CN Tower Climb – WWF-Canada Blog

9 tips to help you get to the top! (of the CN Tower that is)

Scenario: You’ve recently registered for the 24^th Annual Canada Life CN Tower Climb. This is no doubt a physical test. So right now, you’re either thinking “1776 steps? No problem!” or like most of us you’re thinking “What did I just get myself into?!?” Have no fear. We have 10 tips to help you with your training regime. 1. Wear a good pair of running shoes. 2. Warm-Up and Cool-Down 3. Get in a routine 4. Take it easy in the beginning Don't step train two days in a row for the first couple of weeks. Give your muscles and tendons a chance to adapt 5. Train for time, not speed. 6. Take this outside 7. Friends who train together, climb together 8. Fuel your body 9. The most important thing… Remember, this is a fundraiser to support WWF-Canada and our conservation efforts, not a competition or race. Enjoy your journey to the top. You’ll be there before you know it! Join WWF for the 24th Annual Canada Life CN Tower Climb on May 1 and 3, 2014. Register. Fundraise. Climb. Protect. Earn your stripes at wwf.ca/cntower.Not in Toronto? You can still support WWF by doing the Climbless Climb!

Co-Written by Charlene Penney and Torey Kehoe, Students, Seneca College Charlene Penney and Torey Kehoe are students within Seneca’s Marketing Management for Non-Profits program. To get real life experience within the sector, they stepped up to manage a fundraising campaign throughout their school for WWF’s CN Tower Climb. As team captains, they share the creative strategies they learned in the classroom and how they’re putting them to use. We originally got involved with the climb through our Marketing Management for Non-Profits course. Our professor presented the idea of our class working with the WWF on the climb as a practical project that would give us real-world experience combining what we’ve learned about marketing and fundraising. At first, there was a bit of reluctance to pick up a big, new project so close to the end of the semester. A lot of students are finishing school next week and in the meantime are dealing with final exams and assignments. We knew this would be a challenge but as the future leaders of the non-profit sector, we have learned that being open and flexible towards last-minute projects and challenges is a prerequisite for the job! We also knew that this challenge would force us to get creative and have fun with our marketing and fundraising campaign. One of the ways we have done this is through our mass marketing campaign on Twitter and Facebook. We have found that social media is an excellent tool for promoting to and engaging with today’s tech-savvy college students. Our social media campaign has been a lot of fun, and chock full of animal puns. For example, “Climbing the CN Tower with @WWF_At_Work and @SenecaSSF?! Get ‪#‎OTTER here!” ...and… ”Wanna join @WWF_at_Work and @SenecaSSF in the CN Tower Climb?! Let ‪#‎MINNOW!” ...the list goes on. We have also organized a booth in the college commons where students can sign up directly with us. Our classmate Katherine got the kids she works with at the Boys and Girls Club to make an amazing banner for the table, and our promotional team got so into it, they even dressed up as animals when working the booth. I mean, who doesn’t want to hear what a student dressed in an animal costume has to say?! We attracted a lot of interested students and are now following up with them through direct email contact to get them officially registered in teams. Like we said, our main focus was to make it fun and we’ve done that in our fundraising for our own team, “Panda-Monium”, as well. Our team has decided to climb the CN Tower dressed up as animals (obviously) and we created a little fundraising incentive. For every $20 a person donates, we will give them 1 vote as to what animal we should dress up as for the climb. So far, we’ve had votes for Hedgehog, Shark, Deer, Squid, and Platypus…this could be interesting! Our class (especially Torey the Environmentalist and Charlene the Animal-Lover) is so happy to have the opportunity to work with such a well-respected and successful organization in the sector, WWF! Our whole class supports the WWF’s work and its quest to save endangered animals and habitats of our planet. We are excited and proud to actively contribute to that cause! Join WWF for the 24th Annual Canada Life CN Tower Climb on May 1 and 3, 2014. Register. Fundraise. Climb. Protect. Earn your stripes at wwf.ca/cntower. Not in Toronto? You can still support WWF by doing the Climbless Climb!

Written by Minnie Menezes I am Minnie Menezes, a middle school student from Toronto and I’m 13 years old. I was a child when I first heard of the CN Tower Climb, and I did not think twice when I was invited to climb with my school team. I was 11 years old when I first climbed the CN Tower. On May 3, it will be my fourth time climbing and the second time as captain of the team Cummer Valley Vipers. We are climbing to support WWF. I have been into sports almost my whole life, influenced by my parents who taught me to swim as early as two months old. I believe in the famous Latin quote from poet Juvenal (Century II AD), "mens sana in corpore sano," meaning "a sound mind in a healthy body." Practicing sports regularly helps me to train for the CN Tower Climb. Climbing the CN Tower is a fantastic experience, believe me! When I’m there, just climbing, up, up, and up a seemingly endless staircase (1776 steps), it’s amazing to see all the excited people, some who pass me because they’re super-fast. Everybody climbs together, but then suddenly, I reach the top and I’m surrounded by the incredible views of Toronto. People all around me are congratulating and supporting each other for what we just accomplished. After I go up the CN Tower, I can truly appreciate this incredibly diverse and multicultural city. Each time the tower appears in front of me, there is a sense of achievement, a sense of pride, and also a sense of accomplishment. That’s from the donations I raised together with my team, and because I have motivated my friends to support WWF. Climbing the CN Tower doesn’t require intense physical training; you can climb slowly and stop to rest and take a moment. But it is recommended that you train in advance by walking, running or even going up the stairs of your building or a public space. Some people climb the CN Tower in less than 10 minutes, but these are exceptional athletes. I climbed in 20 minutes, but lots of people spend about 25 minutes or even 45 minutes or more. Your time isn’t the important part. The important thing is to raise funds for WWF and get up there - even if it is slowly. I am very excited to climb the CN Tower on May 3^rd, and am encouraging my peers to join our team, donate to WWF and get a chance to feel that pride that I do when I cross the finish line. See you at the top! Join WWF for the 24th Annual Canada Life CN Tower Climb on May 1 and 3, 2014. Register. Fundraise. Climb. Protect. Earn your stripes at wwf.ca/cntower. Not in Toronto? You can still support WWF by doing the Climbless Climb!

