AWA’s 60th Anniversary
Friday, November 14, Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) held an event to honour our award recipients for 2025 and to celebrate a big milestone, AWA turned 60!
The event was held at the lovely Crescent Heights Community Centre in NW Calgary. It was emceed by long-time Board member and amazing friend and benefactor to AWA, Cliff Wallis.[1]
He introduced two of the long-time members of AWA - founder and Past President, Vivian Pharis and former Executive Director, Christyann Olson - who shared their memories of some of the association’s past glories.
3rd generation Wallis, 10-year-old Karina was invited to speak about her participation in the Adventures for Wilderness program, and was surprised by her mother, Lindsey, (who also works for AWA) who presented her with this year’s Great Gray Owl Award. This award is given to someone who has shown great dedication and volunteerism to AWA. Karina Eustace-Wallis [2] has spent the last few years doing challenges for AWA and raising donations, including this year’s What’s Your 60 challenge.
Cliff Wallis, Karina and Lindsey
Karina receiving her Great Gray Owl award.
The evening proceeded with the recognition and medal giving to those participants who already completed their What’s Your 60 challenge. While not everyone was present, and not everyone has completed their challenge yet, including me, (they have until the end of the year) there were several nature supporters on hand to receive their medals. The ceramic medals were created and donated by Seto Pottery[3] and can also serve as a coaster (dual purpose). You can still sponsor those people doing the challenge (including me) by making a tax-deductible donation to AWA. You can read about the adventurers and their challenges here: Sponsor a Specific What's Your 60 Challenge.[4]
We then turned to the awarding of our Wilderness Defender Award to this year’s recipient, Canadian country and western singer-songwriter Corb Lund.[5] He was introduced by Cliff Wallis, and was presented his plaque and a limited edition 60th Anniversary ceramic mug by current AWA President, Gail Docken. Corb then gave the keynote speech for the evening which focused on his environmental work and he even sang us a few songs.[6] When asked why he got into the coal fight, Corb spoke with passion, and had this to say.
“I spent a long time thinking about this because this is the first time I waded into this swamp, and I only got involved because the Oldman River is where I drink my water, and my mom drinks that water, and my friends irrigate out of that river, and my animals drink out of that river and my family uses that water...I’m a sixth generation Albertan and I feel like I have the right to talk about this...I love this land and this area and this coal mine is a terrible idea.”
Corb receiving his award from AWA’s President, Gail Docken
As the current Executive Director, I closed out the talks by reminding people to finish their bids at our silent auction and acknowledging the staff, board, volunteers and sponsors of our event.
Thanks
“Thank you to our speakers this evening, you all have contributed so much to AWA, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without all of your dedication and efforts. To our amazing staff, and particularly Amy Tucker (now on maternity leave) and her temporary replacement, Jill Girgulis, for doing a lot of the logistics for this evening. Also, to Sara Heerema who created our wonderful posters and historic slideshow, and Cameron Hunter who was our in-house photographer/videographer this evening. Thanks to our Board of Directors, who are definitely the best of the best when it comes to boards. To our volunteers this evening - Ruth Heerema McKeeman (who baked all those cookies), Shawn Mueller, Andrew Paulson, Tyrell Leacock, Ken Newel, and Phillip Meintzer - thanks so much for helping to make this a great event. A special thanks to all of our volunteers, who work on so many different projects on our behalf. I would be remiss in not thanking our legal team and EcoJustice who provide so much guidance and support for our work. Our colleagues in the numerous other ENGOs throughout the province who collaborate with us and share their knowledge, I hope you know you are appreciated. Most of all I would like to thank our members and donors - without you we could not do the work we do - so THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. And thank you to all of you attending this evening and helping us celebrate this important milestone.”
Sponsors
I wish to also thank our sponsors for this evening, and to everyone who donated items for our silent auction.
Eighty-Eight Brewing Co. Market Wines Bowness Soapworks & Seto Pottery (Melba Seto)
Ann Lawson and Shirley Onn - who donated the paintings in the silent auction
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra - tickets
Tea Trader - tea
Fit Frog Adventures (Lori Beattie) - books and a guided walk
Lorne Fitch, Dale Leckie, Kevin Van Tighem, Kathy & Craig Copeland, Carolyn Fisher - books
Knothing to Worry Massage and Wellness and Passive Care Massage (Renz Gatus & Kristine Macabiog)
Three Mountain Family Hikes (Lynda Pianosi)
Hälle Flygare (artist/photographer) - photographs
A few days after this event, Corb Lund filed an application to stop coal mining in the Rockies. [7]
[1] Cliff Wallis, C.M., PBio, O.C. - https://albertawilderness.ca/cliff-wallis-appointed-to-the-order-of-canada/
[2] Karina Eustace-Wallis - Karina’s Summits 8-8-8 – Keep the Wilderness Wildernessy; Karina’s 9,000 by 9 – A fundraising Adventure for Wilderness; What’s Your 60 – Sponsor the Eustace-Wallis family. Thanks also to Lindsey Wallis and Kyle Eustace for setting such a great example for Karina.
[3] Here is a video showing Melba Seto creating the medals - https://www.instagram.com/p/DQo4TV4kZSu/
[4] A direct link to sponsor my What’s Your 60 challenge - https://albertawilderness.ca/product/whats-your-60-sponsor-debborah-donnelly/
[5] Corb Lund - https://www.corblund.com/ ; https://www.youtube.com/@CorbLundOfficial/featured
[6] To listen to Corb’s speech you can check it out on the AWA YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCUeIUJak3U His award presentation starts at 44:00 in.
[7] Musician Corb Lund files application for petition to stop coal mining in the Rockies - CTV https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/video/2025/11/20/musician-corb-lund-files-application-for-petition-to-stop-coal-mining-in-the-rockies/
