Climb and Run for Wilderness is a signature event, held annually at the Calgary Tower to increase public awareness of wilderness, wildlife and wild water in Alberta. The Climb and Run for Wilderness provides learning opportunities combined with athletic challenges to climb the 802 stairs and earn funds for Alberta Wilderness Association. The event attracts participants from 2 to 102 years old, with a diverse range of athletic ability. A family day, a corporate challenge day, a fun time, and a serious opportunity to test one's personal best are all combined in this Earth Day event. The event is known as the best Earth Day event in western Canada and attracts more than 1000 individual participants and 150 volunteers annually.

The 21st annual climb will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2012! Mark your calendar now!

Please see the climb and run page for more information about the event.

We'll have some photos from this year's Climb and Run for Wilderness on the site soon enough, but in the meantime, check out this Flickr page with over 180 event photos taken by one of our great photographers, Jose Quiroz! Is your smiling face on there anywhere?

(4/24/2012)

Four little bear cubs scaled the Calgary Tower Saturday to celebrate Earth Day and raise money for Alberta’s wild lands, wild water and wildlife.
 
With a combined age of 14, the four pint-sized climbers were among an estimated 1,150 participants in the 21^st Annual Climb & Run for Wilderness fundraiser downtown.
 
“It’s for the bears,” said the oldest member of the Four Bear Cubs team, Wyler Rempel, age 5. He and sister Eden, 3, climbed the 802 steps with friends Laurel Thorsteinson and Sofia L’Heureux, both also 3. Parents accompanied the kids and helped recruit sponsors for the Alberta Wilderness Association event.
 
“I think all of us like to be outside in nature. We appreciate what this organization is doing,” said mom Jessika L’Heureux.
 
Last year, about $135,000 was collected and a similar tally is expected this year; a final figure will be available early next week. Saturday’s colourful event featured a cast of conservation-minded characters including climbers in outlandish outfits – as well as four uniformed firefighters toting 65 pounds of gear each to the tower top.
 
Fire Capt. Danny Freeman stayed at the tower base – just in case of an emergency. “They can’t climb too many times – if we have a fire we need them to have the energy to fight a fire,” he joked. It was the first tower climb for firemen Tom Barker, Todd Berry, Mike Reid and Colin White, though Freeman noted trudging stairs “is a big part of what they do” at work.
 
Calgary Liberal MLA David Swann completed the climb with his son-in-law and three grandkids. “We are losing our environment at an alarming rate – events like these are important to highlight the commitment people will make. Our wild lands are a healing place, and we need leadership on this in the province.”
 
Grade 4 & 5 students from Alex Munro School did their part by painting two murals in the tower staircase during Spring Break, then making crafts such as greeting cards and painted canvas checkerboards from recycled/repurposed materials. They sold them at a display to raise money for the AWA.
 
“It was a good opportunity to tie this into our curriculum,” said teacher Jon Morrison, who teamed up with teacher Cathie Gould on the project. “Bringing them out here socializes them, it’s changing attitudes and the tie-in with this event and the AWA is just perfect,” Gould added.
 
“It’s a serious cause, but people have such a good time. It’s our celebration of Earth Day and Earth Week, and raising awareness about environmental issues,” said AWA conservation specialist Nigel Douglas. “By the end of the day, I’m always totally inspired by the people I see.”
 
The five-hour event drew both teams and individuals age 3 to 93, completing enough ascents to top the elevation of Mount Everest.
 
For the third year in a row, Jonathan Heinz took home the prize as the fastest racer and climber. He also scaled the tower more times than anyone else – 30 times. (Last year, he broke the record with 31 ascents.) Shannon Winslade climbed 25 times – more than any other female. Other awards went to different age groups and categories.
 
Entertainment throughout the day featured local performers and included everything from belly dancers to clowns, mascots and face-painters. More than 30 groups took part in the Wild Alberta Expo fair. 
 
