PNWER Awards for Leaders in U.S.-Canada Relations
Alan Bluechel Memorial Award
The Private Sector Leadership Award was named in honor of the late Alan Bluechel who envisioned the establishment of a collaborative region-wide organization to address common issues and interests was that of former State Sen. Alan Bluechel, Wash. Sen. Bluechel grew up in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan and came to the Legislature with a keen sense of the bi-national region now encompassed by PNWER; he was aided in the pursuit of his vision by counterpart Jim Horseman, then Deputy Premier and Minister of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs for Alberta. Sen. Bluechel served as PNWER's first president.
Hot Potato Award
The Public Sector Leadership Award is called "The Hot Potato Award" in reference to the Pig War of 1859 where a dispute over a pig's consumption of a stolen potato in the San Juan Islands nearly led to armed confrontation between the American and Canadian settlers. The conflict was peaceably resolved and eventually led to the current-day boundary between Washington State and British Columbia.
The Public Sector Leadership Award is called "The Hot Potato Award" in reference to the Pig War of 1859 where a dispute over a pig's consumption of a stolen potato in the San Juan Islands nearly led to armed confrontation between the American and Canadian settlers. The conflict was peaceably resolved and eventually led to the current-day boundary between Washington State and British Columbia.
Irene Plenefisch of Microsoft accepts the Alan Bluechel Award on behalf of Brad Smith at the PNWER Summit.
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The Honourable Katrine Conroy and Mr. Ed Conroy are recognized for their efforts of bi-national Columbia River Treaty cooperation.
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2018 Awards
Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, was recognized with the Alan Bluechel Memorial Award in recognition for his efforts over the past year to develop the Cascadia Innovation Corridor and cross-border relationships. PNWER VP Rep. Gael Tarleton (left) of the Washington State Legislature presented Irene Plenefisch , Director of Government Affairs for Microsoft ( right ) with the award on Brad Smith's behalf.
The Honourable Katrine Conroy, Minister of Children and Family Development and Minister responsible for Columbia River Treaty, British Columbia and Former MLA Ed Conroy were recognized by Senator Arnie Roblan of Oregon (right to left) with the the Hot Potato Award for their years of work regarding Columbia River Treaty issues.
Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, was recognized with the Alan Bluechel Memorial Award in recognition for his efforts over the past year to develop the Cascadia Innovation Corridor and cross-border relationships. PNWER VP Rep. Gael Tarleton (left) of the Washington State Legislature presented Irene Plenefisch , Director of Government Affairs for Microsoft ( right ) with the award on Brad Smith's behalf.
The Honourable Katrine Conroy, Minister of Children and Family Development and Minister responsible for Columbia River Treaty, British Columbia and Former MLA Ed Conroy were recognized by Senator Arnie Roblan of Oregon (right to left) with the the Hot Potato Award for their years of work regarding Columbia River Treaty issues.
2017 Awards
Photos Here
Bruce Agnew, Cascadia Center, was recognized with the Alan Bluechel Memorial Award for his visionary leadership in promoting transportation solutions for the shared prosperity of the region.
The Montana Invasive Mussel Team was awarded the Hot Potato Award for their work on building a firewall protecting the U.S. and Canadian shared Columbia River Basin following the discovery of invasive mussels in Montana. The team is led by Matt Wolcott, Incident Commander for the Montana Mussel Response Team and Randy Arnold, Regional Supervisor for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Bryce Christians, Chair of the Montana Invasive Species Advisory Council, and John Trapp, Operations Chief Incident Command Team accepted on their behalf.
Photos Here
Bruce Agnew, Cascadia Center, was recognized with the Alan Bluechel Memorial Award for his visionary leadership in promoting transportation solutions for the shared prosperity of the region.
The Montana Invasive Mussel Team was awarded the Hot Potato Award for their work on building a firewall protecting the U.S. and Canadian shared Columbia River Basin following the discovery of invasive mussels in Montana. The team is led by Matt Wolcott, Incident Commander for the Montana Mussel Response Team and Randy Arnold, Regional Supervisor for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Bryce Christians, Chair of the Montana Invasive Species Advisory Council, and John Trapp, Operations Chief Incident Command Team accepted on their behalf.