Edmonton - Expedition leaders are making their final preparations today for the launch of the Pembina Institute's Athabasca River Expedition: Connecting the Drops.
During the two-month expedition, the expedition team will travel 1,538 kilometres - the entire length of the river - to raise awareness of threats to the Athabasca River Basin including climate change and the fast pace of oilsands development. Along the way, the team will listen to people's concerns about the state of the river and deliver Albertans' messages regarding the future of the Athabasca to Premier Stelmach at the conclusion of the trip.
The expedition begins June 19 with a challenging mountaineering trip to Mount Snow Dome, the hydrological apex of North America that drains water to the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans. The team will descend from the icefield to undertake a remote backcountry hike to the Athabasca headwaters, followed by a four to five-week canoeing expedition through one of Canada's most historically and environmentally significant watersheds.
Along their route, the expedition team will witness climate change impacts such as the accelerated recession of the Columbia Glacier, experience first-hand the degradation caused by the rapidly expanding oilsands mining operations in the boreal region, and finally revel in the braided splendor of the Peace-Athabasca Delta - one of the largest inland freshwater deltas in the world.
The expedition team will meet with people from communities along the river to hear their stories and concerns about how industrial development and climate change are affecting this significant watershed. "Recent polls have shown that Albertans are worried about the pace and scale of oilsands development," says Don Van Hout, Expedition Leader. "By undertaking this expedition, we hope to give people who live along the river an opportunity to voice their stories and concerns about the Athabasca and share their message with other Albertans, the online community and our politicians."
A flotilla of local residents and other concerned citizens will also join the team for the section of the paddle near Fort McMurray, and the team will meet with members of First Nations in Fort Chipewyan to discuss health concerns related to industrial development in the region.
Stories and messages gathered from people throughout the expedition will be posted on the expedition website, www.connectingthedrops.ca. At the conclusion of the trip, the team will present Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach with Albertan's concerns and recommendations regarding the future of the Athabasca River Basin.
"The Athabasca River is severely threatened by the fast pace of industrial development and climate change," says Marlo Raynolds, Executive Director of the Pembina Institute.
"It's time the Alberta government implemented a plan to protect the Athabasca watershed - an essential water source for Albertans and an iconic symbol of Canadian wilderness."
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For more information contact:
Don Van Hout, Expedition Leader
Cell: 403-390-1220
Danielle Droitsch, Media Coordinator
Cell: 403-678-7964
Don Van Hout, the Expedition Leader, will be available at a media conference today at 11:00 a.m. MST at Louise McKinney Riverfront Park. The park is adjacent to downtown Edmonton, immediately south of the Shaw Conference Centre at 9529 Grierson Hill.
Following the news conference Don will depart immediately to prepare for the climb to Mount Snow Dome. Photo opportunity-Don with his gear and canoe on the Bow river.
Information on opportunities for the media to participate and cover the trip is available at www.pembina.org/media-release/1473 (scroll to bottom of the online media release for the media opportunities).
A full itinerary, background information and the expedition team's personal accounts of their journey are available at www.connectingthedrops.ca
