plEaSE takE onE - Saskatchewan Forage · plEaSE takE onE. t Ducks Unlimited Canada, ... Brian...

12
ducks.ca A PUBLICATION BY DUCKS UNLIMITED CANADA SUMMER 2017 PLEASE TAKE ONE

Transcript of plEaSE takE onE - Saskatchewan Forage · plEaSE takE onE. t Ducks Unlimited Canada, ... Brian...

ducks.ca

A PUBLICATION BY DUCKS UNLIMITED CANADA SUMMER 2017

plEaSE takE onE

t Ducks Unlimited Canada, spring is the time of year when our organization’s accomplishments shine most brightly. Our conservation projects provide safe

and secure breeding habitat for a wide variety of wild- life species across the province, many of which only spend part of the year with us. On an annual basis, our staff plan and work with our agricultural partners on the landscape to ensure Saskatchewan’s wildlife and waterfowl have places to reproduce, and we create places we can all enjoy for years to come.

We hope you will enjoy reading our newsletter and that it gives you a good understanding of our organi- zation and our plans for 2017.

If you have ever considered joining Canada’s leading conservation organization through our programs, by attending an event or volunteering, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours in conservation,

Brian Hepworth Manager of Provincial Operations Ducks Unlimited Canada, Saskatchewan

AManager of provincial operations Report

aunched this year, the DUC Saskatchewan program, officially known as FlexFarm, is a huge success. The new program pilot offered to landowners and farmers in the Humboldt

area is completely sold out. DUC’s contracted agronomist and owner of Field-

Good Agronomics, Larry Durand, farms near Humboldt and is delivering the program in the area.

“This program’s a win-win. Not only does it create dollars and cents for the farmer, it also creates habitat for wildlife, healthy riparian areas, opportunities for

L

carbon sequestration and any other environmental benefits that go with putting in perennial cover or wetlands,” says Durand.

Durand was successful in delivering the pilot. He signed up 10 farms, for a total of 15 growers. This equated to a total of 46 quarters of land to be enrolled in the program. The basis of the program is to provide producers a financial incentive to partner with DUC and restore wetlands and upland habitat. Producers will then be compensated for the ecological goods and services the newly restored areas provide to society.

While FlexFarm is currently being piloted only in three rural municipalities in Saskatchewan (Hoodoo, Three Lakes, and Humboldt) Durand says, “I can really see this program taking off.”

DUC is actively looking for funders so it can launch another pilot in a different area in Saskatchewan and eventually into Manitoba and Alberta. For more infor- mation, or to watch the FlexFarm video, visit ducks.ca/ flexfarm or email [email protected]

Karli Reimer Communications Specialist – Agriculture

2 | SaSkatchewan Conservation ConneCtion

ndustry and Government Relations staff have been busy educating landowners, stakehold-ers and university classes about the many benefits wetlands provide to society. As we all understand,

wetland systems provide shelter for endangered species, flood protection for landowners and nutrient capture and storage to help improve downstream water quality.These benefits are recognized by all residents of Sask- atchewan and are provided largely by our partners in the agricultural sector who employ best management practices. We will continue to educate people in the province to place a value on one of our most important resources: water.

The Quill Lakes area remains a pressing concern, not only for the farmers and ranchers around the lakes themselves, but also for those in the Qu’Appelle chain who may end up with some more water this year. DUC will continue to work with the provincial regulatory body to lend assistance where and when we are able. It would appear, as we come to the end of the runoff season that the Quill Lakes will not spill on their own. However, a diversion is being discussed to move fresh water from the Quill Lakes region, through Last Mountain Lake before heading to the remainder of the Qu’Appelle chain of lakes. DUC will remain engaged in discussions with those along the chain as potential solutions to this complex problem are discussed. Habitat restoration in the Quill Lakes basin remains the focus of the government of Saskatchewan and DUC has been supportive of that position.

