Activist Spotlight: Katelyn Bishop
Q: What is your current role with the Surfrider Foundation?
I’m the Brand & Graphics Director for the Vancouver Chapter of Surfrider Canada.
Q: Why and when did you get involved with the Surfrider Foundation?
I started volunteering for beach cleanups back in 2017. I love the physical element of beach cleanups; the immediate impact of your time can be seen with all the trash that’s collected. It felt rewarding, satisfying and is also a great outdoor group activity. Once cleanups started up again post-covid last year, I saw the callout for core volunteer positions within the chapter and the Brand & Graphics position felt perfect for me as I am a graphic designer full-time.
Q: What are some environmental issues that are affecting your local community? I spend a lot of time outdoors throughout the year especially in the summer. Enjoying time at the beach, playing tennis, biking through in the city and hiking our local mountains to go backcountry camping. We say “protect where you play” at Surfrider and I want everyone to have equal access to our amazing backyard and not have to avoid it because of wildfires, water pollution, extreme heat waves or other effects caused by climate change. Defending our oceans, reducing plastic in our marine environment and protecting our clean water resources all create a positive ripple effect to our environment as a whole, with water being our most precious resource.
Q: What has been the highlight of your Surfrider experience (i.e., campaign, program, victory)?
A major highlight for me was working with the chapter to create our first annual impact report where we outline our campaign progress, cleanup statistics & more, and use this as a baseline to compare to as we continue to publish these annually moving forward and determine areas that may need more focus or where we might want to develop a new program around etc. I also enjoyed working together to complete Ciggy (our orca made out of cigarette butts) as a visual icon to promote the importance of our Hold On To Your Butt Campaign.
Q: Do you have any personal experiences or campaigns/issues that you’re passionate about where the social justice and environmental movements have intersected? If so, can you tell us about them?
Recent old-growth logging protests on Vancouver Island and the grassroots activism surrounding that really effected me emotionally and inspired me to volunteer more of my time to issues that are important to me. While I wasn’t able to partake in that movement directly, staying informed helped motivate me to join Surfrider where I can contribute locally.
Q: What can Surfrider do to foster an inclusive and welcoming experience? Do you have any examples from your experience where this is successfully happening?
At the recent Surfrider Canada conference I had the privilege to meet so many members of the national Surfrider community from all walks of life and backgrounds. You don’t have to be a surfer to join us - just a lover and protector of the oceans, waves and beaches! I think Surfrider Vancouver can continue to be a presence at local community events, extend a warm welcome all who want to join, and focus on ensuring easy access to our beach clean ups, as they are a great starting point to introduce new members to the Surfrider Vancouver team.
Q: What is the most important thing you tell others about Surfrider?
Surfrider is a small but powerful community of likeminded individuals who can achieve more together than apart. We’re better together (and it’s more fun together!).
Q: Why is being a part of the Surfrider ocean conservation community important to you?
I have a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the community and environment around me, in order to help ensure a healthy future for generations to come. I’ve struggled with climate anxiety since I was a teenager, and part of my method of coping with that is being informed and trying to make a difference both in my personal life and on a larger scale. Surfrider campaigns aim to make change on provincial and federal levels and working together to win campaigns and raise awareness is really fulfilling.