Why I Climb for WWF: From jeans and dress shoes to a backpack full of soup

Written by Bradley A. Powell, Climb Veteran The first time I climbed the CN Tower in support of WWF-Canada I had no idea what I signed up for. I hadn’t trained and I wore jeans, a nice shirt, and dress shoes - I was meeting a friend for brunch afterwards. The brunch never happened. I was so exhausted from climbing the 1,776 steps that I took a nap for the rest of the day. Fast forward to this year and I’m racing up the stairs of my condo with a backpack full of soup cans to get ready for the big day. This will be my ninth year doing the climb. Last year my time was 14 minutes flat, my personal best. In an effort to get faster each year, I started to train in the stairwell of my condo building which is 50 storeys tall. I climb to the top and take the elevator down, then repeat that two more times. To really challenge myself, I started adding weight to the backpack I carry. In addition to enjoying the physical challenge of the CN Tower climb, I keep climbing each year because I strongly believe in what WWF-Canada does. Protecting the environment and all of the creatures in it is something we must all take steps towards doing. It’s amazing to reflect on all the years of climbing in support of WWF-Canada. Some years were slower and some were faster. Every year was a fantastic experience. I am truly grateful to all of my friends, family, and colleagues who have supported me and made donations over the years. In total, I’ve been able to raise almost $20,000! It just goes to show how much of an impact a few steps can be – well, maybe more than a few steps. To everyone climbing this year, good luck and see you at the top! Things I’ve learned over the years:

Wear comfortable clothing. Shorts, a t-shirt, and running shoes are best. The stairwell is a bit cool at first but you will get warmer as you climb.
Get a good night’s rest. If you’re at a house party the night before and you only get 30 minutes of sleep… You will be slow. Trust me.
There is a washroom just before you start climbing.
Be aware of other climbers around you. While the stairs are wide enough to accommodate two people side by side, everyone will climb at a different pace. Faster climbers: be courteous when passing; notify the climber ahead of you. Slower climbers: stay to one side to allow others to pass.
The number of flights you have climbed is labeled at each landing. There are 144 flights in total. Don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s 124 like I did one year.
Remember the handrail. The last 10 flights… I’m pretty much dragging myself up.
Once you’re done… you’re not really done. After you reach the official top of the climb and get your timecard punched, there are still a few more flights of stairs to actually get inside the observation deck. Prepare for this moment, it will haunt you.
Have fun and sign up again next year!

WWF is so grateful to all of our climbers and supporters who make critical conservation work across Canada and the world possible! As you get your climbing shoes ready, here’s some great reminders of how you’re making a difference. 1. Helping keep polar bears and people safe Northerners are intimately connected to the climate and wildlife of the Arctic, having lived alongside these species for thousands of years. As sea-ice melts because of our warming climates, things are changing. Polar bears are coming closer to human communities, more often, which is dangerous for everyone. You’re reducing risks for bears and people through innovative safety measures. Read the story. 2. Protecting habitat in all three Canadian oceans Canada is way behind on ocean protection, but you’re helping change that. From helping establish the first Bowhead Whale sanctuary to protecting incredible seascapes like Gwaii Haanas and The Gully. Together, we’re identifying quiet refuges for whales and pushing for new protected spaces so life in our oceans thrives. 3. Championing local water protection Canada is home to hundreds of lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands, many of which need help to become and remain healthy. You’re supporting champions for local water health across the country by giving them access to critical data and by driving on-the-ground restoration efforts. Find out how. 4. Transforming the seafood industry The way we fish is directly linked to the health of our oceans. Seafood is the largest traded food commodity on the planet, and a critical source of protein for 1 billion people worldwide. You’re helping transform it into a sustainable industry—from hook to plate. Find out how. 5. Reviving the flight of the monarch butterflies Monarchs are an amazing North American icon, but their populations are plummeting. You’re helping protect their wintering habitat in Mexico and crack down on illegal logging. Next week is Monarch Butterfly week at WWF, a perfect time to learn more: wwf.ca/monarchbutterfly 6. Taking a stand for Canada’s Great Bear Canada’s precious and beautiful Great Bear region is no place for oil pipelines and tankers. With your support, WWF has brought high-profile Canadians and thousands of people across the country and the world to raise their voices on this issue. And, because of you we can bring strong science to the table to back up those voices. Stay tuned for more actions in the coming month and learn more. 7. Cracking down on illegal ivory Illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade is driving many endangered species, like elephants, toward extinction. You’re helping advocate for strong conservation laws and cracking down on those who break them. This year, supporters like you successfully petitioned Thailand to end its illegal ivory trade. Read more. 8. Getting international protection for sharks Sharks have been around since the time of the dinosaur, but will they survive us? With your help, we’re working both internationally and here in Canada to get the right protections in place so that they can. This past year, because of your support, 5 species of sharks have stronger protections from unsustainable trade. How you’re helping sharks. 9. Bringing North Atlantic right whales back from the brink With only 450 North Atlantic right whales left in the world, this species needs urgent protection. Supporters like you helped get shipping lanes moved in the Bay of Fundy: a first for conservation. You also supported a critical partnership between WWF, scientists and local fishermen to keep right whales safe from fishing lines. Read more. 10. Showing that Renewable is more than doable In Canada, electricity generation is a major source of the carbon-polluting emissions that are causing climate change. But your support is powering an innovative partnership between WWF and the University of Waterloo to tangibly demonstrate cleaner solutions. By mapping all of Canada’s renewable energy, we’re showing that a better world is possible and that we have the right power to get there. Watch the video. All of this—and so much more—is possible because of what you do! Thank you for climbing and we’ll see you at the top!