Bill 44 – The Water Security Amendment Act – has passed third and final reading and received royal assent in the

legislature. While no definitive timeline has been given from the government, DUC expects Bill 44 to be pro- claimed before the end of summer at which time Bill 44 will come into force. This bill will provide a more focused complaint process, remove the water appeal

board and increase daily fines to those who are found in breach of the Act. DUC has been supportive of Bill 44 as a solid first step in the government’s work to get drainage into a regulatory framework. With a strong regulatory framework and the legislation being proposed, unmitigated wetland loss should not occur. This will allow all development – oil and gas, residential and agricultural – to proceed with some safeguards in place for the environment and protect everyone’s right to farm. Proper mitigation will remain the key to the success of any wetland policy in Saskatchewan.

Michael Champion, PAg Head of Industry & Government Relations

IIndustry & Government Relations Report

Habitat restoration in tHe Quill lakes basin remains tHe foCus of tHe government of saskatCHewan and dUc haS been SUpportive of that poSition.

above: The Quill Lakes remain a concern, not only for the farmers and ranchers around the lakes themselves, but also for those in the Qu’Appelle chain who may end up with some more water this year.

4 | SaSkatchewan Conservation ConneCtion

ith the changing seasons begins planning and imple- mentation of our securement activities for the new fiscal

year (April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018). We held a two-day provincial meeting in

early April for all DUC securement staff. Together, we charted out the plan of action for the year ahead.

Over the winter months, staff have been in negotiations with landowners and have been discussing the programs that DUC offers. DUC staff will now will be field checking land this spring and summer to determine program eligibility and discuss program options that are best suited to producers’ farming operations.

DUC offers a suite of program options that include financial incentives. As well as numerous haying and grazing opportunities on DUC property, our programs include:

Z Forage ProgramsZ Fencing ProgramsZ Conservation EasementsZ Wetland RestorationZ Winter Wheat Z Long-term lease programZ Revolving land program

Conservation is key to a successful agri- cultural operation. With forage and range- land programs, we help producers use natural grasslands for livestock and to enhance soil health. Through wetland restoration pro- grams, we manage water on the landscape to provide clean drinking water for live- stock, minimize soil erosion and recharge the groundwater.

With winter crop programs, we help producers access a profitable crop that is beneficial to their lands soil health as well as provides habitat for waterfowl. We encourage landowners to call their local DUC office

to see which programs best fit their farming operation.

The Revolving Land Conservation Pro- gram (RLCP) has seen 11 DUC properties sold since January 1, 2017. The RLCP concept is simple. DUC purchases parcels of land, restores the wetlands to their natural state to efficiently manage water on the land and restores viable upland habitat. When the work is complete, the parcels are sold with conservation easements on the title. DUC adds the easements to the title to secure the wetlands and ensure the surrounding viable uplands remain in grass, all the while allowing for continued agri- cultural use of these lands while the natural values of the land replenish themselves.

The RLCP is a great chance for cattle producers to purchase environmentally sustainable and healthy land at a reduced rate and utilize the land for their cattle operation. Interested landowners should contact Dave Molberg (timhammond.ca/Dave_Molberg) with Tim Hammond Realty to view the parcels of land that are currently for sale throughout Saskatchewan.

Andrew Hak Head of Conservation Programs

WSecurement Report

one of the feature conservation easement (Ce) projects is the barber Ce. this is the second Ce project with syd and viviane barber in the past few years and DuC is thrilled they trust us as a partner. in total, they have signed conservation easement agreements on five quarter sections of land. this agreement with the barbers will protect the wetlands on the land, located in southeastern saskatchewan, in perpetuity.

signing a Ce is a significant gift to society and future generations. the ecological goods and services provided by these protected wetlands include: filtering and purifying water, carbon sequestration, flood and drought protection

and protected habitat for waterfowl and wildlife.syd barber (right) has an affinity to protecting

the environment as he spent the majority of his career working for the saskatchewan ministry of environment. this april, syd witnessed eight species of ducks on one of the wetlands. He stated that this is “the most he’s ever seen together on their land.”

