On Tuesday, August 14, the Pembina Institute will celebrate the end of its Connecting the Drops Athabasca River Expedition in coordination with a rally organized by the First Nations communities of Fort Chipewyan, Alberta. Media are invited to attend the event which will highlight experts and community members speaking about the health and environmental concerns arising from oilsands development in the region. Speakers at this event will include:
Dr. John O'Connor (Fort Chipewyan's only doctor and medical examiner)
Dr. David Schindler (Killam Memorial Professor of Ecology at the University of Alberta)
Melanie Nakagawa (Natural Resources Defence Council)
Don van Hout (Expedition Leader)
Dan Woynillowicz (Pembina Institute)
Chiefs and Elders from the community, and others.
The official rally program is attached.
For more information contact:
Dan Woynillowicz, 403-538-7782, danw@pembina.org
For rally information and logistics contact:
George Poitras, 780-838-8226, chechit99@hotmail.com
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the Athabasca River Expedition - a two-month canoeing, hiking and mountaineering expedition traversing the entire 1,538 kilometre length of the Athabasca River - is to raise awareness about threats to the river and its watershed. The journey will conclude at the Peace-Athabasca Delta in Fort Chipewyan. The expedition website www.connectingthedrops.ca chronicles the journey and contains background information on the trip, participants and the Athabasca River.