The AWA is grateful to its many sponsors, 150 volunteers and the hundreds of supporters who made this event such a success. Please see our website for a complete list of winners and updates on funds raised.
 
For more information:
Christyann Olson, AWA executive director (403) 283-2025
Nigel Douglas, AWA conservation specialist (403) 283-2025

See you next year!

(4/23/2012)

More than 1,500 Albertans will be celebrating their province’s wild side this Earth Day weekend as they climb the 802 stairs of the Calgary Tower at the 21st Annual Climb & Run for Wilderness. Although this event is sure to be a fun filled day for all, we also hope to raise awareness about some of the conservation and environmental issues currently threatening Alberta's wilderness areas.

The first Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970, and was founded by then U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson. On this day, over 20 million Americans took to streets, parks, and auditoriums to participate in demonstrations and teach-ins, bringing attention to a myriad of environmental issues. According to organizers, "Earth Day 1970 achieved a rare political alignment, with support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, city slickers and farmers, tycoons and labor leaders."

Now, 32 years later, we are still desperately in need of a day dedicated to celebrating the Earth. And in the midst of a provincial election, it would be tremendous to see all provincial parties in agreement over the need to take action to protect and preserve Alberta's wilderness, wildlife, and wild waters. Please join us in celebrating this Earth Day, at the Climb and Run for Wilderness.

To learn more about Alberta Widlerness Association (AWA) and some of the conservation issues we are currently working on, please visit www.albertawilderness.ca.
 

(4/20/2012)

This Saturday at 8 a.m. sharp, at least 115 competitive racers will be running 1-kilometre around the base of the Calgary Tower, and then ascending the 802 stairs to the top. And they will be chasing a rabbit...

This will mark our 10th annual Run for Wilderness, part of Alberta Wilderness Associations annual Earth Day celebration. Last year, winner Jonathan Heinz (pictured above) set the current record with a time of 7:50 minutes. He then went on to complete 31 laps of the 802 tower stairs!

Maybe some sunny weather in 2012 will make for a record breaking race?  Now, let's see who can catch that rabbit! 

(4/18/2012)

Climb and Run for Wilderness registrations continue to pour in. Online registration will be open until Friday April 20 at noon. After that, we will be happy to sign you up on Saturday morning at the Calgary Tower.

Lots of racers have already registered! With over 100 participants, this year's competition will be stiff. Just a reminder, the race begins Saturday at 8 a.m. sharp. Check out last years race and climb records.

In the next week, our office will be open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. If you are racing, please come pick up your race package prior to the event. If you are climbing, you can also pick up your climb package between these hours, which will save you having to wait in line on Saturday morning.

Money money must be funny... Lots of time to get creative when soliciting sponsorships from your friends, family, coworkers, neighbours, casual aquaintances, complete strangers, whatever works.

Be there or be square, The Climb and Run for Wilderness continues to be recognized across the country as a spectacular Earth Day event. Please join us in the celebration of Alberta's wild lands, wild waters, and wildlife!

We look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday, and want to give our sincere thanks to all those that are putting in tireless hours to make sure everyone has a great day!

       -Madeline Wilson, C4W social media coordinator
 

(4/16/2012)

Yesterday our hearts were saddened with the news that at 97 years young, our dear friend Phyllis Hart passed away on April 9^th, 2012. Many of you will remember her. In the past 15 years, Phyllis quietly became a hero – she was an amazing role model, challenging all of us to be healthy, to learn more about wilderness, to enjoy and protect wildlife and all natural things.

Phyllis was an inspiration, she enjoyed people and telling stories of her younger days, while simply amazing us in her older days.  Well into her nineties she was driving her friends for lunches on Thursdays and taking care of others.  She loved to meet friends in the stairwells of the Calgary Tower.  Phyllis helped so many realize a better potential, and I believe she really knew and understood that we must protect landscapes and thereby habitat for all wildlife.

