A Note of Gratitude and Farewell to West Coast
 In the mid 1990s, my travels took me to England, where I imagined using my passion to save the planet through international law. I envisioned myself attending important meetings in London or Paris, influencing high-level decision-makers, all the while making a difference. After getting a taste of that world, I realized that I would be much happier protecting the environment at home in Canada, where the results of my efforts would be more tangible.
I applied to work at West Coast Environmental Law, and in 1998, I moved to Vancouver and became West Coast’s Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund (EDRF) lawyer. All of a sudden, I was fielding calls from concerned citizens on ash from a crematorium smokestack landing in town; odours from duck barns; leaking storage tanks at rural gas stations; land use planning challenges; threats to dwindling species; and families trying to make sure that sour gas wells are not drilled in their back yard.
And, perhaps the most amazing part, I was connecting with people who shared my passion to protect the environment – whether it was their local park, their airshed, their watershed, or region. I was also connecting with lawyers who wanted to make a difference by taking on an EDRF case here or there. This work taught me that real people can, and do, make a difference.
A few years ago, West Coast started responding to increasing calls from citizens concerned about oil and gas development, which is on the rise in BC. The BC government had established a goal of doubling oil and gas production by 2008, bringing oil and gas development to new parts of the province, and closer to homes and communities. West Coast’s Oil and Gas Program was born, and in the past few years, through workshops, community gatherings, toolkits, and networks, we have supported people across the province in protecting their health and their local environment.
This is a tough job, as the playing field for concerned citizens and companies is not balanced – laws and regulations operate in favour of the companies, and often at the expense of landowners and the environment. There is still much to do, and West Coast will continue to make a difference in this area.
I too will continue in the pursuit of responsible energy development, but from a different vantage point and new home.
After seven and a half years at West Coast, I am taking up a new position at the Pembina Institute. Pembina and West Coast have long been allies in the development of sound environmental policies. It is my intent to strengthen that alliance even further.
It has been a real privilege to be able to work with staff at West Coast and with people from across BC to help protect our province. West Coast has a unique and important role to play, and I look forward to supporting its work in a different way in the years ahead.
Thank you!
— Karen Campbell
Contents:
The gift that keeps giving, and giving, and giving...
We are grateful to all our donors and supporters, but each month, we
say a special thank you to the members of our West Coast Protectors’
Club. These special donors make small monthly donations to our operating
costs, through an automatic withdrawal from their chequing account or VISA
card. It’s a very simple way to give, and also very painless.
For example, you might allow us to draw just $10 a month from your
account (about the price of one movie, or two lunches, or three coffees).
You’ll hardly notice the money is gone, and at year-end, when we send
you a tax-deductible receipt, you’ll have made a significant
contribution of $120!
And the value of your monthly donation to us goes beyond the face value
of your gift. We can reduce renewal notices to monthly donors (saving
paper and other resources), and your generous gift provides an ongoing,
reliable source of operating funds, allowing us to focus our attention on
emerging and critical issues.
The Protectors’ Club is critical to West Coast’s long-term plans.
It is our most reliable and important means of support on a month to month
basis. We invite you to now become part of this important program. Your
gift, of any amount, is greatly appreciated. However you choose to give,
thank you.
If you have a credit card, we can accept your donation online!
To make a tax-creditable donation to West Coast, click
here, and you will be taken to our secure, encrypted payment
page.
For more information about benefits and how to get started, call us at
604-684-7378 in Vancouver and 1 800 330-WCEL toll-free
throughout British Columbia.
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