Brackendale, BC – Cheakamus Centre was one of the big winners at the Squamish Chamber of Commerce 2018 Business Excellence Awards on Friday, April 27, 2018.  The Centre was presented with the Green Business Award at the annual gala event that recognizes the outstanding achievements of business people and organizations in the Squamish community.

The Green Business Award, sponsored by the Squamish Climate Action Network (Squamish CAN) is given to a local business or organization that has demonstrated a commitment to environmental sustainability. The evaluation committee assessed applicants’ achievements towards eliminating waste, conserving resources, promoting a healthy workplace environment and community engagement.

“This award represents the dedication of our staff and volunteers, who demonstrate through daily activities and innovative projects, that it is possible to take steps to address climate change in everything we do. This would not be possible without the generous support of our community,” said Sarah Bainbridge, senior development officer at Cheakamus Centre, who accepted the award.

A notable green initiative on campus is the teaching farm and edible gardens. Building a healthy, sustainable food program is a collaboration between Cheakamus Centre’s education and culinary teams. The shared goal is to deepen student and adult visitors’ understanding of where their food comes from, empowering young learners to taste new foods, and raising public awareness about the link between local food and a healthy environment.

“We want to change the way our guests perceive food and get them excited about fresh, local food choices,” says Wade Rowland, executive chef at Cheakamus Centre. “Our gardens are not just a place to grow food; they are a place for people to connect with food.”

The public is invited to learn more at the Annual Open House on Sunday, May 6, 2018; and to purchase tickets to Cheakamus River Feast: A Walk on the Wild Side! progressive outdoor dinner. Set within the 420-acre ecological reserve, this inaugural fundraiser will include foraging for ingredients as part of the celebration of local food.

Established in 1969, Cheakamus Centre is an environmental and indigenous cultural education organization located on the traditional territories of the Ch'iyáḵmesh people in Paradise Valley, just north of Squamish, British Columbia. Cheakamus Centre serves over 15,000 visitors annually from the Sea to Sky Corridor, Lower Mainland and beyond. The Centre also hosts visitors from around the world for special events, workshops, meetings, and retreats.