38 Conservator | summer 2012

What do you get when you put together a group of Manitoba’s corporate and community leaders, two Winnipeg Jets, one 2011 Stanley Cup-winning sports announcer and countless enticing auction items?

Over $153,000 netted for the Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre’s (OHMIC) wetland education programs.

In February over 200 guests including patron of the event, Conservation Minister Gord McIntosh, attended the 16th annual Minister’s Dinner at the St. Charles Country Club in Winnipeg. A volunteer committee staged the event and leading corporate sponsors were recognized and included Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP, Legacy Bowes Group and Johnson Waste Management. The event attracted a collection of returning attendees and first-time guests, including current Win- nipeg Jets hockey players Zach Bogosian and Dustin Byfuglien, and TSN 1290 announcer Shane Hnidy (sporting a GIANT Stanley Cup ring from his 2011 win with the Boston Bruins). All three NHLers are avid outdoor enthusiasts and support wetland conservation. Their presence added to an already exciting evening

(not surprising since everyone is Jets crazy in Manitoba these days).

Since its inception in 1996, the Minister’s Dinner has raised over $1.62 million to support the many wetland education programs offered at OHMIC. Each year, tens of thousands of visitors and students from around the world enjoy OHMIC’s interactive exhibits, multimedia theatre presentations and award-winning hands-on interpretive programs.

A highlight of the evening is always the announcement of the Corporations for Conser- vation awards. This year that honour was bestowed on Power Corporation of Canada and Talisman Energy.

Next year, OHMIC celebrates its 20th anni- versary. If you haven’t attended a Minister’s Dinner yet, 2013 is your chance to go. Take part in a milestone year while helping raise funds to continue wetlands education pro- grams in Manitoba. And who knows… you might run into a pro hockey player or two!

Sign up for Oak Hammock Marsh’s e-newsletter at oakhammockmarsh.ca

Jets defense puts fundraising on the offensive

In May, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) staff in Saskatchewan met with 34 members of their provincial legislative assembly. DUC also connected with several partners, including the Saskatch- ewan Association of Watersheds, the Saskatchewan Conservation and Development Association, and the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation. Conversations were encouraging, as all parties expressed concern about wetland drainage and the need for an effective wetland policy for Saskatchewan.

Politicians agree: an effective policy is neededwestern regionp r a i r i e s

Clockwise from top left: Shane Hnidy, TSN 1290; Ryan Downey, RBC Dominion Securities Inc.; Alfred Schleier, PCL Constructors Canada Inc.; Kevin McFadden, Sigurd- son McFadden & Associates, Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets, Zach Bogosian, Winnipeg Jets.

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DUC volunteers come from all walks of life. Each of our 6,600 volunteers across Canada has their own reason for supporting wetland conservation.

Busy momBusiness owner

Wetland warrior

Become a DUC volunteer 1-866-384-DUCK (3825) ducks.ca/volunteer

The relationships i’ve built with staff and other volunteers make volunteering for DUC more than satisfying. Wetlands are being lost, and it’s our obligation to do whatever we can to maintain and preserve them. as a DUC volunteer, i help protect our environment for the better.

ALANA GIBSON, DUC volunteer, Didsbury, AB

Ducks Unlimited Canada’s (DUC) Revolving Land Purchase (RLP) program continues to attract support from major gift donors. The concept is highly appealing because the donor’s funds are used again and again to conserve wetland habitat.

Qualico recently upgraded their support to the RLP program in Manitoba. This innovative program is unique to DUC in Canada. There are three steps in the program:

b Parcels of critical waterfowl habitat are pur-

chased with Qualico donations. Drained wetlands are restored and grasslands are rejuvenated to provide improved waterfowl habitat.

c The newly restored and existing habitat is protected by DUC through the placement of a conservation easement. At an oppor-tune time, the land is sold for sustainable use. The registered conservation easement runs with the land regardless of future ownership, protecting the habitat forever.

d The proceeds of the sale are used to pur- chase another parcel and the process repeats itself again and again (thus the term ‘revolving’).

“The appeal of this program for our organi- zation was the idea of revolving conservation that adds up. Our investment keeps on giving and with this approach, the cycle of restoration and conservation accumulates across the land- scape, creating a lasting legacy,” says Brian Hastings, Qualico chief operating officer.

As DUC learns more about the ecological goods and services wetland restoration and conservation provides, they are better able to quantify not only the benefits to waterfowl, but also to society. Each protected parcel adds to Manitoba’s natural capital.

Qualico first in a series of revolving conservation projects

“The appeal of this program for our organization was the idea of revolving conser- vation that adds up. Our investment keeps on giving and with this approach, the cycle of restoration and conservation accumulates across the landscape, creating a lasting legacy.”

– Brian Hastings, Chief operating officer, Qualicobe

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The Government of Manitoba was awarded the national 2012 Gold Leaf Award from the Canadian Council on Eco- logical Areas to recognize their conservation efforts targeted at private land in southern Manitoba. The award acknowledges the government on their leadership in protecting private lands through the Protected Areas Initiative program, including land owned by Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

“DUC is pleased to work with the Manitoba government on the Protected Areas Initiative program across Manitoba,” says Bob Grant, DUC manager of pro- vincial operations in Manitoba. “Our lands that are part of the Protected Areas network are there for the benefit of water-fowl, other wildlife and people, and it’s great to have that recognized through this award.”

A total of 25,204 acres of private lands are enrolled as part of the province’s protected areas network. These ecologically significant habitats are vital to maintaining biodiversity in developed parts of Manitoba, and help ensure a balanced approach of protection and sustain-able management within these areas.

DUC contributed 58 properties totalling 8,507 acres of DUC-secured land in the southwest prairie parkland to Manitoba’s network of protected areas. These areas provide habitat for ducks, as well as a long list of other ecological benefits and remain open to hunting and foot traffic. DUC manages these properties through grazing,

haying and weed control. In addition to DUC, land

owned by Nature Conservancy Canada and Nature Manitoba were also enrolled into the network of protected areas.

Wetlands part of rancher’s environmental sustainability

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“Our lands that are part of the Protected Areas network are there for the benefit of waterfowl, other wildlife and people, and it’s great to have that recognized through this award.”– Bob Grant, DUC manager of provincial operations (Manitoba)

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