Finding fun in conservation
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What is your name and where are you from? My name is Tami MacKinnon. I am from Kamloops, B.C. where “Playtime is Redefined”. In addition to “talking the talk” of conservation as a Community Outreach representative, I hear you also “walk the walk!” Tell us about some of the little things you do everyday to be more sustainable. I am passionate about my job and it definitely helps to be able to practice what I preach. I love the outdoors and I am an endurance junkie. Yes, I am the "geek" who gets an “adrenaline high” from racing around the mountain and back on foot, skis, snowshoes or on my mountain bike. With this type of lifestyle, a passion for healthy and simple living has evolved. I love to cook healthy, hearty, homemade meals with fresh, organic ingredients. Nothing beats purchasing fresh produce, grains and fruits from the local farmers market in the summer and fall. Better yet, we all know that coming from an Italian family means we have rows and rows of vegetables, fruit trees and herbs! So raiding my grandmother’s garden has definitely been the best deal when it comes to fresh cooking and canning/freezing for the winter months. Oddly enough, I have re-discovered that cleaning my house can be fun. I know, who ever thought of cleaning as an activity to look forward to? I discovered a company called Norwex Cleaning Products. They produce antibacterial microfiber cleaning products that I only use water with; no chemicals! This makes cleaning my place quick and easy thus more time to play! I have also invested in their personal care products in which 95% of the ingredients are of a vegetable/plant origin. So yes, I walk the walk when it comes to conservation by spending most of my spare time playing in the great outdoors, supporting the 100-mile diet and purchasing biodegradable cleaning supplies and facial creams. I do confess I may be bit of “shopaholic” when it comes to clothes, outdoor gear and shoes! But, I do have a rule: a new item in the closet must replace an old. I always donate my old stuff to the Boys and Girls Club. Does that count as offsetting? Why do you think it is important to conserve? Honestly, I think we take for granted the valuable resources that we have available to us! I can truthfully say that since working with BC Hydro, I have been much more conscious of my actions. I have even developed this into a game I play. Okay, it’s my own personal game . . . but it is to see how long I can last in the winter months without turning up the heat. I keep myself warm by bundling on the couch with my fuzzy slippers, comfy hoodie and cozy blanket. In our society we have become spoiled. We do not see the consequences of our actions, thus we do see the result of us wasting energy or even having a 10- to 20-minute shower versus a 5-minute shower. Technology is available to us, resources are at our finger tips, and we live in a society where many try to keep up with the "Jones". Many have come to rely on technology and power to provide entertainment. Why not keep it simple by enjoying the outdoors? We are now starting to see an exciting "slow movement" where people are getting back to the basics. People are cooking instead of microwaving meals, enjoying their time instead of running from one thing to the next. I think rushing around results in excess use of fuel and forgetting to do things like turning off the lights when leaving the house. Often, people are so exhausted by the time they get home, all they want to do is sit down on the couch and watch hours of TV. Conservation is about getting back to the basics of life and enjoying the simple things we have around us. Conservation will also help sustain future generations. It’s important for us to be accountable for our actions and trust that simple changes will result in big pay offs down the road. There are so many things to do in Kamloops for the outdoors person. What is your favourite activity this time of year? Besides taking a month to get fully adjusted to this cold weather up here in the "north" where snow hits us in October? I am definitely a "sun" girl, but I have found the easiest way to get through the winter months is to actually get outdoors and play. Right now, my trail runners are getting a lot of action as I explore the various mountain trails on my days off. Once the snow hits, nothing beats getting out in the fresh powder and breaking trail with my running snowshoes! For anyone who hasn’t tried snowshoe running, it is an amazing workout and you can access some incredible terrain. As well, in the past few years I have to come to love skate skiing; I have no idea why as every year it takes at least a month before I finally can breathe after a few glides!
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Tami MacKinnon is a Community Outreach Representative in Kamloops. Every day Tami speaks to British Columbians about what they can do to save energy and be more sustainable. She reflects these messages in her own lifestyle as a passionate athlete, 100-mile dieter and eco-cleaner extraordinaire. 