In 2007, when describing climbing the 802 stairs of the Calgary Tower in a Calgary Herald story, Phyllis described the climb as a “piece of cake”. The article goes on to reveal that Phyllis had climbed for the 16^th year in a row and that including resting and chatting she took 1 hour to climb the stairs. She raised more than $1000 for the Alberta Wilderness Association that year.

In 2008, AWA created the Climb for Wilderness Woman award and presented Phyllis (93) with a trophy recognizing what an inspiration she was to all. In subsequent years, Phyllis attended the awards ceremony to present an award named for her, The Phyllis Hart Award for the woman over 75 who completes the most ascents of the tower.

Phyllis wasn't able to climb the stairs these last years, but she never missed the day, coming to meet and greet everyone. In her last days at the hospital, Phyllis had her family mark the day of the climb on her calendar.  That was the day she would need to be at the tower to meet her friends and to present the Phyllis Hart Award.  This year would have been her 21^st climb! We have lost a friend, a role model, and a very fine woman from our ranks. 

I know many will climb the tower on April 21^st with Phyllis in mind - her encouragement and inspiration that we can all make it!  Even when the task seems too hard, the mountain seems too high, the work is as tough as it can get, Phyllis would encourage us to carry on –“you can do it!”

Her spirit will be with us. We will always remember her charming, cheerful smile and her kindness to all she met. 

If you would like to make a contribution to the Climb and Run for Wilderness in memory of Phyllis – we would be honoured to receive your gift.
  
In sadness and in joy, with the inspiration of an amazing woman in mind,

- Christyann Olson, Executive Director

(4/12/2012)

To our great excitement, the Climb and Run for Wilderness was listed in Chatelaine magazines "bucket-list tower climb events." We feel pretty lucky to be able to host and participate in this Earth Day event and want to thank the thousands of people that, over the past twenty years, have made it such a fabulous success!

In an article from their March 2012 issue, here's what Chatelaine had to say about stair climbs:

"It’s a great way to motivate yourself to step up training. Best part? The thrill of competition, combined with the satisfaction of raising money for worthy charities at home and abroad. And there’s usually swag involved, too!"

So, maybe you will have something new to add, or cross-off, your bucket list!

(4/10/2012)

We would like to invite you to participate in this years Wild Alberta Poetry Competition, an important part of our annual Earth Day event, the Climb and Run for Wilderness. This special event is held in memory and celebration of a truly remarkable women. Louise Guy faithfully climbed the stairs of the Calgary tower until the age of 92, and was a constant source of support and inspiration for our work here at AWA.

This year, we ask that participants use wildness as the theme of their poem; wildness means different thigns to different people, and we welcome all interpretations. The deadline is fast approaching! We will be accepting entries until Thursday, April 12, 2012. More information can be found here.

Last years winning poem:

AN EARLY SPRING HIKE
                   by Krystyna W. Fedosejevs

Heavy, ripple-soled hiking boots
harness my woman’s small feet,
grind vulnerable pebbles unleashed
from winter’s relenting cover,
move me along an outdoor Alberta trail.
 
Radiant morning sunrays flicker
between branches of awakening
aspens touched by a tepid breeze.
Sunrays that arouse my drowsy senses,
my determination to explore
unfamiliar territory.
 
A sparkling rivulet trickles towards me.
My boots crunch its patchy ice coating.
The musty smell of fresh mud,
squirrels running wildly in circles,
distant crows calling out piercing caws –
signs of early spring.
 
The trail changes. Brightness fades.
Towering conifers cast sinister shadows.
Sheet ice before me. Snow banks on either side.
 
Panic! My heartbeat quickens. I gasp for air.
 
Nature’s wildness.
Will I adapt to its sudden dangers?
 
I step into footprints carved in deep snow,
hardened by last night’s ice crystals.
Imprints of boots similar to mine, worn by
yesterday’s hikers determined to strive.
 
The trail swings the other way. Final stretch.
Sun returns to light my direction
on the gravel terrain.
 
I reach the summit.
I am in harmony with nature.
 

(4/5/2012)

A great clip filmed by Shaw TV of this years Wild Alberta Mural Competition, which took place Saturday March 26.