This Thursday May 1^st and Saturday May 3^rd will be my first CN Tower Climb as a WWF-Canada staff member. One task assigned to me that is traditionally reserved for new staff as part of a “rookie initiation”, is to go to the tower pre-climb to display the amazing artwork on each flight of stairs (144), created by kids from schools across Ontario. There’s no elevator for this, so you know we’re hanging these pieces the same way as our climbers: by going up and down the 1776 steps. This is something that I am actually looking forward to, because I know how much these drawings mean to our climbers. I first climbed the CN Tower in 2010, and I can tell you, the messages in the artwork were really motivating for me. I remember climbing the tower, and at one point thinking in my mind “I need a break. I’ll stop just for a few seconds.” Then, I looked up and saw a painting of a penguin. Penguins are my favourite animal, so I look at it and tell myself “Can’t stop yet.” I continue to climb and I’m still tired. Later on I tell myself again “OK. I’m more than halfway now. I can take a break. I NEED a break.” I look up again, and there is a drawing of Finding Nemo (one of my favourite Disney movies) and it says “Just keep climbing, just keep climbing…” Growing more and more out of breath I think “Argh. Alright! I’ll keep climbing!” And you know what? I made it to the top without stopping once, and beat my expected time by almost 8 minutes. So to all the young artists over the years, THANK YOU! Your drawings, paintings, and words of encouragement are inspiring to our climbers and show just how important it is that we work together to help our planet. I’m really looking forward to this year’s event and to meeting so many of our dedicated climbers that help us continue to do some amazing conservation work. Without you, together, we wouldn’t be able to take huge steps for nature. If you’re one of the 5000+ climbers participating in our event this week, check out just a few samples of the artwork that will decorate the stairwell. Artwork for 2014 CN Tower Climb

Why I Climb for WWF: Supporting a Cause That Matters to Me

Written by Suzanne Hood, Digital Communications Specialist at RSA It was a sunny afternoon and nearing the end of the day in the RSA Canada office when I received an email from a colleague asking if I wanted to participate in the CN Tower Climb for WWF. I sat at my desk and stared at her email, fixated on the number 1,776. I remember thinking, “Really!? I’m going to climb 1,776 steps? My legs will surely give out on me long before I reach the top!” To wrap my head around the climb, I started thinking about what 1,776 steps might look like, such as climbing to the top of my apartment building four times in a row or spending 20-30 minutes on the Stairmaster. Not so bad, right? But then I took a step back and thought about the cause behind the climb. I thought about the work that WWF-Canada does and the reason we’ve partnered with them for the past five years. They’ve been trusted advisors on RSA’s sustainability journey, helping us to better understand the impacts of climate change and what it means to our business. I also thought about the important research projects we’ve partnered on together that are bringing awareness to critical issues such as sustainable shipping in the Arctic and renewable energy. They’re making things better for the environment and the planet. Now that’s something we can all get excited about. By the end of the working day, I was on board and ready to start training. I decided to face the challenge head on and practice climbing the stairs at my apartment building. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t difficult, but every day that I climbed it got a little bit easier. I even met some new neighbours along the way! After a month of fundraising and training, I’m as ready as I’ll ever be for the climb. I’m looking forward to the challenge and earning my stripes with my colleagues and friends. Regardless of how long it takes to complete and how tiring it may be, I feel really good about the fact that I’m supporting a cause that matters to me, my company and my fellow climbers. See you at the top (or somewhere along the way)!

Meet Alyssa Tang, Three-time Climb Team Organizer A seven-time CN Tower climb veteran, this is Alyssa’s third year organizing a team from her school, St. Augustine Catholic High School in Markham, to climb for WWF. Every year, she rallies more and more classmates to join in, completely wowing us with her passion. Alyssa attributes her enthusiasm and success to her longtime love for the environment, and a great team to work with at her school. Alyssa has been on St. Augustine’s Environmental Council for all four years of high school, and in her fourth and final year, is leading the council as President. As a long time environmentalist, supporting WWF was an easy decision for Alyssa. “I like that WWF is a large organization that is known around the world – that means there’s a greater opportunity to affect big, positive change.” By following WWF on social media, and participating in WWF’s events throughout the year, Alyssa is always pumped to participate in the Annual Canada Life CN Tower Climb each spring. This is Alyssa’s third year bringing together a team from her school – her team members tripled from year one to year two, and this year she’s recruited an astonishing 32 climbers, making St. Augustine’s our largest school team this year! When asked how she’s found such success, Alyssa attributes it to the Environmental Council at her school, as they built the momentum from year one. During the school’s eco-week this year, the Environment Council heavily promoted the climb. Having an enthusiastic leadership team is helpful as well – “Our principal is really athletic and was eager to get involved, he’ll be joining us at the climb!” Currently in her final year of high school, Alyssa is looking to study architecture next year, “I’m hoping to study architectural design, as it combines my love of arts with my passion for the environment,” she says. We’ll miss her leadership behind St. Augustine’s climb team, but hope to see her, and St. Augustine, back next year! Lastly, as a veteran climber, we asked her for any tips for first-time climbers. Alyssa says training definitely helps – “I use the stair climber at the gym, or skip rope at home in my basement to build up my endurance,” says Alyssa. One of the most important tips she can give: “when they say hands-free climb – they mean it! Remember to give your phone, keys everything at coat check when you have the chance!”