Funding for this CE was made possible, in part, though the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) Gulf spill funds. These funds have been set aside to protect critical breeding habitat in North America for birds that winter on the Gulf of Mexico.

P R o j e C t SPOTLIGHT

SaSkatchewan Conservation ConneCtion | 5

UC is currently advertising the 2017 forage program and staff are taking many applications from landowners wanting to

convert lands into perennial cover for either hay or pasture. The program is once again a partnership with Crop Production Services (CPS), who have made a four-year commit- ment with DUC to collaborate with the forage conversion program and expand the amount of acres eligible for the program. Currently, DUC has over 15,000 acres of interest in the CPS forage program. This interest is on a total of 175 quarters of land in DUC target areas.

To encourage grain producers to seed their less productive land to perennial cover, DUC partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture and local watershed groups to host two workshops, in Arcola and Lipton. The topic was addressing salinity issues on cultivated lands. The workshops had over 65 farmers in attendance at each site where they heard presentations from various agriculture stake- holders on options to dealing with saline soils. Of great interest was a presentation on “the economics of seeding forage on poor quality soil”. The presentation focused on the significant improvement on the land- owners’ economic return once unproductive cropped areas were turned to forage. Through the workshops, DUC received numerous inquiries from farmers who are now aware of the options available to address poor quality soil and improve their returns.

For the upcoming year, DUC anticipates seeding 4,300 acres of cultivation into nesting cover on lands secured through purchase or long-term leases. The forage blend seeded will be a mixture of grasses and legumes designed to provide early nesting cover for breeding waterfowl. These blends are also extremely beneficial to pollinators.

For the upcoming year, DUC will be inspecting the restored wetlands constructed in the fall of 2016. Staff will ensure that the 104 newly restored wetlands are able to capture spring runoff and the constructed

works remain intact. The restored wetlands can occur on both DUC secured lands and on private lands. Restoration staff is excited to continue to promote the forage programs, wetland restoration program, and long-term lease program to private landowners and with local watersheds in DUC targeted areas.

The Touchwood Hills Conservation Ranch (THCR) was pleased to host “Back to the Field” on May 29-30. The workshop was organized by the Society for Range Man- agement (Parkland Chapter), and was an opportunity for professionals involved in

land management to brush up on plant identification and ecological health assess- ment techniques. DUC’s Jodie Horvath was asked to join the committee of organizers this year.

“Offering to use the THCR as a backdrop for this two-day event was a no-brainer,” says Jodie. “As a large working ranch, the property offers a multitude of settings that participants and instructors can use to hone their skills: plenty of riparian areas and perennial cover to explore.”

DUC has had a presence in the Touch-wood Hills landscape for decades. Hosting events like this workshop, is a great oppor-tunity to highlight our many projects here

and our long-term commitment to con- servation in this important waterfowl area.

During National Soil Conservation Week, the Soil Conservation Council of Canada encouraged people to bury underwear in soil to demonstrate soil heath. Due to the healthy grassland habitat at the THCR, we thought that the ranch should participate in the social media excitement. On April 21, Jodie Horvath and Chelsea Manz, of Com- munications, travelled to the ranch and buried a new pair of 100% cotton Stanfield underwear. Jodie and Chelsea videotaped

the fun; if you have not had a chance to view the video, or are curious as to what the “Soil Your Undies” campaign is about, check out our provincial Facebook page at facebook.com/DUC Saskatchewan and click on “videos”.

trevor Plews Head of Conservation Programs

THCR project funding was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Natural Areas Conservation Program.

Restoration Report

D

bove average temperatures early this spring resulted in runoff being underway by late March and early April in most

areas of Saskatchewan. Even with the below average snow in many parts of the province, the majority of DUC’s engineered wetland projects are at or above normal operating levels. The heaviest runoff occurred in southeast Saskatchewan because of greater snowfall in that region. Spring runoff is a busy time of year for our Habitat Asset Management (HAM) wetlands team with projects requiring runoff inspections, water control structure operations and maintenance.

