News from December 2008

Land Trust Announces New Director with Strong Regional Links

December 17, 2008

The Edmonton and Area Land Trust has appointed Brenda Wispinski to their Board of Directors. Until now, directors have been appointed by the founding members of EALT: – Brenda is the first Director who comes from the wider Edmonton region, and brings her connections and experience to the land trust.

Brenda is employed by Strathcona County, and has been Executive Director of The Beaverhills Initiative (http://www.beaverhills.ab.ca/ ) since 2002. This work focuses on long-term environmental stewardship, science-based policy development, resource planning and management, bioregional connections, healthy ecosystems, community connections, and municipal governance.

Brenda brings over 20 years’ experience in open space planning, landscape and environmental resource management, and a wealth of professional and practical experience. She is very familiar with the land trust movement, which is relatively new in Alberta, since she is a founding member of the new Alberta Land Trust Alliance.

Brenda has a strong community connection developed in her 25 years living in Strathcona, and links her knowledge of municipal governance to the regional grass roots efforts. She is delighted to be able to further these efforts through her work with the Edmonton and Area Land Trust.

“I try my best to live life in a way that values the environment and the benefits that practicing environmental stewardship brings” says Wispinski. “Thus I look forward to building
partnerships in Edmonton and adjacent areas, as I always seek opportunities to build conservation and stewardship values into my professional and personal life”. She adds “I believe in developing coordinated efforts and strategies to support the environment, and integrate it with social, cultural and economic opportunities now, and for future generations”.

Pam Wight, Executive Director of EALT, says “our land trust is strongly oriented to working with others and developing regional partnerships, thus we are delighted to have someone who shares our values on board”. Wight also invites the public or others with interests in land conservation, or being on the EALT Board or Advisory Group, to contact her.

Edmonton and Area Land Trust