(3/28/2012)

March 24, 2012 marked the 10^th anniversary of Alberta Wilderness Association’s (AWA’s) Wild Alberta Mural Painting Competition at the Calgary Tower. Each year individuals, families, and groups come to the stairwells of the Calgary Tower to paint murals that express what Alberta's wilderness and wildlife means to them.

“The Tallest Art Gallery in the West was alive with painters, volunteers, reporters, judges, photographers, laughter and sincere appreciation of wilderness and wildlife as 18 new murals were added to the Calgary Tower's stairwell gallery” said Christyann Olson, AWA Executive Director.

“The new murals brought a sense of understanding and commitment to endangered wildlife as well as the rewards of wild spaces recreation and renewal that is so important to all of us.”

Margaret Main, Mural Competition Coordinator said, “We are happy to announce the winners of this year’s competition. The judges seemed to have a tough task in declaring the winners this year - there were some excellent entries. The transformation of the inner stairwell walls into the Tallest Gallery throughout the past 10 years has been amazing. AWA is proud to sponsor and be part of this vital public art and the contribution it makes to Calgary.”

The winners in five separate categories for this year’s competition are:

Elementary School Category
Alex Munro School - Team #2 - Landing 43A
Mural Name - Devastation
Painters: Sunny Li, Abby Kelly, Emily Dittmer

Photo © J. Quiroz  

Junior High School Category
St. John Bosco Private School - Team Beaver Weavers - Landing 26B
Mural Name: Saving the Beaver Lands,
Painters: Gabriella Rodriguez-Gill, Lillian Whyburd

Photo © J. Quiroz  

Senior High School Category
Henry Wisewood Senior High School - Team name: HWW - Landing 12A
Mural Name: Untitled,
Painters: Jessalyn Rohs, Rebecca Frederick

Photo © J. Quiroz  

Adult Category
The Dunford Clan Scrabblers - Landing 7A
Mural Name - Our Precious
Painters - Heather Hadden, Sarah Woolgar, Mary-Jo Woolgar

Photo © J. Quiroz  

Family Category
The Lagores - Landing 46A
Mural Name: "Desulfovbrio Desulfuricans"
Painters Susann and Michael Lagore

Photo © J. Quiroz  

AWA would like to take this opportunity to thank all participants, teachers, volunteers, media personnel and those who made this competition possible and such a tremendous success.

Public viewing of the gallery is available as part of the Climb and Run for Wilderness on April 21, 2012. Winning teams will be presented with their prizes, generously supplied by the Calgary Tower, at the Climb and Run for Wilderness Awards Ceremony to be held at 1:30 p.m. on April 21, 2012.

Hosted by the Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA), and The Calgary Tower, participants of the 10^th Annual Mural Competition captured their unique vision of Alberta’s wilderness on the walls of the Calgary Tower’s stairwells. The Mural Competition is part of AWA’s annual Earth Day celebration, the Climb and Run for Wilderness. Participants climb Calgary Tower’s 802 stairs in support of conservation work that helps to protect Alberta’s wild lands, wild rivers and wildlife.

(3/26/2012)

In Other News...

Tomorrow marks the 10th Annual Wild Alberta Mural Competition. Volunteers, judges, media, and 20 teams of competitors will spend the day painting, photographing, interviewing, and supplying much needed snacks and drinks! Stay tuned for this year's winners.

Wild Alberta Expo

The Wild Alberta Expois a great opportunity to educate and create awareness surrounding Alberta's environment, and the array of opportunities open to citizens to learn, participate, and get involved. We would like to extend an invitation to you to take part in the 2012 Expo, and help to make this year's Climb and Run for Wilderness the vibrant, diverse, family-oriented event for which it has become famous. We hope you will come and showcase your work!

To submit an application to be an exhibitor, please click here.

