Page 2 - Canadian Wilderness spring summer 2017
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PRESIDENT’S DESK SPRING/SUMMER 2017
CPAWS as Canada VOLUME 13, ISSUE1
celebrates its 150th birthday
CPAWS is Canada’s voice for wilderness.
MIKE ROBINSON Since 1963, we’ve played a lead role in
creating over two-thirds of Canada’s
Since Confederation, five generations protected areas.
of Canadians have lived the iconic
experience of the splendour that our NATIONAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES
country contains. Bounded by three Michael Robinson, President (BC)
oceans and an unmilitarized border with Cathy Wilkinson,Vice-President (ON)
our American neighbours, Canadians
truly live amongst unparalleled beauty Pippa Lawson, Chair,
and ecological diversity unique in the Governance Committee(YT)
world. With a population of 36,626,000
reported for 2017, we represent just a .49 Nik Lopoukhine, Chair,
per cent share of the world population. Conservation Committee (ON)
We dwell, however, on 9,984,670 square
kilometres, being slightly less than A mber Nicol, Chair,
three-fifths as large as Russia, and just Engagement Committee(BC)
slightly smaller than all of Europe. With Lavinia Mohr,Treasurer (BC)
a population density of 3.5 people per
square kilometre, we remain one of the Alex Abboud (AB)
most sparsely populated countries in Bob Halfyard (NL)
the world. Vincent Castellucci (QC)
Laura Colella, Chair,
With so much geography and so few humans comes an enlarged duty of care. Litigation Committee (ON)
Canadians, both as indigenous people and settlers, have always been stewards Andre Vallillee (ON)
of their back-country, and at home in the bush and prairie, on the waters, and E lmer Ghostkeeper (AB)
along the coasts. CPAWS, as Canada’s only nationwide charity dedicated solely to John Grandy (ON)
protecting our public lands and waters, now has 53 years of experience playing a
lead role in protecting over half a million square kilometres – an area bigger than Erik Val (YT)
the Yukon Territory. Kwiaahwah Jones (BC)
Since Canada’s adoption of the global Strategic Plan for Biodiversity (2011-2020), TRUSTEES EMERITUS
of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2010), CPAWS has strived to work in Stephanie Cairns
concert with all applicable levels of government to reach the global targets. Target Al Davidson
1, to achieve by 2020 the conservation of at least 17 per cent of terrestrial areas and Phil Dearden
inland water, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, through networks of David Lang
protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, has been Gordon Nelson
our key focus. It is linked to our national vision: to keep at least half of Canada’s Bob Peart
public land and water wild – forever. Sherri Watson
Charged with our duties and empowered by our vision, CPAWS’ 13 chapters and EDITORIAL TEAM
national office staff, program volunteers, and board members are now busier than Éric Hébert-Daly:
ever. In fact, many freely admit to being run off their feet in this 150th year of National Executive Director
celebration and commitment. Karen Turner: National Director of
Communications and Development
The new federal Liberal Government has very much put conservation back in Stacy Corneau: National
the national discussion, and unprecedented action is occurring across Canada Communications Manager
in creating terrestrial and marine protected areas under Target 1. For our part, Janice McLean: Design
CPAWS is strongly advocating the 17 per cent and 10 per cent goals be seen not as
ceilings, but as steps forward towards what is needed post-2020. EDITORIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Alex Abboud
Thank you for supporting this work, and happy 150th birthday! Rick Boychuk
Laura Colella
Mike Robinson, President, National Board of Trustees Bob Halfyard
CORRECTION:Trustee Emeritus David Lang was missing from the Fall 2016/Winter 2017 issue masthead. Cathy Wilkinson
We apologize for the error.
ISSN 1717-8894. Postmaster:
2 • Canadian Wilderness • SPRING/SUMMER 2017 send Canadian address changes to CPAWS,
506-250 City Centre Ave, Ottawa, ON K1R 6K7.
Canadian Wilderness is published
twice per year (Spring, Fall) by
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
(charity #10686 5272 RR0001).
© 2017 Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.
No part of this publication may be reproduced
without express permission in writing
from CPAWS.
www.cpaws.org