We spoke with climber Trish to find out why she’s supporting WWF at the 24th Annual Canada Life CN Tower Climb. So this is the first time you’ll be climbing the CN Tower? This is my very first CN Tower Climb. I have heard about the Climb for the last few years, ever since I moved to Toronto, but I never looked into doing it until this year when a team of Steam Whistle staff decided to do it together. It’s something unique to Toronto that I knew I wanted to try… kind of like checking off doing the Grouse Grind if you’re in Vancouver. I was also happy to learn that people climb to raise money for WWF, which I knew as a highly respected not-for-profit organization that does many great things in Canada. You hurt your leg a few months ago (and are doing much better now) but you were determined to climb… Having lived in Toronto for just under a decade, I was very excited to finally have the opportunity to sign up for the CN Tower Climb – something that was on my Toronto bucket list. Having a team of colleagues united and motivated to fundraise and achieve personal climb records further increased my excitement. Unfortunately, life threw a speed bump into my plans when I slipped on ice and fractured my leg at the end of February. It was my first broken bone, and the first time I felt how quickly and easily I could lose my independence, mobility, and health. However, one of my first thoughts and a question I asked all my doctors was, “Would I be well enough to do the Climb on May 1^st?” Everyone warned me that fractures took a while to heal, and even after the bones had knitted back together, I would have to undergo physiotherapy to relearn how to walk, use my feet and leg muscles, and for the pain and swelling to go away. None of them thought it was likely that I would be well enough to do the Climb, but I persisted and hoped. It gave me a goal to focus on, and motivated me to take care of myself and do my exercises. Friends and family kept cheering me on and donating to my Climb page despite my fracture. I guess this determination and support paid off in the end, and I was super thrilled when my physiotherapist gave me the thumbs up to do the Climb. I’ve already booked a physio appointment for the day after the Climb, because I know I’ll need it, but I guess the silver lining is that I know I will crush whatever time I get this year when I do the Climb again. We’re excited to have you and glad the doctor gave you the green light! Can you tell us a bit about why you’re supporting and fundraising for WWF? I grew up in Vancouver and became familiar with WWF there. I knew the organization worked on protecting wildlife and their habitats, and as a child, I thought what WWF did made a lot of sense. As I grew up, I became increasingly aware of all the research, studies, and news articles that showed how we were failing to protect our resources and our futures. As a self-proclaimed pragmatic idealist, I knew that I wanted to be involved with the sustainability movement, but in a practical and feasible way. I was lucky enough to find a workplace, Steam Whistle, that not only listens to its staff, but encouraged and empowered us to take action and help guide the company’s environmental stewardship. This year, our internal Environmental Committee rallied together for the climb. The CN Tower Climb for WWF was an easy choice given WWF’s good work, and our proximity to the tower itself. Hopefully, this will become an annual event for us!

Why I Climb for WWF: The Renewable Climber

Su is regarded at her work, Bullfrog Power, as the go-to climb veteran. This comes as no surprise, as this Thursday marks her 7^th climb! Su participated in the Annual Canada Life CN Tower Climb for WWF even before she joined Bullfrog, and was very excited to learn that WWF and Bullfrog are long-time partners. “My first climb for WWF was with my sister, and it was a really memorable experience. We fundraised together, trained together, and motivated each other all the way up those 1776 steps!” Su recalls. “It was also very heartwarming to see so many people together for a shared cause, one that I believe in”. A long-time WWF supporter, Su finds the climb a great way to fundraise for a cause that she believes in. “I try to spread the word of the work of WWF and similar organizations, that work to address the impacts of climate change. I often get involved in green initiatives in my community, as I believe all of us as individuals have a role to help preserve the environment around us.” This belief only grew stronger when Su joined the Bullfrog team six years ago. “It makes sense for me to work for a renewable energy company, where my work can have an impact on making changes in my life, and also other people’s lives to live more sustainably”. As this is her 7^th climb, Su is regarded as a climb champion among the Bullfrog team. She’s the go-to gal for anyone interested in joining Bullfrog’s climb team. This year she’s led the charge in recruiting not just one team for Bullfrog, but two teams, for the first year ever! She recruits, encourages, gives fundraising tips, and has even organized weekly training sessions for her teammates in the stairwell of her condo building! One of the other veteran Bullfrog climbers, Scott, is always the fastest climber on the team, and is consistently in the top 5 climbers. “Having such a speedy co-worker is definitely good motivation”. Su is a champion among her team, but she says it’s easy when there’s great leadership at Bullfrog to learn from: “Despite the fact that this is our CEO’s first year with Bullfrog, and first time climbing, he’s shown great enthusiasm! He approached me about joining the climb team, and he’s blown us away with his amazing fundraising and leadership for the climb”. Another Vice President at Bullfrog is a first time climber, and is climbing with his 11-year old daughter! Su would like to thank everyone on the Bullfrog climb teams for their phenomenal fundraising and commitment. We’re looking forward to seeing Su and the rest of the Bullfrog team at the top of the tower on Thursday!

