Locals recognized for their commitments

It’s no longer okay to be wandering around the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (FJPL) with a disposable cup or plastic water bottle, said Sue Carter, FJPL executive administrative assistant, who joked that if employees happen to use a disposable cup, they would hide from Clare McCann, the Fairmont Hotels and Resorts EnviroStar of the Year for 2008.

Spearheading campaigns such as “Lug-a-mug”, McCann was selected from 20,000 employees for the EnviroStar - an award that came with a $1,000 cheque to be donated to a charity chosen by herself and the Environmental Committee.

McCann, who has been on the committee for two-and-a-half years, also helped FJPL win the municipality’s Environmental Stewardship Award for Waste Reduction in 2008 and for Awareness and Leadership in 2009.

When nominating McCann for the award, Carter said that her leadership helped the Environmental Committee to “focus on the things within our area of influence, to accept that no task was too small.”

Carter said that one of McCann’s achievements at the hotel was to create “an office culture where disposable cups and plastic water bottles are not socially acceptable.”

Thanks to McCann, Carter said the committee also “upgraded the hotel’s composting program, reviewed the waste stream diversion opportunities, regularly communicated to all colleagues through the Green Board, monthly newsletters and cafeteria tabletop displays, and explored innovative community outreach programs.” 

For McCann and the committee, the choice for their money was easy - Friends of Jasper National Park, who they already have a good partnership with, and have helped to sponsor the Jasper Discovery Trail.

According to Carter, the Discovery Trail is an important aspect of Jasper for the company, as it is used by staff and guests quite regularly.

Friends of Jasper National Park also received a $500 cheque from Danielle M. Stewart, manager of customer service for Jasper’s Toronto Dominion Bank, who won the companies vision and action award.