The Barbara Sherrington Memorial Prize for the most outstanding display in the Wild Alberta Expo is given out each year in memory of Barbara Sherrington, a wonderful school teacher and dear friend and supporter of AWA. The displays are judged based on a number of elements including: visual attractiveness; level of interest; opportunity for interaction; engagement of the public and staff; and volunteer knowledge of their programs and/or products.

Enjoy the blustery Spring (?) weather!

-Madeline Wilson, C4W Social Media Coordinator

(3/23/2012)

Besides the fact this years Climb and Run for Wilderness t-shirts happen to be green, we really couldn't think of anything either. But in other news...

• The deadline has now passed to submit entries for this years Climb and Run for Wilderness Mural Competition. Margaret Main, who faithfully organizes the Mural Competition each year, has informed me that at last count there were 20 entries, each beautiful and unique tributes to Alberta's native species.
• Team and individual registrations and sponsorships continue to pour in...
• Still lots of space to submit an application to take part in the Wild Alberta Expo.

So how about celebrating St. Patrick's Day by registering for the Best Earth Day event in the West, and what better way to recover from too many green beers than to head out this weekend to climb a few sets of stairs!

-Madeline Wilson, C4W Social Media Coordinator

(3/16/2012)

Last Saturday ten enthusiastic volunteers spent the day climbing the stairs of the Calgary tower- don't worry you didn't miss this years Climb and Run for Wilderness - priming the walls in preparation for the Wild Alberta Mural Painting Competition on March 24th.

Anyone interested in participating in this years Competition is encouraged to submit an entry, but be sure and remember the submission deadline is March 9th. These murals are an important part of Calgary's Public Art, and yours could be the next contribution to the Tallest Gallery in the West.

A huge thanks to all the volunteers who came out this weekend, the Calgary Tower and Aspen Properties! Your support and the generous contribution of your time continue to allow this tremendous tribute to Wild Alberta to grow year by year.

     -Madeline Wilson, C4W Social Media Coordinator

(3/5/2012)

10. Online individual registrations are steadily coming in, register online today!

9. What could be more fun than climbing 802 stairs? Climbing 802 stairs with three friends, colleagues, or family! Teams of four can register online.

8. Fundraising pledges have also been pouring in. Perhaps you are a goal-oriented climber or enjoy a healthy dose of competition, you can track your fundraising progress on our Climb for Wilderness site.

7. Whether or not you consider yourself an artist, we can all find inspiration in Alberta's wildlife. Submit an entry to this years Wild Alberta Mural Competition before March 9, 2012.

6. Still lots of room to submit an application to participate in the Wild Alberta Expo, a great opportunity to educate and create awareness about our environment.

5. Maybe you're a poet and didn't even know it? No time like the present to find out. Please submit entries before April 12, 2012 for the Climb and Run for Wilderness Poetry Contest.

4. If you are interested in being a part of the team that keeps the guests and competitiors smiling throughout the day, we are still accepting volunteer applications.

3. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @Climb4Wild for more photos, videos, and updates.

2. We invite you to join our C4W list serve to receive more updates and announcements by e-mail as we draw closer to April 21, 2012. Scroll down, look to the right-hand side of this page, and add your name and e-mail address to our C4W e-news list.

1. That's all for now folks!
        -The Climb and Run for Wilderness team

(2/22/2012)

It's been a hive of activity here at the AWA office as we've been preparing for this year's climb, doing things like ordering t-shirts, designing posters and boxing prizes. We have some great new medallions this year to give to the winners of the many prizes that we'll be presenting at the awards ceremony: our faithful volunteer Linda has been working tirelessly, experimenting with branding irons (!) and other tools to come up with something really special and unique.

In another part of the office, the floor under Diane's desk has been turned into a makeshift pantry as we use it to stash all the goodies that we'll have for sale at the General Store.

As for myself, I'm pretty sure I've seen smoke coming out of my computer as it struggles and groans to handle all the climber and team registrations, poetry contest entries, Wild Alberta Expo display applications, and more, that I've been stuffing into it.

So how about you: have you registered yet?

