Page 5 - Canadian Wilderness spring summer 2017
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CONNECTIONSWITH NATURE
Kevish at his first Paddle the Rouge event. Photo: Jacqueline C Waters/ Getting to know
CPAWS Wildlands League Canada’s wild side
Connecting new Canadians Bryan is a volunteer at Matthew House, welcoming asylum
to nature through Paddle seekers, and sharing the experience of Canada’s wilderness.
the Rouge Last summer, he organized a camping trip to Algonquin
Provincial Park and invited two refugees who had arrived
When Shivani arrived in Toronto from India in 2013, she earlier in the year and were just learning to adapt to Canada.
volunteered with CPAWS Wildlands League, providing her with Neither Noor, an 18-year-old Syrian refugee, nor Abba, a
the opportunity to learn about her new country. When we 46-year-old refugee claimant from Nigeria, had ever been
started our Learn to Paddle for youth as part of our annual camping before.This was to be their first experience in nature,
Paddle the Rouge event, she enrolled her son, Kevish. hiking, fishing, and learning about the wilderness around them.
For both Noor and Abba, the experience was overwhelming.
Although nervous in his first year, Kevish quickly became a pro. By Abba says where he comes from, people don’t willingly
year two, he was relaxing with his feet on the gunnels, and helping venture into the woods. On their way to the camp site, they
his classmates on the water while at camp for school. In June talked about safety and wildlife, though Abba’s concern was
2017, he plans to volunteer to help other kids at Learn to Paddle, different – he was afraid of the human risk. In his country,
and share his love of Rouge Park with others. Shivani has become criminals live in the woods and venturing in is a great risk.
one of Paddle the Rouge’s greatest promoters, bringing more While his concerns kept him up the first night, he quickly
families each year through her testimonials. learned he was safe. He kept exclaiming,“Imagine such a
thing, staying in the woods!” He even caught a small fish,
In 2014, 29.1 per cent of new permanent Canadians settled in which he threw back hoping to catch it again on his next trip,
Toronto, home to what will soon be Canada’s first National bigger and worth catching!
Urban Park. Amended legislation made Rouge National Urban For Noor, part of the adventure was discovering small
Park bigger, with better protections for its ecology. It passed third towns on his way to the park. He recounts how they had
reading in the House of Commons in February 2017. to canoe two hours to reach the camp site, and the thrill of
eating grilled fish that had been caught earlier that day. He
With Paddle the Rouge, we aim to grow the next generation of remembers being awake while his friends slept, looking at
environmental leaders by connecting families to nature. By helping the bright moon and its reflection on the water, and listening
new Canadians connect with nature in their own backyard, we to the sounds of nature and a singing loon.
foster a love of wilderness on a grander scale and they become Abba said camping was something he’d only seen in movies.
advocates for our work across Ontario and Canada. He believes Canada is the safest place in the world and speaks
with awe of this place where he can go, learn about nature,
What better gift to give a newcomer than a new skill with which and have quiet moments of reflection.They’ve already started
to explore other parts of Canada? planning for next summer’s exploration of Canada’s parks.
- Jennifer Berney, CPAWS Wildlands League - Laura Colella, National Board of Trustees
Paddle the Rouge will be held Sunday, June 18, 2017, at Rouge Beach Park.
Noor,Abba, and the team in Algonquin Park.
Learn more at www.wildlandsleague.org
SPRING/SUMMER 2017 • Canadian Wilderness • 5
www.cpaws.org
