top Rope Climbing Instructor course through the ACMG. He plans to use this to run an outdoor kids climbing camp for Mount Royal University, build leadership skills for ACC section trips, as well as practice core guiding skills in preparation for his future Apprentice Rock Guide Certification.
Logan Grasby.
Recipient: Shelby Montgomery
Funding amount: $200
This award will go towards Shelby taking Navigation 1, 2 & 3 Courses through the University of Calgary. She will use this knowledge to help her prepare for the Donjek route in Kluane National Park, Yukon.
Shelby Montgomery.
Recipient: Jill Weenink
Funding amount: $500
This award will go towards Jill's tuition in the TRU Adventure Diploma as she pursues a career in the outdoors – specifically using nature and adventure as an avenue to assist those with mental health issues.
Jill Weenink.
"Thank you for choosing me to receive this scholarship. The money will go towards the Adventure Guide program at Thompson River University. I hope this program, as well as combining my social work degree, will open many doors in helping mentally ill or troubled children find healing through nature.”
Karl Nagy Memorial Scholarship
Bree Kullman.
Recipient: Bree Kullman
Funding amount: $1995
Bree will go to this year's GMC to act under the supervision of guides to help hone her guiding skills. “I feel at the cusp of moving to the next level, where I can begin to mentor others in more technical mountain pursuits. The Karl Nagy Memorial Scholarship is exactly the kind of opportunity I need to bring me to that next level, where I can give back to an even wider mountain community.”
The ACC's Financial Grants Program
The Alpine Club of Canada maintains or administers permanent funds to which people may apply for financial support for their mountain-related projects and initiatives.
Support is provided in the form of annual cash grants and scholarships to individuals and groups who are judged as best meeting the selection criteria.
Click the button below to see which grants may be able to help fund your project and to apply.