If not, there are not-quite ten more weeks to go before Earth Day, and this year's climb, come to Calgary. So this Valentine's Day, do something for your heart, and celebrate with us by registering to climb the Calgary Tower!

- Sean Nichols, C4W Registration Coordinator

(2/13/2012)

In celebration of Louise Guy, a truly remarkable woman who at 92 was a role model to young and old alike, AWA is proud to announce its 2nd Annual Climb and Run for Wilderness Poetry Contest. The Louise Guy Poetry Prize is part of our annual Earth Day celebration, held in honour of Louise Guy. Her athletic strength and endurance was exceeded only by her appreciation for wildness, wildlife and wild water and how willingly she gave her beautiful smile for the joy of others. 

We would like you to use wildness as the theme of your poem. Wildness means many different things to everyone and all interpretations are welcome entries. We welcome poems that celebrate the spiritual well-being of wildness, the brutal reality of it, and the gentle constantly changing and adapting force it is.

It is a competition for all ages and each year we will have the winning poem transcribed and displayed on the walls of the Calgary Tower stairwells as a lasting tribute to Louise, her intellect, her strength and her love. The winning poem will also be published in the Wild Lands Advocate, AWA’s outstanding wilderness news journal.

The Climb and Run for Wilderness Poetry Contest

Entry Deadline - April 12, 2012 at 10 a.m. MDT.

Please head over to our Poetry Contest page for more information, and details on how to enter a submission.

(1/27/2012)

It must have been Christyann's New Years resolution to start planning the Climb and Run for Wilderness even earlier this year! With 14 weeks to go we've already begun making our lists and checking them twice (no wait, that was Christmas). Well whatever holiday it may be, it's time to dust off those running shoes, and circle April 21st, 2012 on your calendar!

Online registration is now open and some early birds have already signed-up. So if you are looking to catch the proverbial worm and get a head start on your fundraising, no time like the present to start!

Since joining AWA I have been continually blown away by the time and energy our volunteers provide so willingly. Whether its putting on a cowboy hat and joining us at the Gala, washing a seemingly endless stack of wineglasses after the Annual Lecture, or counting cash till the wee hours of the morning at a casino, our volunteers continue to go above and beyond, always with a smile. And we are always looking for new faces to join the ranks! If you are interested in volunteering for this years Climb, please submit an online application form.

We will once again be holding the Wild Alberta Mural Competition, continuing to add colour and creativity to the stairwell of the Calgary tower. Each year we see new and meaningful tributes to Alberta's wildlife, wild water, and wild spaces, to remind each of us why we are climbing - to celebrate Earth Day. And I know from experience, it never hurts to have something to admire when your lungs are burning, and your legs suddenly weigh a ton!
If you are interested in adding your art to the tallest gallery in the West, you can find details on how to submit an entry.

Now we wouldn't be known as one of the Best Earth Day events in Canada without the Wild Alberta Expo! The expo is a great opportunity to educate and create awareness of our environment and the opportunities citizens have to learn, participate, and take action. We hope you will come and showcase your work!
For more information, or to submit an application to be an exhibitor, please click here.

So if you are looking to once again experience the thrill, warmth and laughter that always accompany the Climb and Run for Wilderness, please join us on April 21, 2012 for our 21st year!

In the meantime, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter @Climb4Wild.
Or, as always, feel free give us a call, or stop by our office!

• Madeline Wilson

(1/13/2012)

We're not quite at Christmas yet, to be sure, but we've all been bowled over by the number of people who have already asked about registering for the 2012 Climb and Run for Wilderness.

So, we've heard, and have responded by opening up our registration system a month early. That's right - registrations are now open for the 21^st Climb and Run for Wilderness, to be held on Saturday April 21, 2012!

This includes:

• Climb registrations
• Run registrations
• Team registrations
• Participant sponsorships
• Wild Alberta Expo exhibitor registrations

We are also accepting applications for volunteers and for the mural competition at this time. See the forms page to download appropriate application forms.

