Conservator

As I approach the 30-year mark in my career with Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), I recall the many times our organization has been challenged by circumstances beyond our control. Whether it’s been a global conflict or pandemic, market collapse or shifting political landscapes, impact of climate change or the oft-fickle nature of public opinion, we’ve been able to weather these storms thanks to two indelible truths: a steadfast commitment to our conservation mission, and an exceptional member net-work of volunteers, supporters and collaborators. Staying the course is important now more than ever during an unprecedented time that has seen us lose a significant source of funding. The U.S. federal government issued an executive order in February which suspended payment of grants on existing and future funding agreements outside of the…

My career with Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) began with a small, three-line print ad that my mom clipped from the classified section of our local newspaper. It was late summer of 1988, and I was fresh out of university with an English degree and no employment prospects in sight. So, I happily applied for the role of “contributor services representative” at DUC. I didn’t get that job, but luckily for me, the person who would become my first manager at DUC, Bob Laidler, pulled my resume from that pile of applications. Bob hired me to work as a clerk in the mailroom, which also involved ordering supplies and relieving the receptionist. When I met Bob for the interview, he told me that he didn’t like hiring for the position because…

Officers of the Board Roger d’Eschambault Chair of the Board Patrick O’Connor President Shawn Graham Vice-President Andre Tremblay Secretary Sara Penner Treasurer Pat Kehoe Acting Chief Executive Officer Canadian Directors British Columbia Ray Maher Greg Sawchuck Nancy Wilkin Alberta Andrea Brocklebank Jack Hole Bruce Tetz Andre Tremblay Saskatchewan Grant Devine John Eagle Bryan Leverick Katherine Marthens Manitoba Rob Burns JP Craft Kevin McFadden Ron Miller Hugh Moncrieff Patrick O’Connor Rob Penner Sara Penner Ontario Tom Davidson, Jr. Philip Holst Fawn Jackson Cassidy Morgan Alex Ocsai Quebec Vincent Bernier Sébastien Charbonneau Roger d’Eschambault Dany Renauld Elias Retsinas Alain Sagi Michael Solomita New Brunswick Shawn Graham Kevin Harris Nova Scotia James Lawley Mark Maddox Newfoundland and Labrador Dwight Ball American Directors Mikkel Anderson Paul Boehne Kathleen Christian Grady Hartzog, Jr. Rogers Hoyt, Jr.…

Converting natural land to other uses causes declines in biodiversity, which includes the variety of plants, animals, fungi and micro-organisms that work together to create healthy, balanced ecosystems that sustain life. To help land managers understand these impacts, a team of researchers at Ducks Unlimited Canada’s (DUC) Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research developed the Prairie Biodiversity Mapping and Assessment Tool. Using more than 1.2 million observations combined with habitat, climate, soil and elevation data, this tool models the distribution of 329 amphibian, bird, mammal and reptile species to identify where conservation and restoration actions could most benefit biodiversity. The project produced a peer-reviewed paper that found that land with conservation easements (conserved habitats) supported more wildlife species. Additionally, they found that the proportion of annual cropland at a site…

IF YOU’VE EVER STROLLED THROUGH A CITY PARK OR WATCHED DUCKS DABBLING IN A MARSH, CHANCES ARE YOU’VE SEEN A MALLARD. Mallards are the most abundant, widespread duck in North America and one of the most studied in the world. They are so common that it can be easy to take them for granted. But for all we know about this iconic species (and model for Ducks Unlimited Canada’s (DUC) duck head logo), there is still much to be discovered. Some mallard populations are in decline—and scientists and researchers are working to understand why. A high-flying mystery The question of “why” is one that has long captivated Cassidy Waldrep—a graduate student working under the expert guidance of Mitch Weegman, PhD, DUC’s Endowed Chair in Wetland and Waterfowl Conservation at the…

When staff from Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) travelled to Montreal for the United Nations Biodiversity COP15 in December 2022, they saw an opportunity to drive real, transformative change with colleagues in the nature education space. Amid the global urgency around climate change and biodiversity loss, they asked the bold question: How can we work together to build thoughtful, engaged and resilient youth in Canada? That question became a driving force behind the creation of the Nature Education Collective (NEC), a national alliance of five of Canada’s leading nature education organizations: DUC, the Canadian Wildlife Federation, Earth Rangers, Outward Bound Canada and Project Learning Tree Canada. “Climate change and biodiversity loss are too big for any one organization to tackle alone. We’re stronger together,” says Michele Nicholson, DUC’s acting national director…