Honouring a Manitoba tradition In 2009, to celebrate the role hunting plays in our culture and in wildlife management, the government of Manitoba proclaimed the fourth Saturday in September as Provincial Hunting Day. This year, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) worked with a team of like-minded partners to organize and sponsor a celebration of Provincial Hunting Day at Oak Hammock Marsh. “Hunting is a very important part of DUC’s heritage and tradition. Our organization was founded by conservation-minded hunters over 70 years ago,” says Rick Wishart, national director of education for DUC. “We are proud to host this year’s Provincial Hunting Day again at Oak Hammock Marsh and enjoyed celebrating our traditions with other hunters, while showing non-hunters why hunters were the first conservationists.” The event was geared towards raising the public profile of hunting and educating nonhunters, through hands-on activities, about the benefits of hunting, be it wildlife management, tourism or enhancing the economy. Hundreds of visitors took in archery and air rifle shooting ranges, saw retriever dogs in action, made wildlife calls and nest boxes, enjoyed traditional Métis music and sampled a variety of wild fare.
Wayne MacCallum and Joan Cox, wife of 2011 inductee Ken Cox, on the rooftop of the Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre at the NAWC Honour Roll ceremony in September.
DUC honours North American conservation leadership Two new plaques were fastened to the North American Waterfowl Conservation Honour Roll wall to celebrate deserving conservationists. With waterfowl migration at Oak Hammock Marsh as the picture-perfect backdrop, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) officially honoured the late Ken Cox of the North American Wetlands Conservation Council (Canada) and Wayne MacCallum of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Established by DUC, the Honour Roll is a national recognition program for individuals who have made unique and significant contributions to the success of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) in Canada. DUC’s conservation successes are due, in large part, to people western Region like Cox and MacCallum. They played key leadership roles in creating the prairies NAWMP, one of the most successful conservation initiatives in the world.
Student improves Calgary watershed by thinking outside the box
Cam Reed installs a bat box at Calgary’s Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club
With the help of Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Calgary Bat Society, Cam Reed is putting up dozens of bat boxes and bird houses at eight golf courses in Calgary this year. Reed, a Grade 12 student at Centennial High School, was one of this year’s “Caring For Our Watershed” winners. This contest sponsored by Agrium Inc. asked students what they can do to improve their watershed. Agrium provided $4,000 to winners to implement their idea. Reed’s idea was installing bat boxes and bird houses as a natural pest control. “I’ve learned that golf courses aren’t the bad guys, and they are very open to ideas to protect our watershed,” Reed says. “My project was another way to add to their environmental stewardship.”
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BHP Billiton supports DUC Smith Creek watershed project “The Smith Creek watershed is where all the action is.” At least that’s what Pascal Badiou, PhD., Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) researcher, will tell you when asked about his current research project called Building a Business Case for Wetlands in Saskatchewan. The most recent support for DUC’s research in this little known watershed is from a major global player in the discovery, development and conversion of natural resources. “Investing in discovery is a major component of what we do. Supporting wetland research is a good fit for us,” says Derek Chubb, BHP Billiton western Region prairies senior manager of health, safety and environment. “We must all do more to understand environmental issues like learning more about the role wetlands play in our watersheds. This fundamental information is vital to our work on the landscape.” Chubb adds, “Throughout the life cycle of our activities at BHP Billiton, from initial investment to operation and final closure activities, we continually assess and manage any potential impacts on local biodiversity. Working with DUC on this project, to better understand wetlands and their value to our environment, is an important investment.” Badiou’s four-year research project will help quantify the importance of wetlands by taking a hard look at the impacts of wetland loss in this watershed. There are considerable water quality and quantity issues in the Assiniboine River (which Smith Creek drains into) that negatively impact local residents and those downstream. The research focuses on the environmental, economic and social benefits of wetlands related to water quality, quantity and carbon sequestration. This information will build a business case for landowners to restore and keep wetlands on their lands. The Smith Creek watershed is located approximately 60 kilometres southeast of Yorkton, Sask., near the headwaters of the Assiniboine River watershed. It drains into the Assiniboine River, Red River and ultimately into Lake Winnipeg. BHP Billiton Canada Inc. pledged a major gift of $600,000 over four years to DUC to support wetland research in Saskatchewan and complements an existing gift from the RBC Blue Water Fund to ensure this important project can be completed.
This holiday se ason, surprise the people on your list with unique and me aningful gifts!
“Adopt” a duck fo r your dad!
“Give” mom a m
all ard!
DUC’s tax receiptable symbolic gifts represent wetland benefits that impact our day-to-day life such as clean water, animal habitat and a solution to climate change. By giving a symbolic gift, you’ll make a real difference in changing our environment for the better by supporting DUC’s wetland conservation work!
Give them to the special people in your life and contribute to a healthier environment for all of us. Visit ducks.ca/symbolic today! Right: DUC researcher Pascal Badiou, PhD. collects a water sample at DUC’s Broughton’s Creek study site in Manitoba.