Why I Climb for WWF: Motivated to protect precious spaces

Wendy Ho has been an integral volunteer for WWF for the past two years, and a keen supporter for even longer. This Saturday, she’s lacing up her running shoes to take part in the Canada Life CN Tower climb for the second time! Wendy and her husband got married in Mexico earlier this month, they had an unusual post-wedding experience – instead of relaxing the day after the wedding, they did an ambitious hike up Ek Balam, a Mayan ruins site! The climb up Ek Balam’s 107 steps may not sound like a big feat compared to 1776 steps of the CN Tower, but these were 107 very steep steps! Most of the climb, Wendy was using her hands to pull herself up the cobblestone steps, with no railings! But the journey to the top was worth it: “The view was amazing, all you could see was forests for miles. It made me realize how precious spaces like this are, and how important it is to preserve them. That memory makes for fantastic motivation for the climb”. Wendy has fond memories of her childhood in Hong Kong, visiting a conservation area there that is managed by WWF Hong Kong. Years later, when the opportunity came up to volunteer for WWF-Canada, Wendy jumped at the chance. For the past two years, Wendy’s been an integral volunteer, working with various teams, including helping out with our CN Tower climb. Weeks ago, Wendy was chatting with a fellow volunteer, Jennifer Chang, who was asking about the physical challenge of the climb. “I had to admit to Jennifer – it’s a pretty physically daunting task. We agreed however, to climb together, which makes the climb so much for enjoyable. Plus, knowing your climbing with a friend motivates your training so much more!” We’ll see you at the top, Wendy and Jennifer!

Why I Climb for WWF: Supporting a dear friend

We spoke with veteran climber Kristin to find out why she’s supporting WWF at the 24th Annual Canada Life CN Tower Climb. Why do you participate in WWF’s CN Tower Climb? Three years ago, I decided to give a unique Christmas present to my friend Marc, a longtime supporter and climber of the WWF CN Tower Climb who was battling with cancer. I decided to support him by climbing with him that year, but unfortunately he passed away before the event. Since then, I have been participating each year in the climb with the Marc Madness group. Who is the Marc Madness group? The Marc Madness group is a collection of individuals that train together every year to participate in the climb in memory of our friend Marc. This is a fantastic team who continues to motivate and encourage each other and our sponsors. Also it’s great having people training with you, it makes the experience really fun. What is your reason for choosing to participate in the CN Tower Climb for WWF? My reason for participating is both emotional and physical; seeing my friend being able to participate in the climb even though he had cancer gave me the inspiration to participate as well. I do the climb to support and remember the things that Marc felt were important in his life, and one of them was to do this climb to support WWF. What have you learned from your past CN Tower Climb experiences? I think it is encouraging for people to know that it is a challenging event, however you’d be surprised to find out what you can achieve and learn about yourself when you do it.

This year, WWF launched its first workplace fundraising campaign through the Living Planet @ Work program, helping to engage companies and their employees in support of WWF’s conservation work. In our pilot year of this campaign called Spring Things, we had just over 40 champions participate from companies nationwide. In all, their efforts raised close to $400,000 for WWF's Arctic conservation program, our renewable energy mapping project, and more. How did they do it? Some held bake sales, some took polar dips into frigid lakes, and others climbed 1,776 steps to the top of the CN Tower. There were social events with music and raffles, dress down days, auctions, pot lucks, ice cream sundae bars, and 50/50 draws. On top of that, their companies matched these donations and generously topped up employee fundraising, all in support of the health and future of our planet. Where do the funds go? The critical funds raised through Polar Bear Week will be directed to WWF’s Arctic conservation program. Funds raised during Earth Hour Week will support the renewable energy mapping project, and all proceeds from the 24th Annual Canada Life CN Tower Climb will help WWF to achieve many other conservation goals. Check out some fun Spring Things campaign photos: Along with the passion and hard work of dedicated champions and their colleagues, we could not have achieved this incredible milestone without the leadership of six company CEOs (including WWF’s President and CEO, David Miller). Together, they stepped up to publicly champion Spring Things within their companies. Thank you to these leaders and their employees for driving philanthropic action for the environment in Canada:

Lloyd Bryant, HP Canada (co-chair of the Spring Things Committee)
Rudi Blatter, Lindt & Sprüngli
Louis Martel, Canada Steamship Lines
Peter Melanson, Bullfrog Power
Paul Mead, FCB Canada
Gordon Hicks, Brookfield Johnson Controls

In the coming weeks, we will be showcasing each of these companies through a special blog series. We’ll learn more about their commitment to sustainability and the key to their Spring Things success. Stay tuned! How did Spring Things come to be? For the past 2 1/2 years, WWF’S Living Planet @ Work employee engagement program has helped to connect with a passionate group of green champions who represent companies across Canada and the globe. Many of these green champions were eagerly looking to do more: to usher in sustainable practices at work, engage colleagues, and make a difference to environmental conservation at work and on a larger scale. In the last few years we’ve seen our champions successfully build green teams, implement sustainable procurement policies, write the first sustainability reports for their companies, clean up shorelines, and turn the lights off for Earth Hour. In the Fall, we started thinking about how we could help our champions take their passion and commitment to the next level. We knew they were up for the challenge, their employees were ready for more, and that the impact they could make to conservation would be significant. We decided that a fun, creative, and flexible workplace fundraising campaign in the Spring season would be the perfect platform to help champions do just that and engage their fellow colleagues too. And that's how the fittingly titled campaign “Spring Things” was born! Champions rallied their employees around Spring Things’ three events: Polar Bear Week, Earth Hour Week, and the CN Tower Climb. The success of our first ever Spring Things campaign is a true testament to the passion and commitment of our Living Planet @ Work community. We’re excited for what next year will bring and look forward to more champions and companies joining in on the fun! Do you want to learn more about Living Planet @ Work and the Spring Things campaign for your company? We'd love to hear from you. Chat with our team! E-mail us at LivingPlanetAtWork@wwfcanada.org.

