Member, Canadian Alpine Ski Team

Kelly VanderBeek

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  Play It Cool: Why is being a member of Play It Cool and going carbon neutral important to you?
  
  Kelly VanderBeek: As soon as I heard about Play It Cool I knew I needed to join. Being a winter Olympian I see firsthand the changes that are occurring in our environment. I've always been conscious of my impact on the environment but after a dire winter four years ago in Europe I knew I needed to do more. I joined Play It Cool after seeing Thomas Grandi's passionate plea to save our environment. I became a carbon neutral athlete by buying offsets for my travel among other initiatives.

  Play It Cool: What effects of global warming have you witnessed in your travels?
  
  Kelly VanderBeek: Visiting glaciers around the world and watching them shrink rapidly, seeing the snow patterns change and lower elevation hills closing, seasons shortening, and cross country resorts closing are just a few of the very real results of global warming. As a kid who grew up in a winter wonderland in Northern Ontario I am saddened to know that shrinking number of children will have that experience.

  Play It Cool: What positive changes are you making to reduce your impact on the climate?
  
  Kelly VanderBeek: My husband and I invested in all energy efficient appliances and heating systems in our home. Recycling is also instrumental in how we function and we're constantly looking for new ways to lesson our carbon footprint.