It’s official: the Surfrider Foundation Canada is an international affiliate. Photo: Surfrider Foundation

On March 30, the Surfrider Foundation announced that it launched an international affiliate: Surfrider Foundation Canada.

The Canadian branch isn’t the first international one the Surfrider Foundation has created. Already, there are affiliates in Argentina, Australia, Europe, Japan, and Senegal. The Canadian addition makes sense, as most Canadian surfers are invested in preserving the natural environment. For the most part, the rugged coastlines are relatively pristine, at least to the naked eye. Especially in British Columbia, where Surfrider Foundation Canada is based out of.

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“We’re thrilled to welcome Surfrider Foundation Canada to our growing worldwide network of affiliates dedicated to protecting clean water and healthy beaches,” said Dr. Chad Nelsen, the Surfrider Foundation’s CEO, in an email. “Over the past 15 years, Surfrider chapters in Canada have had a tremendous impact by tackling numerous threats and advancing progressive policies to protect our ocean and coasts. They have also grown and evolved to the point where they can now work independently on the national level in Canada as a Surfrider global affiliate.”

As Dr. Nelsen mentioned, there are already three chapters in British Columbia. One in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, one outside the reserve on Vancouver Island, and one across the the Strait of Georgia on the mainland in Vancouver. Since 2006, they’ve been operating as hybrid affiliates, working in coastal communities with a focus on Surfrider’s usual suspects: clean water, coastal preservation, ocean protection, beach access, and the reduction of plastic pollution. Now that it’s officially an independent affiliate, Surfrider Canada hired Lucas Harris as its first Executive Director.Advertisement

“The growth and impact of the Surfrider Foundation in the U.S. and around the world is a strong example of what is possible here in Canada,” Harris said. “I look forward to helping grow Surfrider Foundation Canada, strengthening our existing volunteer-run chapters in B.C. and expanding the network to new communities across the country.”

Over the years, the Canadian chapters have accomplished quite a bit. Most recently, they worked to ban plastic straws, single-use plastic bags and polystyrene takeaway containers in in the District of Tofino and nearby District of Ucluelet.

With the international affiliate designation, members are looking forward to making even bigger changes. “Surfrider chapters and volunteers in British Columbia have been a powerful voice on coastal environmental issues over the years,” said Surfrider Foundation Canada’s President of the Board of Directors, David Boudinot. “Becoming an international affiliate will enable Surfrider Foundation Canada to invest in the chapter network to make our voice even stronger in the years ahead.”

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