HAM staff are also busy planning and preparing for this year’s project rebuilds and project decommissions by negotiating agree- ments with landowners, applying for permits and licences, as well as working on engi- neering designs and surveys. Construction season for project rebuilds, repairs and decommissioning typically runs from late summer to early winter so all required preliminary work needs to be completed beforehand.

The spring season had our uplands team busy with field inspections on DUC properties and planning for management activities on many of those projects. Once

management decisions are made, staff are then working with local producers to manage those lands through grazing or haying. Any DUC properties available on open tender for hay and grazing will be posted on our website at ducks.ca/resources/landowners/hay-tender- saskatchewan or you are always welcome to call toll-free at 1-866-252-3825 for more information.

Kelly Rempel Head of Habitat Asset Management

AHabitat asset Management Report

6 | SaSkatchewan Conservation ConneCtion

pring is a crucial time of year for farmers as they are busy seed- ing their crop. However, there is one crop that has been in the

field since last fall: winter wheat.Spring is the time to assess how well the

winter wheat crop did over the winter months. As a rule of thumb, the Western Winter Wheat Initiative (WWWI) suggests that farmers get half of their spring seeding done before checking their winter wheat. This gives the crop time to recover.

There are many variables that influence a crop’s survival over winter, the first being the stage the crop is in when winter arrives. It’s best to seed winter wheat early (between the end of August and the middle of Sept- ember) to get it to the three leaf stage before snowfall. Snow cover is very important to insulate the winter wheat crop over the winter, and four inches of loosely packed powder is really all it needs. Survival also depends on soil temperature, as it has to get very cold in the ground (greater than -20°C) before there is any real risk to the

crop. There are slight varietal differences with the degree of winter hardiness and how much cold a specific crop can tolerate, but it is best to follow the recommended agronomy practices no matter which variety is grown. The use of a seed treat-ment can also make a difference. Studies have shown that using a seed treatment can do a lot to improve the strength and health of the plants as they emerge in spring.

When it comes to assessing a winter wheat crop, WWWI agronomists recommend being patient and giving the crop a lot of time to recover. Growers should not make any rush decisions until they’ve done a proper assessment. If you would like more information on assessing or growing winter wheat, visit growwinterwheat.ca or check the spring assessment video on the WWWI YouTube channel. You can also reach DUC WWWI agronomists by calling toll free at 1-866-252-3825.

Amanda Swanson Winter Wheat Agronomist

Winter Wheat Update

S

located near kinistino, Waterhen Marsh is the first project that DuC created in saskatchewan. the area was drained in 1919 and 1920 for farming, but the soil quickly became overrun with peat moss and became a fire hazard. in the 1930s, locals decided that the marsh should be reflooded, and DuC approached the community with a plan to replenish the water source. a 4,400-foot (1,300-metre) dike was installed and a wooden bridge served as the water control structure (the bridge has since been upgraded numerous times). DuC staff and community leaders successfully replenished the marsh and to this day the 4,100-acre marsh is a source of pride for locals and DuC staff due to the beauty of the landscape and the record number of waterfowl breeding pairs.

in 2016 – over 75 years later – a concerned landowner living near waterhen marsh noticed that water was flowing through the dam during spring thaw. they contacted DuC, and staff assessed the situation. although the dam has a low water head, a complete breach was con- sidered a potential emergency situation. if the dam were to breach, the retained water would immediately flow downstream, damaging infrastructure and homes, and impacting the quality of life for residents in the area.

time was of the essence. the government issued an emergency permit and due to the dam still being partially frozen, a local contrac-tor began repairing the breach. During the repair, while the dam was being excavated, a muskrat poked its head out of a hole where the breach had occurred. this shed light on the cause of the problem.

this was not the first time that muskrats have caused problems on DuC projects and it won’t be the last. However, the situation raised the question: how do we identify and fix the issue before it becomes a major problem?

