When he began his new role two years ago, David Cox, executive director of Mountain Culture and Environment at The Banff Centre had a vision. “With environmental awareness at an all-time high around the world, there is a huge opportunity to be highly creative – and the Centre has such amazing resources for the development of new ideas.” Cox was interested in the idea of developing environmental programming that focuses on empowering communities – and this interest has now become both a goal and a vision for Mountain Culture and Environment at The Banff Centre.

“Our mandate now speaks to programming that fosters the development of creative solutions to global environmental and sustainability concerns”, says Cox. “Our programs promote an understanding and appreciation of the natural world through creative expression of mountain experiences and by creating opportunities for dialogue and leadership on environmental and sustainability issues. We utilize the arts, such as, writing, film, and photography to explore mankind’s relationship with the world’s mountain places.”

 ”I’m very excited about what we’ve done over the past two years in the expansion of our core programming to include more environmental initiatives while also keeping focused on our flagship events.” Flagship events include the annual Banff Mountain Book Festival and the Banff Mountain Film Festival and World Tour which reaches over 200,000 mountain enthusiasts in more than 30 countries.

Over the past two years, new programming has included an expansion in focus for the Mountain Culture and Environment Speakers’ Series – featuring adventurers, authors, scientists, as well as leading innovators and thinkers covering a broader range of issues. Speakers in 2008 and 2009 have included Canada’s premier arctic traveller Jerry Kobalenko, bestselling author of Sid Marty speaking about his recent book The Black Grizzly of Whisky Creek, and wildlife photographer Stephen Kazlowski presenting tales and images from The Last Polar Bear: Facing the Truth of a Warming World. The series has also included thought-provoking presentations by Alan Weisman author of A World Without Us, a New York Times best-seller, Doug Fine who tells his tales of trying to live green in Farewell, My Subaru, and David Hughes, a leading expert on energy and the environment, and contributing author to Carbon Shift: How the Twin Crises of Oil Depletion and Climate Change will Define the Future.

In 2008, Mountain Culture and Environment  invited 3E, an association of climate change stakeholders (Energy, Environment, and Economy) from across Canada to hold their meetings at The Banff Centre. They used a process which focuses on “dialogue”, which works well for addressing particularly complex issues “It’s similar to a conference but with fewer people, deeper dialogue, and more relationship building,” says Cox. “The facilitators at 3E were so impressed with the resources and vision at The Banff Centre, they are partnering with us on our new core environmental dialogue programming.”

Based on his background in law and Aboriginal affairs, Cox is developing the topic of Aboriginal consultation in environmental and resource decision-making as the first environmental dialogue program. Cox is working closely with the Centre’s Leadership Development and Aboriginal Leadership departments, leveraging their experience in facilitating deep reflection and developing and delivering training programs. “Most environmental decisions are actually about the impacts of development – and better consultations with Aboriginal people will lead to more equitable environmental decisions – mountains or otherwise,” says Cox.

Another new project currently underway is a pilot program which will be the first in a series of edited interviews for use by the Canada School of Public Service. “The nature of exploration and its impact on leadership is a key theme running through many of the seminars, films, and books presented at the Banff Mountain Festivals,” says Cox. Every year approximately half-a-dozen Festival speakers are interviewed in the intimate setting of the Rice Television studio at The Banff Centre. The resulting video footage is of exceptional quality, and these in-depth and thought-provoking interviews will now be edited and produced into final mastered interview programs.

Looking forward, Mountain Culture and Environment will produce a balance of informed and inspirational programming. “Through collaborating in creative ways, across The Banff Centre and globally, we will continue to incorporate best-in-class mountain culture and environmental programming which will spark debates and discussions,” says Cox. “By continuing to move forward in creating unique opportunities for creativity and innovation by leading experts in their fields – whether they be filmmakers, authors, or environmental experts – Mountain Culture and Environment is looking forward to increasing the depth and reach of our activities.”