“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.”

Patsy Murphy (2nd from right) and Amélie Peck (far right) at the 2008 Banff Mountain Festivals

Despite the musical distractions at the Calgary Folk Festival, Mountain Culture staff member Amélie Peck took note of stations with volunteers sorting recyclables and biodegradable waste to be composted. Fellow staff member Patsy Murphy encountered the same situation at the Canmore Folk Fest. Their keen eyes and interest led to the launch of the Towards Zero Waste program at the 2008 Banff Mountain Festivals, which diverted a total of 622 kilograms from the landfill – 93 per cent of what was collected.

“We let everyone involved know that this is what we want to do. Everybody got on board and really helped out,” says Peck. “The bar has been set for next year.”

The Banff Mountain Festivals is the latest in a series of special events in the Bow Valley that have committed to keeping at least 80 per cent of their waste from going to landfill disposal. To do so, a total of four Resource Recovery Centre stations were set-up around campus. “The idea was that people had to think about what they had to do with their waste. They had an item and they had to figure out which bin to place it in,”adds Peck.

The most recycled item throughout the nine day event was returnable beverage containers, weighing approximately 240 kilograms (almost 40 per cent of what was collected). Organics and compostable items, mixed paper, and cardboard each accounted for 15 to 20 per cent of the materials.

To manage the program, more volunteers than normal were needed to ensure that streams weren’t contaminated, and that bins were emptied and weighed. Along with Festival volunteers, Mountain Culture partnered with Banff Community High School’s Green Team. The Banff Centre custodial and food and beverage staff also played key roles. “It was a huge educational tool for everyone and we had a really good response,” says Murphy.

The program was organized through Peter Duck, regional Towards Zero Waste coordinator with the Bow Valley Waste Management Commission who was on hand to clear up any misconceptions. He said the most commonly misunderstood item was corn-based compostable food ware because it looks like plastic. “When people start talking about waste diversion at a high profile event like the Banff Mountain Festivals it creates a huge profile in the community,” says Duck. “The message gets out that this isn’t garbage anymore, there is a huge amount that you can capture and significant results can be achieved.”

Splah! A learning journey in mountain freshwater.

Mountain Culture recently released Splash! a learning journey in mountain freshwater on its Bow Valley Mountain Forum website. The website is dedicated to publicizing community events, activities and information for residents of the Bow Valley. Splash!, created for children, is an animated tour of the relationship between mountains and freshwater and explains how mountains store water and help create precipitation, how lowlands depend on mountains to store and release moisture at appropriate times, and how climate change is impacting this critical relationship. Finally, interactive features quiz site visitors about freshwater use in Alberta industries, share tips on how to conserve water, and provide information about the state of mountain freshwater worldwide.

Splash! was written by environmental writer, Rachel Delaney. Web development was provided by Adam Kirk with Lycosidea Inc. Graphic design, and animation was completed by the Digital Film and Media Production (formerly Creative Electronic Environment) at The Banff Centre. Splash! was produced by Mountain Culture at The Banff Centre and made possible by an important donation from Parks Canada.