A couple of important dates to keep in mind:

• Mural competition deadline for entry is Friday March 9, 2012
• Wild Alberta Expo registration deadline is Friday March 23, 2012
• Mural competition painting day is Saturday March 24, 2012
• Climb and Run for Wilderness is Saturday April 21, 2012

Keep tuned for more information as we get things rolling, and have a very happy holiday season!

(12/8/2011)

More than 1,100 people tackled the 802 steps of the Calgary Tower Saturday to raise record-breaking dollars and awareness for the Alberta Wilderness Association during its 20^th annual Climb & Run for Wilderness fundraiser.
 
Conservation-minded couch potatoes and extreme athletes joined forces to raise more than $135,000 to promote awareness about wildlife, particularly the grizzly bear - an icon for the health of Alberta’s wilderness, other wildlife and wild water. Last year, about $119,000 was raised.
 
“Our 20^th anniversary was filled with meaningful opportunities to recognize the inextricable links between health and a healthy environment,” said AWA executive director Christyann Olson.
 
 “It’s such a pleasure to celebrate Earth Day with so many outstanding athletes, volunteers, politicians and other supporters. We’re thrilled with the individuals who travelled so far and our tried and true friends who came back for yet another wonderful year.”
 
The six-hour event drew both individuals and more than 20 corporate teams including runners, walkers, climbers and even a competitor who was carried to the top in a wheelchair. Participants – who ranged in age from infants toted on climbers’ backs to 96 years - completing 1,938 ascents.
 
Along with the tower climb, many people also took part in the Run for Wilderness, a one-kilometre race through the city core to warm up for the stairwell. Twenty-two people also took part in a time trial race up the tower stairwell (160 metres or 525 feet) on Friday morning to launch Earth Weekend.
 
For the second year in a row, student Jonathan Heinz took home the prize as the fastest racer and climber with a time of seven minutes and 50 seconds. He also scaled the tower more times than anyone else – 31 trips. The fastest female racer was Jane Ebbern, who finished in nine minutes and 25 seconds. Other awards went to different age groups and categories (see below).
 
 
“It’s a good cause and a good challenge,” said Calgarian Aryn Mything, who ran up and then back down the stairwell 12 times with friend Wendy James. “That’s 20,852 stairs – up and down,” said James.
 
Business analyst Ken Myers travelled from Philadelphia to climb the tower 19 times. Why 19? “Because I didn’t have time to do 20,” said the athlete, who climbs buildings competitively and is training for an ultra-marathon in Germany in a year.
 
The AWA board of directors cut the ribbon on the start gate at 8:30 a.m. for the multiple climb challenge. Shell, the event’s platinum sponsor, had five teams in the running. The prize for most climbs went to the team QuIC Mountain Goats, which collectively climbed the tower 70 times.
 
Entertainment throughout the day featured local performers and included everything from martial arts demonstrations to belly dancers to clowns, mascots and face-painters. More than 30 groups took part in the Wild Alberta Expo fair, with the Ranchlands Elementary School Tree Huggers winning the coveted Barbara Sherrington Memorial prize for the best overall exhibit. 
 
OTHER AWARD WINNERS INCLUDED:
 

• Andrew Gillis (most climbs by males age 15-18)
• Gillian Taylor (most climbs by female age 15-18)
• Jared Gillis (most climbs by male youth 14 and under)
• Mahni Bruce (most climbs by female youth 14 an under)
• Val Scholefield (most climbs by senior female, age 75 and older - seven)
• Bob McPherson (most climbs by senior male, age 75 and older - three)

 
The AWA is grateful to its many sponsors, 150 volunteers and the hundreds of supporters who made this event such a success. Please see our website for a complete list of winners and updates on funds raised.
 
More Information:
 
AWA executive director Christyann Olson
Nigel Douglas, conservation specialist
(403) 283-2025
 
www.climbforwilderness.ca or www.AlbertaWilderness.ca

(4/16/2011 5:11:20 PM)