with the waterhen Project being so old, multiple options and costs were considered to tackle muskrats and other rodents. the dam is roughly a mile long which would require a major rebuild, decommissioning or extra armouring. all options would be expensive. waiting for the next spring runoff in order to patch the next possible breach was also not a favoured option because DuC was not willing to put the community and landowners at risk.

it was at a meeting in June that members of the Ham wetland team decided to try a tech- nique known as ground Penetrating radar. the hope was that this technique would be able to pinpoint all existing tunnels and any trouble spots in the dam. by identifying these issues, it

would minimize the amount of ex- cavation and materials needed for a repair. DuC staff hoped it would also allow repairs to be done during the summer, which would ensure that the dam is ready for spring runoff and provide peace of mind to staff and residents.

DuC hired a saskatoon contractor to perform the scan. the process con- sisted of an antenna being dragged along the dam top that sends a signal through the soil. if the signal is inter-

rupted or changed due to a sudden density change in the soil, staff could then assume the density change was an air void, and possibly a tunnel exists. six locations were determined to have extensive muskrat damage. these sites were excavated and backfilled without having to do exploratory excavating.

with above average temperatures in february and march, spring has seemed to arrive early and runoff in many areas of waterhen marsh is almost complete. the repairs are holding well and no new indications or reports of breaching have occurred. with the exploration of better antennas and different frequencies it is possible that on some larger and higher profile wetland projects, gPr could again be used to provide a preliminary assessment of the condition of dams and diversion structures.

Devon Chubey Conservation Programs Specialist

P R o j e C t SPOTLIGHT

above: Initial construction to restore the 4,100-acre Waterhen Marsh commenced in the late 1930s. Over 75 years later, the marsh remains a source of pride for locals.

8 | SaSkatchewan Conservation ConneCtion

“cattle prodUcerS are intereSted in good graSS and water for their cattle, wHiCH are tHe same tHings tHat we’re looking for wHen trying to Do water-fowl Habitat Programs.”

Karla Guyn CEO, Ducks Unlimited Canada

n Canada we have less than 20 per cent of our native prairie landscape remaining. It may not be as intuitive to connect these upland areas to water- fowl production, however many duck species nest

in these important uplands. Therefore, it is important to consider the connection we have to grassland conser- vation. There are 50 million acres of pastureland in Canada, largely owned, managed and protected by cattlemen. These grasslands offer many of the same benefits and services as those native prairies.

Canada is a world leader in sustainable beef. As a member of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef since 2014, DUC shares the same vision as the Canadian beef industry for a sustainable agricultural landscape. The roundtable is a multi-stakeholder organization with members spanning the beef industry from producer groups, to environmental NGOs and food service companies, with a common goal of

Rangeland Update

I

advancing the sustainability of Canada’s beef industry. They have become world leaders on this front, making great headway for our industry.

Since 2014, the group has completed a national beef industry sustainability assessment for benchmarking our industry’s sustainability performance. They are currently developing a verification system based on locally relevant, outcome-based indicators that verify all parts of the supply chain for sustainability, and will begin on-farm inspections this spring to start logging verified sustainable beef operations in Canada.

As members, DUC representatives have played a hand in this process. Paul Thoroughgood participated on the Indicator Development committee, Kristine Tapley now sits on the Communications and Marketing committee and Dr. Pascal Badiou sits on the Science Advisory Committee.

Given the important role that the beef industry holds in conserving Canada’s remaining grasslands, DUC recognizes the significance of supporting this initiative. After all, many waterfowl species nest in upland grass areas, not in the wetlands themselves, making rangeland a key part of successful waterfowl production. DUC has numerous programs available for producers that provide financial incentive and can increase your bottom line. Please contact your local DUC office or visit ducks.ca/ landownerprograms for more information.

Kristine tapley DUC Regional Agrologist – Beef Industry

hen you see the end result of what DUC does, it’s not hard to be a part of that,” says Candace Franke. “You can drive around and see the projects and

what has been done. You realize you’re part of some-thing bigger.”

