FortisBC announces winners of $15,000 Community Giving Awards at UBCM

Three non-profit community organizations from Nelson, Sechelt and Delta will benefit from funding

WHISTLER, BC, Sept. 10, 2018 /CNW/ - FortisBC announced the winners of three $15,000 Community Giving Awards on the opening day of the 2018 UBCM conference. The three non-profit community groups, nominated by their respective communities, are the Nelson Izu-shi Friendship Society, Sechelt's Sunshine Coast Natural History Society and Delta's Orphaned Wildlife (OWL) Rehabilitation Society.

The Friendship Society, nominated by Nelson Mayor Deb Kozak, maintains Cottonwood Falls Park, an area known for both its Indigenous history and the early years of hydroelectric generation. The society plans to make improvements to the park and create historical displays for Touchstones Nelson: Museum of Art and History.

"By receiving this award, our society can continue its work encouraging people to visit this historically, culturally and environmentally important site and deepen their own understandings of community," said John Armstrong, president of the Nelson Izu-shi Friendship Society.

The Sunshine Coast Natural History Society, nominated by Sechelt Mayor Bruce Milne, maintains the Sechelt Marsh – an ecologically diverse area well-known to local nature lovers. The Society will use the $15,000 grant from FortisBC to replace fences and retaining walls along the trails around the marsh as well as mitigate trail erosion.

"We are a repository for birds, butterflies, botany and mammals," said Tony Greenfield, president, Sunshine Coast Natural History Society, "There's a lot of concern that the natural world is getting pushed out of the limelight in the age of computers and Facebook. It's particularly important that we keep the natural world in front of the younger generation."

The OWL Society, nominated by Mayor Lois E. Jackson of Delta, works to rehabilitate and release injured or orphaned birds of prey. Through their work, the OWL Society educates the public about the importance and significance of these animals to the ecosystem as a whole.

"Having the ability to be able to save these animals and send them back to the wild is a real gratitude," said Rob Hope, OWL raptor care manager, "This award from FortisBC will greatly help out in the continued conservation efforts put forward by people here at the society and help a lot of these animals that otherwise wouldn't have a chance."

FortisBC provides funding to communities as part of its efforts to create a sustainable future for British Columbians. Consideration is given to projects that promote safety; gas and electrical trades; energy literacy, skill development or leadership; environmental protection and preservation as well as projects that meet the unique needs of Indigenous groups, organizations or communities.

"Every year, FortisBC provides funding for a variety of initiatives that work towards improving B.C. communities," said Doug Stout, FortisBC vice president of market development & external relations. "We want to have a lasting and positive impact in the communities where we operate by supporting projects that focus on safety, education, environment or Indigenous initiatives. We look forward to working with the winning organizations and seeing how this contribution gets used in your communities."

More information about FortisBC community investment initiatives can be found at https://www.fortisbc.com/About/OurCommitments/CommunityRelations.

FortisBC is a regulated utility focused on providing safe and reliable energy, including natural gas, electricity and propane. FortisBC employs approximately 2,300 British Columbians and serves approximately 1.1 million customers in 135 B.C. communities. FortisBC owns and operates two liquefied natural gas storage facilities and four regulated hydroelectric generating plants, approximately 7,260 kilometres of transmission and distribution power lines, and approximately 49,000 kilometres of natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines. FortisBC Energy Inc. is a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility industry. For further information visit www.fortisinc.com.

SOURCE FortisBC

For further information: MEDIA CONTACT: Tanya Laing Gahr, Corporate Communications Advisor, FortisBC, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected], fortisbc.com, @fortisBC, 24-hour media line: 1-855-322-6397