A big THANK YOU from WWF to over 4,000 climbers, more than 400 volunteers, and all our donors, partners and sponsors. Together, you climbed 1,776 steps of the CN Tower and raised over $1 million to help protect species at risk and the places they call home! Check out this video to see some of our climbers in action: http://youtu.be/IOXSdZJ6F20 So, are you wondering how fast it takes elite athletes to climb 144 flights of stairs? Our fastest climber in the team challenge got to the top in an amazing 11 minutes, 18 seconds. Our top public climber was even quicker at 10 minutes, 57 seconds. WOW! Be sure to check out our photo album to see more great shots from our Team Challenge and Public Climb. And in case you missed it, read our collection of CN Tower climber stories on why they support WWF.

Taking It national: Brookfield Johnson Controls’ Green Team engages employees and tenants from coast to coast

Brookfield Johnson Controls Canada was honoured with Living Planet @ Work’s 2014 green team of the year. Learn more about the team’s top achievements. You don’t have to look far at Brookfield Johnson Controls Canada (BJCC) to find passionate environmental advocates. Climb the CN Tower for WWF? Twenty-one staffers laced up their sneakers and got ready to sweat. Launch a national green team? Forty eco-enthusiasts across the country answered the call. Hit the beaches to collect garbage in the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup? BJCC employees were on it. So when it came time for WWF to choose our 2014 Living Planet @ Work Green Team of the Year, the choice was clear. This year, the real estate management company raised nearly $10,000 for WWF’s conservation efforts. Regular lunch ‘n’ learns kept conservation top of mind, while the company’s “An Inspired Future” event in June drew over 400 attendees for a day with economist and best-selling author Jeremy Rifkin, who inspired the audience with his vision of a sustainable, low-carbon future. Earth Week saw CEO Gord Hicks getting personal, discussing his own eco-practices when it comes to commuting, water use, waste management and eating locally. To shrink BJCC’s carbon footprint, the green team tackled paper consumption — one of the company’s biggest waste streams, according to BJCC’s annual sustainability report. They implemented a new, centralized printing system, sponsored by the company’s Chief Financial Officer, to reduce the number of printers and made double-sided printing the default choice. These actions are expected to cut paper consumption in half, as well as reduce toner use and cut the energy required to run the printers. Meanwhile, an e-waste drive gave head office employees the opportunity to recycle old electronics instead of sending them to landfill. According to Strategic Information Manager Sarah Jane Wolch, head of the BJCC green team, her company’s commitment to sustainability resonates with employees. “I think for a lot of people, environmental issues are beginning to become a lot more personal,” she says. She points to one employee who — inspired by what he saw at work — chose to include a heat pump, energy-efficient heated flooring, LED lighting and more in his new home. She sees the same attitudes among clients, whether they’re adding environmental criteria to their procurement policies or working with BJCC to install LED lighting or climate-controlled landscaping. BJCC’s energy account managers are on hand to help the company’s tenants shrink their carbon footprint. On top of that, a new Innovation Centre in Markham, Ontario showcases best practices that tenants can implement in their own offices. Sarah Jane credits WWF’s Living Planet @ Work program with helping her green team take off. “It was really a catalyst and a great support system,” she says. In the coming year, she looks forward to rolling out their eco-printing initiative to BJCC offices across the country, engaging employees from coast to coast in Earth Week events and recruiting even more team members for the 2015 CN Tower Climb for WWF. We salute Sarah Jane, her national Green Team and everyone at BJCC for their leadership in corporate sustainability. Congratulations on a well deserved win! Interested in leading footprint reduction initiatives, hosting environmental campaigns and fundraising for conservation programs year-round with your colleagues like Sarah Jane and her green team? Join Living Planet @ Work and get free access to tools and resources to help you.

