On April 17, the Whistler Institute partnered with Whistler Lakes Conservation Foundation to host a community dialogue featuring three passionate voices—each offering unique perspectives on glaciers, water health, and Indigenous wisdom. The theme: a frank look at the challenges our watersheds face, and how we can collectively rise to meet them:
Panelist 1: Dr. Brian Menounos on Melting Glaciers and Rising Stakes
Dr. Brian Menounos, a renowned glaciologist, opened with a sobering update: glaciers across western Canada have lost nearly 25% of their volume since 2000. Using vivid aerial photos and historical comparisons of Helm Glacier, he showed the dramatic retreat of ice over the last century.
But glaciers are more than snow and ice—they’re life sources. Their decline affects:
- Sea level rise (10–15 cm just from western North America’s ice),
- Geohazards like landslides (e.g. Elliot Creek in 2020),
- Summer water supply, crucial for salmon and communities.
Brian closed with a hopeful reminder: every degree of warming matters, and collective action—especially reducing greenhouse gas emissions—can still influence the fate of larger glaciers.
Panelist 2: Dr. Peter Ross spotlights What’s Lurking in Our Waters?
Scientist Dr. Peter Ross took us downstream—literally—by unveiling what flows from glaciers and through Whistler’s creeks. His team has tested water across five categories: source, freshwater, road runoff, tap, and marine environments.
What did they find? Almost everything:
- Pharmaceuticals (including diabetes meds, caffeine, and even cocaine),
- Microplastics and PCBs,
- Forever chemicals like PFAS and tire-derived 6PPD-quinone (a killer of coho salmon),
- Tracers of human waste, including the artificial sweetener sucralose.
Peter stressed that these findings are not just cause for concern, they’re opportunities for intervention. He pointed to growing adoption of green infrastructure by municipalities as a sign of hope and action.
Panelists 3: Michael Blackstock encourages us to Reimagine Our Relationship with Water
Indigenous scholar Michael Blackstock brought the evening full circle with a shift in worldview. Asking the simple question, “What is water?” He compared Western science’s answer (H₂O) with the Gitxsan Nation’s view: water is a living spirit, deserving of respect.
Through his framework of Blue Ecology, Michael urges the audience to:
- Add “Hydros” as a fourth kingdom of nature alongside animals, plants, and minerals,
- Re-define water in policy and education to reflect Indigenous values,
- Adopt five guiding principles: Spirit, Respect, Reciprocity, Unity, and Balance.
His call to action for everyone was to begin with a daily ceremony of connection—visit a lake, creek, or river and simply honour the water.
Questions from the Audience: Action and Accountability
The Q&A session revealed passionate curiosity from the audience. Highlights included:
- Policy changes the panelists want to see:
- Brian: Real action on GHG emissions.
- Peter: Regulation of biosolids and riparian zone protection on agricultural land.
- Michael: Redefine water in our laws and planning frameworks.
- FireSmart concerns: Some questioned if tree thinning near creeks might harm watersheds more than help. Michael advocated for healing zones and Indigenous-led stewardship.
- Whistler’s carbon footprint: A resident raised the elephant in the room—how can a ski resort reliant on jet travel talk climate action? The panel acknowledged the tension but emphasized Whistler’s potential to lead by example through education, local solutions, and innovation.
The Takeaway: From Awareness to Action
This wasn’t just an evening of science and stories—it was a call to rethink our relationship with water. Whether through policy, personal habits, or community-wide change, each speaker echoed the same truth: hope lies in the choices we make next.
So the question for Whistler—and all of us—is simple: What kind of water story do we want to tell?
Watch the Recording:
Meet this event’s generous supporters:
Event Partner: Whistler Lakes Conservation Foundation
It was an absolute privilege to partner with Whistler Lakes on this event. They are a registered, not-for-profit charitable organization committed to advancing aquatic and environmental education, research and conservation activities.
Learn more about their organization and how to get involved at WhistlerLakes.ca.
Left: Lynn Kriwoken, President, Whistler Lakes.
Event Sponsor: Cascade Environmental Resource Group
This event was generously funded by Cascade Environmental Resource Group, a highly experienced team of staff and consultants who provide environmental and information technology expertise to meet the needs of government agencies, recreation and resort operators, natural resource companies, residential and commercial land developers, and public stakeholder groups. Cascade’s leadership encourages community involvement amongst their team, and we are deeply grateful to be recipients of their commitment to social, economic and environmental responsibility through this speaker event.
Right: Cascade Environmentals’ Dave Williamson (Director), and Candace Rose-Taylor (Principal).
This evening was also generously supported by:
- McLean McCauig Foundation
- Bob & Sue Adams
- Resort Municipality of Whistler
- Lightburn Family Fund
- Nita Lake Lodge
- Whistler Blackcomb’s Epic Promise
This event was held at the Maury Young Arts Centre, 4335 Blackcomb Way, Whistler BC.
Photos by: Hannah Fergusson