MOUNTAIN LIFE - Coast Mountains | Winter Spring 2019

54 MLCM WINTER/SPRING 2019 P.O.W. – PROTECT OUR WINTERS Athlete-founded organization opens a Canadian chapter W hen it comes to battling climate change, time is of the essence. Which is why the Canadian outdoor community felt a surge of excitement when news dropped that Protect Our Winters was up and running here in the Great White North. Founded in 2007 by legendary snowboarder Jeremy Jones, Protect Our Winters (POW) is a passionate community of outdoor enthusiasts, professional athletes and industry brands dedicated to uniting as many people as possible to address climate change. The current global network exceeds 130,000 members and there are a few familiar Coast Mountain faces involved in POW Canada. “This is the issue of our time,” says Whistler freeski legend Mike Douglas, inaugural Chair of the POW Canada board of directors. “Climate change is the greatest threat to humanity we have ever faced and it’s time to speak up and get organized. The government won’t make changes unless the people are asking for it so we have to make our voices heard.” Douglas says there are about 15 other local athletes involved right now, including snowboarder Marie-France Roy and big mountain shredder Ian McIntosh, however POW Canada is a national organization with representatives from across the country. “What differentiates POW is that we are engaging youth,” Douglas explains. “Athletes can be role models for kids and can have a powerful voice. We’re working now with the University of Waterloo on a program called ‘Hot Planet, Cool Athletes’ where POW athletes will go into schools and share their experiences then bring the science into it and challenge the schools to get involved.” Local POW athletes have already spoken at four Sea to Sky schools and Douglas recently met with the University of British Columbia ski/ snowboard club and tourism department. “POW Canada is only three months old,” he explains, “so the big challenge right now is awareness—getting people to the website, following our social channels and receiving our newsletters. There is a pledge in the works but for now we just want to get the word out. There’s strength and power in numbers—that’s how change happens. protectourwinters.ca – Feet Banks “For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned.” –Benjamin Franklin Dominic Melanson gets some pow (while he can). CHRIS CHRISTIE