The ground work for our project has included contacting many organizations and asking them to provide letters of support. This is especially important with fundraising, because it helps establish credibility and frames expectations for project outcomes.
We have a letter of support from the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society, the group responsible for managing the Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Biosphere Region and collaborating with us on this project. The Society has recognized that our project is aligned with the objectives of the Biosphere Region. Their letter says: “Your project will be a pilot project for other areas of the region facing similar development pressures.” Ruth Simons, Executive Director of the Society, has been working tirelessly to help us build support for the project as well as to raise funds.
We have a letter of support from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). The letter notes: “This project is in alignment with SN’s values around protection of wildlife movement corridors and land on which they depend, for generations to come. Squamish Nation also intends to incorporate traditional knowledge into this study, so that areas of ecological and cultural value are considered.”
We have letters of support from the District of Squamish and the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. The federal government has provided support through a letter from Tenderfoot Creek Salmon Hatchery (Fisheries and Oceans). The BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has provided letters from two groups: the Conservation Data Centre and BC Parks.
Various local, regional, and provincial conservation-oriented groups have provided letters of support, including the Squamish River Watershed Society, Quest University (since closed), Capilano University, South Coast Conservation Program, BC Nature (Federation of BC Naturalists), Nature Vancouver (Vancouver Natural History Society), and WildSafe BC (British Columbia Conservation Foundation).
We are very proud to have received a letter from Dr. Jim Pojar, esteemed BC botanist, ecologist and forester. His Plants of Coastal British Columbia has introduced many of us to the world of native plants. Where else can you find a well-known field guide for sale in supermarkets? Dr. Pojar is currently working on a second edition and we look forward to adding it to our cherished references.
Judith Holm took this photo of her guide, well-used and held together with duct tape. She noted that it is her second copy , and no doubt she will be among the first of us to buy the new edition.