Franke has been a DUC volunteer for 21 years, serving the past 17 years on the Saskatoon Ladies Committee, 15 of these as committee chair. She also served on the Saskatoon Social Event Committee and the Saskatoon Sponsor Event Committee.

“Candace bleeds green,” says Keith Mackintosh, DUC provincial manager of events and volunteer relations for Manitoba and Saskatchewan. “She’s a leader who’s willing to do anything that will benefit DUC. Her passion for the cause is second to none.”

Franke joined the DUC board of directors on the membership and revenue committee in 2009, serving for several years. Among her volunteer accomplish-ments, Franke has been top ticket seller, gift in-kind and cash donation gatherer. Last year, she secured two bronze sponsors and $5,000 sponsorship.

She’s channeled her passion for conservation despite her lymphoma diagnosis several years ago. “It was really a difficult process. I struggled to put all my energy into

continuing on, because it was the one thing that really mattered to me.”

“Candace keeps things balanced and moving forward,” says Mackintosh. “Her continued commitment to the Ladies Committee through personal and family health issues is a true inspiration for all volunteers.”

Franke believes dedication makes a good volunteer, and she plans to continue setting this example.

“I know I can’t save the world, but I think my story and my commitment and my passion could certainly impact other people. Not just because I’m female, but I’m a Canadian that cares for the land and water that we have and the conservation of it. And that does matter when an average Canadian starts thinking about our children’s children. How we look at the world today has to include the future.”

DUC wants to extend thanks and congratulations to Candace for being named the Provincial Volunteer of the Year for Saskatchewan, as well as tying for first place as National Volunteer of the Year. To read the personal message from DUC President Jim Couch, please visit ducks.ca

Reprinted with permission from DUC’s Conservator magazine (spring 2017) and ducks.ca

Saskatchewan’s own honoured as DUC’S Volunteer of the Year

W

SaSkatchewan Conservation ConneCtion | 9

orne and Evelyn Johnson were a dynamic husband and wife who were community leaders in their time. Their philanthropic leadership efforts continue to improve Sask-

atchewan to this day, almost 40 years since their passing, thanks to the charitable foundation they established in 1962.

Both were very committed and involved community members. Although they had no children of their own, they cared about youth, education, the arts, and the envi- ronment. They had a dream for a better community and knew that education was a key to creating the stepping stones for change.

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is honoured to have been chosen as a recipient of funding from the Lorne and Evelyn Johnson Foundation. The Johnson Foundation provided a grant for DUC’s Project Web- foot program in the amount of $25,000 and the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation amplified that donation with an additional grant of $7,500 in honour of Canada’s 150th anniversary of confederation in 2017.

Project Webfoot is DUC’s school program for children in Grades 4 to 6 and is delivered across Canada. Project Webfoot relies largely on private donations. The program gives children an opportunity to connect with nature

through inspiring educational content, and the curri- culum focuses on instilling a love for nature and the environment. The total gift of $32,500 will fund 12 classrooms in Regina and Saskatoon, educating over 300 students. These students will receive award-winning educational resource kits and exciting wetland field trips with curriculum linked hands-on activities.

Lorne and Evelyn Johnson arrived in Saskatchewan from Ontario. Lorne moved to Regina in 1909 when he acquired an interest in the Eastern Saskatchewan Land Company. In 1911, he was one of a small group of Regina businessmen who organized the Sterling Trust Corporation. Lorne Johnson married Evelyn Vrooman in 1916. A well-educated woman, Evelyn was a graduate of the Toronto Conservatory School of Expression where she also studied piano. After grad- uation, she went on to teach public speaking and dramatic art.

The couple was active in the social and cultural life of Regina. They were both supporters of Regina College, and Lorne was a member of the board of directors before the University of Saskatchewan took over the college. He was one of the founders of the Regina Symphony Orchestra and the Regina Orchestral Society, president and long-time member of the Regina Art Centre Asso-

a legacy of learning

Llorne and evelyn JohnSon Continue to Positively influenCe tHeir Community, DeCaDes after tHeir Passing.

