Anniversaries are fun because they highlight and honour the past but also give new life and energy to the future. Twenty years ago, eight environmental organizations and eight corporations sat down together as colleagues and began the journey of collaborative dialogue and decision-making. They started with the task of getting to know each other, learning about grassroots environmental activity and how to make grants. The people representing these organizations were committed to success and never wavered from the common purpose they shared: listen to each other, trust each other, and work hard to get more resources into the hands of environmental organizations.

These core tenets have not changed. There is still good energy and excitement at our grant review meetings and our Partners invest in making good decisions. Yet, Alberta Ecotrust is more than grants and review meetings. We have come to realize that collaboration to protect the environment is more important than ever. Building on the integrity and credibility of our past success, we face new challenges as the complexity of challenges and issues increase. More now than ever, we believe that only by working together can we protect environmental and community interests as Alberta grows. So, as we begin the year with new ideas and programs planned, it is fitting to take a look back at the pathway we've followed.

Here are ten highlights from 20 years of Alberta Ecotrust in the community: 

• 1992: Launches to the public at a press conference on February 13^th with the federal Environment Minister as a guest speaker. Awards $197,679 in grants to 16 community projects in its first year of operations.
• 1996: Wins the Financial Post Environment Award for Business Partnerships.
• 1998: Wins both the Alberta Emerald Award for Environmental Excellence and Imagine Calgary's "New Spirit of Community" award from the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy and the Globe and Mail.
• 2002: Establishes the Kananaskis Environmental Legacy Fund in a new collaboration with the federal government to support the creation of wildlife crossings in Canmore and Dead Man Flats as a G8 Legacy.
• 2004: Publishes Maximizing Effectiveness, a landmark study with input from thought leaders in industry, government and nonprofits that captures Alberta environmental priorities and the organizational capacity of Alberta's environmental organizations.
• 2005: Builds the Alberta Ecotrust Ecohome and opens it as an educational demonstration of ways to use conventional construction to reduce the environmental footprint of new homes.
• 2006: With other foundations, co-hosts Picture-a-Province, a forum for donors and funders to learn about wildlife habitat issues along the eastern slopes of the Rockies and promote the need for increased philanthropy to support key on-ground work.
• 2007: Collaborates with Alberta Environment to launch the Youth Environmental Stewardship (YES) Grant Program that funds 57 youth-led programs with $242,700 over five years with additional support from TransAlta.
• 2008: In partnership with Petro-Canada (and then Suncor), and in collaboration with the water community, launches Watershed Protectors to provide watershed stewards with new knowledge, skills and networking to support Alberta watershed protection.
• 2009: Reaches a new partner milestone with a combined 38 ENGO and Corporate Partners.

We'll be marking our past accomplishments - as well our plans for future accomplishments - with special announcements and activities throughout the year.  Stay tuned - and join us in the celebrations.