December 5^th is International Volunteer Day. At WWF-Canada, our work would not be possible without the commitment of all of our amazing volunteers! Here are some of this year’s highlights: Uwe Stueckmann’s story Uwe Stueckmann, senior Vice-President of marketing at Loblaw Companies Limited, isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. He has been participating in the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, a joint initiative by WWF and Vancouver Aquarium presented by Loblaw, for years. He first discovered the cleanup accidently: “I was out for a run with my dog along Taylor Creek [in Toronto] and I saw some folks pulling garbage from the creek beds,” Stueckmann recalls. “The next year I organized a cleanup with my kids and we’ve been participating ever since”. Now, Stueckmann joins the cleanup as part of “Team Loblaw." Last year, 1,600 Loblaw employees participated in the cleanup, contributing to 100,000 kilograms of litter being collected from 3,035 kilometres of shorelines across Canada. “The cleanup is a great way to get your team together outside of work, roll up your sleeves and engage in conservation,” Stueckmann says. “It’s so encouraging to see the difference that a morning of work can make to our shorelines and waterways.” David’s story David Seepersad has been a devoted CN Tower Climb volunteer for an astonishing 11 years. This means 11 years of 4 a.m. arrival times—that alone is a feat worth celebrating! David has been an invaluable volunteer at the tower start line (he’s known among staff for bringing pastries every year), and he even climbs and fundraises each year on top of volunteering. For David, the CN Tower Climb is an opportunity to support an organization whose mission of engaging people with nature aligns with his own beliefs. With an educational background in environmental engineering, David firmly believes in the importance of environmental awareness, and appreciates WWF’s commitment to ensuring a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. “The best part of the climb is seeing thousands of climbers who are there because they want to support environmental and conservation work.” Andrew and Olivia’s story As students of Queen’s University in picturesque Kingston, Ontario, Andrew Shaw and Olivia Geen love returning to their clean, green campus—their home away from home—each fall. The campus is located on Lake Ontario and framed by the clean energy backdrop of Wolf Island’s towering wind turbines. Andrew and Olivia are co-presidents of the campus club WWF at Queen’s, and “One of the things the club values most is the city’s shoreline. The issue of shoreline litter and its harmful impact on local ecosystems is something we can relate to as individuals and as a community.” The club had an impressive turnout for its first Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup and hopes to keep students informed about conservation throughout the year, helping to conserve Kingston’s shoreline for students, residents, and aquatic neighbours alike! “As members of the community, it is our responsibility to give back to the city that is our home away from home by participating in sustainability initiatives throughout the year.” Laura’s story Laura Miller has been an outstanding volunteer at the WWF Toronto office for the past three years. As a donor relations volunteer, Laura keeps the wheels in motion at reception, greeting visitors and providing impeccable customer service on the phones. Driving Laura’s commitment is a deep-rooted passion for our natural world—in particular for ocean conservation. A lifelong travel bug led Laura to discover her passion for ocean conservation. While in Costa Rica three years ago, Laura volunteered on a sea turtle conservation project. After that, she was hooked and continued volunteering on international conservation projects in countries such as Cambodia and Madagascar. These experiences inspired Laura to pursue a career in ocean conservation and she was recently accepted to complete her masters in marine management at Dalhousie University in Halifax. “Working on ocean conservation projects around the world, I saw the first-hand effects of environmental degradation – I was inspired to learn more.” We’d like to thank all of the volunteers that have donated their time in 2014 to WWF-Canada. If you’re interested in volunteering with us, please check out our website for current opportunities, or email: volunteers@wwfcanada.org.

Five reasons to participate in Spring Things 2015

Spring Things is Canada’s newest and most exciting workplace campaign that calls on companies and passionate environmental champions to raise awareness and funds for WWF's work to conserve nature, critical species and habitats. The campaign, brought to you by WWF’s Living Planet @ Work championed by HP program, runs from February 23 until April 26 and consists of three activities to rally your colleagues around: Polar Bear Week, Canada Water Week and the 25th Annual CN Tower Climb! Here are 5 reasons why your company and colleagues should participate in Spring Things this year:

1) You'll have the chance to give back to important WWF conservation work like research that will ultimately protect Arctic ecosystems and people. Last year, employees rallied around Spring Things and helped raise $400,000 for WWF.

2) You can get involved in tons of fun activities and events, including a polar dip!

3) It's a great team building activity and will help foster employee engagement at work.

4) Who doesn't want to climb 144 flights of stairs for WWF's 25th CN Tower Climb Anniversary?

5) You will have an awesome WWF Spring Things support team to help you.

Do you and your colleagues want to get involved in Spring Things? Check out our Spring Things page for toolkits, photos, stories, ideas and more!

Stepping up to the challenge – Colin’s CN Tower Climb story

On April 25 & 26, WWF-Canada is celebrating our 25^th Annual CN Tower Climb. In the lead up to the climb we are sharing stories from our climbers – both rookies and veterans – on why they climb. Show your pride and join us this year. Registration is free at wwf.ca/cntower. Colin is 26 and lives in Hamilton, ON. He likes to walk, and play PlayStation. He doesn’t like elevators so he comes by his stair climbing naturally. He found out about WWF’s annual CN Tower climb this past October and with the support of his team, has set his sights on a new goal – the 1,776 stairs to the top of the tower. Colin lives with a brain injury that include paralysis in his left hand and foot, reduced vision and common migraines and seizures – all the result of needing brain surgery to remove half of his brain after developing Rasmussen Syndrome at the age of one. These disabilities challenge Colin on a daily basis. And on a daily basis, with his team of parents, therapists and specialists, he overcomes these challenges. Climbing the CN Tower was never something that Colin thought was within his reach: "I have been a disabled person my whole life. It’s all I have ever known. Sometimes being disabled comes with believing you can’t do whatever other "normal" people can do. I hope this climb will mean that I start to believe there is much, much more that I can do and have never tried." Doing the climb started as a joke between Colin and his worker at Brain Injury Services, Kristin Bouma. He commented on the number of stairs he was climbing and Kristin lightheartedly suggested that the CN Tower was the next step. The idea stuck and for the past five months, Colin has added additional goals and exercises to his regular stairs to prepare. He meets with his physical therapist 2 or 3 times per week and has a designated climb buddy for event day. His goal: "I am going to do it. I don’t care how it gets done, it will just get done." His only worry: "the elevator ride down." He doesn’t like elevators and would prefer to walk down. Why he’s climbing with WWF: “I love animals and I want to climb to stop the extinction of some of the world’s most beautiful creatures." Colin wants to thank his parents, his friends and brother, his worker at Brain Injury Services – Kristin Bouma, the StayWell Program at St. Joseph’s Healthcare, and his support worker – Jessica, for their help in getting him to his goal. If you’d like to support Colin, consider visiting his personal fundraising page here. WWF-Canada would like to thank Colin for sharing his story and joining the climb!

