Sydney - The Sierra Club of Canada is pleased to announce that Clotilda
Yakimchuk has been selected to serve at a senior level in the Sierra Club
for both the United States and Canada. The Sierra Club is the world's
oldest environmental organization, founded in 1892. The Sierra Club has
national organizations in Canada and the United States, with a combined
membership of 600,000 people.
Currently, the over-all conservation priorities are set through four
Strategy Teams. With her appointment to the Environmental Quality Strategy
Team, Clotilda Yakimchuk becomes the first Canadian to serve on a Club-wide
Team. The Environmental Quality Strategy Team deals with air and water
pollution, toxic chemicals and environmental justice (a term referring to
the unequal exposure of minority and poor populations to toxic
contamination).
Clotilda Yakimchuk's appointment was confirmed at a meeting of the Sierra
Club Board of Directors in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA which took place
between February 18-21, 1999. The Chair of the Environmental Quality
Strategy Team, Ross Vincent, said, "We are very pleased to have Canadian
participation in our priority-setting. Clotilda Yakimchuk brings a rich
perspective and a strong background of knowledge on health and the
environment. I can't think of a better choice!"
Mrs. Yakimchuk is recognized as a community leader for her work within the
Registered Nurses' Association of Nova Scotia, including as president of
that association, for better and more affordable housing, and for many
civic enterprises in Sydney and Whitney Pier.
Most recently, she has been
involved in the issues relating to the extensive toxic contamination of the
. In 1997-1998, she was a participant in the Toxic
Community Exchange project, sponsored by the Sierra Club of Canada, between
Sydney, Nova Scotia and Fort Valley, Georgia, USA. She also addressed the
annual meeting of the Environment Ministers of Canada, the United States
and Mexico in June, 1998 in Merida, Mexico, through the North American
Commission for Environmental Cooperation. She is also a founding member of
the Citizens Alliance for the Protection of the Environment in Sydney, a
group working on critical environmental issues outside the mandate of the
Joint Action Group. She and her husband, Dan Yakimchuk, are respected
community leaders.
The Sierra Club in Canada and the United States is
pleased and proud to announce the appointment of Mrs. Yakimchuk to such a
senior position within Club governance.
New burner to be operational by month's end 