10 | SaSkatchewan Conservation ConneCtion

editor: Chelsea manzdesign: Jeope wolfeprinted by: impact Printers

ducks Unlimited canadaSaskatchewan provincial officeP.o. box 44651030 winnipeg streetregina, saskatchewan s4r 8P8

306-569-0424 1-866-252-3825 [email protected] ducks.ca/saskatchewan DuCsaskatchewan @DuCsask

The DUC Conservation Connection is available for free at Cabela’s. thank you Cabela’s for your support.

ciation, and he was one of the founders of Darke Hall and assisted in building Darke Hall. He was also president of the Western Canada Golf Association, the Saskatch- ewan Golf Association, the Assiniboia Club, the Regina Arts Centre Association, and the Regina Advisory Board of the Salvation Army.

Evelyn was a member of the Women’s Art Associate of Canada and the Canadian Literature Club. She also served on the executive board of the Women’s Educa-tional Club, was a governor of the Regina Orchestral Auxiliary, and was a member of the Regina Women’s Music Club for many years. She was very active in promoting interests and roles of women in Canadian society. She held offices in the Local Council of Women of Regina (LCW), the Provincial Council of Women, and was a life-member of the National Council of Women. She was also active in the Women’s Canadian Club and the Red Cross, where she held offices at the local and provincial level. While serving as secretary for the LCW, she assisted in fundraising for the “Every Women’s Fund” which donated profits to saving 54 local women who needed treatment for tuberculosis.

The Johnsons wanted their community-building efforts to continue in the province, and in 1962, they established the Lorne and Evelyn Johnson Foundation. The couple managed the foundation until their passing: Lorne in 1971 and Evelyn in 1978. Since then, a volun- teer board of directors has governed the foundation with administrative services provided by the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation and makes grants to many organizations looking to create positive change in their community.

“The Johnsons had a vision for creating a better pro- vince,” says Christina Attard, Executive Director of the

Lorne and Evelyn Johnson Foundation and of the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation. “They placed a high value on ensuring that their legacy would be to help others fully participate in community life through education and the arts and to provide an equal oppor- tunity to those in need. This project will help to connect children with the natural environment – and is a great way to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary by inspiring a deeper understanding about the wildlife and habitats that shape our country and our communities.”

For information about setting up your own foundation, contact the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation at 306-751-4756. For more information on DUC’s Project Webfoot, please contact [email protected]

our youth of today are our leaders of tomorrow. DUC is thankful that the foundation sees the potential for positive change by influencing more than 300 youth to love where they live, respect the environment and be a voice for positive change.

This initiative is made possible by the Community Fund for Canada’s 150th, a collaboration of the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation, the Government of Canada, and extraordinary leaders from coast to coast to coast.

“thiS proJect will help to connect children with the natUral environment – anD is a great way to Celebrate CanaDa’s 150tH anniversary by insPiring a DeePer unDerstanDing about tHe wilDlife anD Habitats tHat sHaPe our Country anD our Communities.”

Christina Attard Executive Director, Lorne & Evelyn Johnson Foundation

Protect wetlands. Learn more at ducks.ca

Create memories.Life is a series of moments—and only the best moments become memories.

Dangling your feet into waters below, casting a line into the lake and hoping for a nibble, splashing in your boots along the edges of a pond, or simply catching frogs along a wetland’s edge. These moments are part of us—and most are provided for free by nature.

Nature needs us. A healthy environment depends on healthy and intact wetlands, yet over 9,000 acres of wetlands are lost each year in Saskatchewan. We need action.

kids love critter dipping, and all you need are a couple of basic items and a wetland. a bucket and net provides hours of entertainment, and educates children about the diverse organisms that call a wetland home.

Make some memories—go critter dipping!