Aiming for the top: Five committed companies celebrating the CN Tower Climb!

On April 25 & 26, WWF-Canada is celebrating our 25^th Annual CN Tower Climb. In the lead up to the climb, we are sharing stories from our climbers – both rookies and veterans – on how they fundraise and why they climb. Show your pride and join us this year. Registration is free at wwf.ca/cntower. What do these five Spring Things CEO-Committee executives have in common? Each of them are demonstrating their passion and commitment to conservation by supporting the 25^th Annual CN Tower Climb! Here are their stories:

HP Canada

Executive Champion: Lloyd Bryant, Managing Director This year, HP-Canada will be participating in the Climb for the 9^th year in a row. Since 2009, they have raised a cumulative $63,137.87 for WWF’s conservation work! Furthermore, Lloyd Bryant, Managing Director of HP-Canada, has climbed the tower seven times since HP-Canada started climbing, and he’s excited to do it again this year (and beat his best time of 15:08)!

Canada Steamship Lines

Executive Champion: Allister Paterson, President Being based in Montreal hasn’t stopped Canada Steamship Lines from participating in the CN Tower Climb. As a part of their ‘Active April’ month last year, CSL donated $3 to WWF for each kilometre that an employee biked or walked to work. The best part: the top two ‘active’ employees were sent to Toronto to climb the tower’s 1,776 steps. Active April 2015 is currently in full force, and CSL is doing it all again this year!

Brookfield Global Integrated Solutions

Executive Champion: Gord Hicks, President Last year, Brookfield GIS recruited 21 climbers and raised over $8,000 for the climb. This year, they’re aiming to raise an astounding $20,000 for WWF through a wide variety of tactics such as hosting workplace fundraisers, rallying employees to join the climb, and getting President Gord Hicks to lead the way up the tower!

Lindt & Sprüngli Canada Inc.

Executive Champion: Rudi Blatter, President & CEO Lindt is taking some pretty big strides to gear their employees up for this year’s Climb. For instance, at their all-employee town hall meeting, Lindt surprised staff by bringing out the WWF Panda and igniting excitement around the Spring Things campaign and the Climb. Last year, one of Lindt’s teams took home the top fundraising team prize by raising $10,268, and this year they are determined to keep that title.

Bentall Kennedy

Executive Champion: Stu Wanlin, Executive Vice President It’s the Climb’s 25^th Anniversary, and Bentall Kennedy has got some spectacular plans to celebrate. Not only is the organization matching all employee donations, but if they hit their goal of recruiting 50 climbers, an extra $ 2,500 will be donated to WWF! Bentall Kennedy has already got their Executive Vice President, Stu Wanlin training for the big day on April 26. By demonstrating their passion for conservation and sustainability through efforts like the CN Tower Climb, these five executives are a source of inspiration for all employees within the organization. Now that’s what I call stepping up to the challenge. It’s your turn to step up! Join us for the CN Tower Climb’s 25^th Anniversary by registering here, or by supporting our climbers and teams here. Learn more about how your company can get involved with the Living Planet @ Work program and the many ways you can bring sustainability to your office and support WWF’s critical conservation work.

Meet Bryan Roach; cyclist, hiker, father, husband, self-proclaimed science geek, trivia enthusiast and longtime tower climber. He has been climbing for WWF-Canada since our first Canada Life CN Tower Climb in 1991! It all started 25 years ago when he was in university and saw the climb advertised; he knew that WWF was a leader in conservation and thought it would be a fun activity. Ever since, he has enjoyed the physical challenge while also raising money for a cause he believes is excellent. While many people are climbing for the polar bear, their favourite whale or the giant panda, Bryan does it for the skink. The five-lined skink is small endangered lizard with smooth shiny skin that helps to motivate Bryan. For 25 years he has also been motivated by hearing the sound of volunteer voices a couple of flights from the finish line and seeing WWF’s very own Monte Hummel at the bottom of the tower, who’s work he has always admired. In turn, for 25 years we have been motivated by seeing loyal supporters like Bryan ascend 144 flights to support the work we do. Thank you Bryan! This year Bryan’s goals is to fundraise $1,000, recruit friends to join him and climb to the top in under 30 minutes. He has almost reached his fundraising goal and recruited five climbers to join him, so making it to the top is about all that’s left. One of his recruits is his sister, Katherine Roach, who first joined him on his 19^th trip up the tower. She has continued to climb with Bryan ever since as a personal achievement and to raise funds for WWF’s conservation efforts. Her brother continues to inspire her year after year, but her newly adopted sons are now the main motivation for her to climb and fundraise for a better future. This year Katherine’s goals are to improve her time by 5-10 minutes and fundraise $500, up from last year’s $300 fundraising goal which she surpassed. We wish Katherine the best of luck in achieving both her goals. Thank you Bryan and Katherine for your many years of support and for sharing your stories with us and other climbers. Join WWF-Canada on April 25 & 26 in celebrating the 25^th Anniversary of the Canada Life CN Tower Climb and help protect species at risk, and the critical habitats they need to survive. There’s never been a better time to lead the pack for wildlife conservation. Visit wwf.ca/cntower to register!

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Five reasons to participate in Spring Things 2015