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Altona CAN! ...Live Sustainably - Connie Heppner Mueller

Welcome to Altona Community Action Network’s new column - AltonaCAN!

ACAN is a small group of concerned citizens who reach out to the community to educate and

inspire environmentally sustainable practices. 


What has that looked like? We have hosted annual Earth Day events on various themes and

partnered with town council to bring year-round composting to Altona. It has meant coordinating

the community garden and supporting Boomerang Bags Altona to reduce our reliance on

single-use plastic bags. We have a newly formed Tree Team that hopes to have some more t

rees in the ground around Altona this fall. We were also gearing up to lead some waste

reduction efforts at this year’s Sunflower Festival, but sadly that will have to wait for next year.


What started as a fireside chat between two friends 5 years ago, has grown to a team of 9

members: Gavin Faurschou, Joanne Wiebe, Marilyn Houser Hamm, Joel Martin, Jack

Heppner, Jonah Langelotz, Amy Pankewich, Kelly Skelton and Connie Heppner Mueller.

Through a community supper and evening of conversation this January we have also identified

“Friends of ACAN” which is a larger group of supporters that we draw upon and keep in touch

with.

From left: Joanne Wiebe, Marilyn House Hamm, Gavin Faurschou, Kelly Skelton, Joel Martin,
Connie Heppner Mueller, Jonah Langelotz  Missing: Jack Heppner, Amy Pankewich


During the current pandemic we have seen like never before how deeply we are all connected,

across the globe but also within our community. We have truly come together to support and

encourage each other during this time, but COVID-19 is not the first time we’ve seen Altona’s

community spirit. This community can do so many things. Altona can…


  • Make and keep our community beautiful

  • Come together in a crisis

  • Welcome newcomers

  • Offer services, programs and facilities that usually only larger centers can provide

  • Boast one of the best summer festivals around

  • Be proud of the quality of athletes and artists that call Altona home


We hope to be able to add many more things to that list like ‘Altona CAN work together to plant

more trees.’ or Altona CAN lead the way in encouraging biking and walking as our main

modes of transportation.’ or ‘Altona CAN drastically reduce its waste by composting and

recycling.’ We at ACAN are hopeful that we can continue to make this great community even

better. And in that spirit we introduce you to Altona CAN! 


Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, www.altonaca.blogspot.com or email inquiries to
altonacan@gmail.com Give us a shout if you would like to be a Friend of ACAN.

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