Recall of the Wild

RECA ll O F THE WI L D This is the second of a new Wild Lands Advocate series featuring interviews with Albertans who had the opportunity of living and working in Alberta’s backcountry when it was still largely wilderness. Writers will interview those who have known and loved wild Alberta for many decades, bringing you singular perspectives and stories from their colourful lives. Elmer Kure – the Man Who Never were better ways to use their money. gave up on Conservation Elmer was of the strong opinion that By Dorothy Dickson the time had come for the AFGA to have a wider and more conservation-minded Elmer Kure grew up on a farm in Spruce outlook at the whole environment of View east of Innisfail on a road leading the remaining wild lands and to take a to the Eastern Slopes. From his father he major role in preserving their inherent learned that the basis of good farming values, rather than just their value to is stewardship of the earth by practices produce game for hunting. This view such as crop rotation. however, when received considerable opposition but was they bought some new land to add to the gradually accepted by other members farm they had a disagreement because his and certainly increased the Association’s father wanted to follow the usual practice respect among conservation organizations of clearing the land of all natural features such as AWA. That Elmer was always to gain more land for crops. Elmer, on the willing to work with others for a cause other hand, wanted to leave a wooded he felt was important was clear when area and small wetland untouched. he worked alongside the Federation of he lost this first foray into land Alberta Naturalists in routing pipelines conservation and protection of wildlife away from vulnerable prairie areas and habitat but went on to win many more. agreed with the Canadian Parks and Young Elmer sometimes shot hares or Wilderness Society’s efforts to keep the D EPA grouse for the pot and he earned money winter Olympics out of our National R by shooting ground squirrels for a local Parks. TMENT fox farm. he was paid by the squirrel and he was not so popular with the had to buy his own ammunition so every ranching community when he opposed S miss was money out of his pocket. he grazing in much of Cypress hills Elmer Kure at the inauguration of the soon became an accurate shot and ‘don’t Provincial Park. The pictures he took on Antelope Creek Ranch west of Brooks. fire unless you are sure’ remained his opposite sides of the fence dividing the hunting ethic. nature grew as they explored. Over the parkland from the grazing lease helped The Alberta Fish & Game years he became a strong voice for those to convince the decision makers to agree WLA April 2009 • Vol. 17, Vol. April 2009 • WLA WLA April 2009 • Vol. 17, Vol. April 2009 • WLA Association, to which Elmer belonged, hunters, naturalists and environmentalists with him. usually elected as President the member who believed that if you wished to use, he represented the AFGA on the who had served as a Vice-President for enjoy and learn about nature, you had renewable resources Committee of the four years but in 1958 they decided they to accept the responsibility to work to ECA Public Advisory Committee (PAC) needed someone who was prepared to be preserve it and that included supporting at the time the original Eastern Slopes politically active and speak out on their the establishment of areas where all Policy was being written. Its main aims behalf. They wisely chose Elmer, who has wildlife was protected. were protecting watersheds and ruling been effectively ‘speaking out’ on many In the early 1970s, when public where recreational activities, including hunting and conservation issues ever awareness of conservation was growing hunting and fishing, were appropriate No. 2 since. and Alberta established the first Ministry and where protection of wildlife habitat No. 2 however, his ‘speaking out’ was of the Environment and the semi- should be given precedence. Public always done with courtesy and respect autonomous Environment Conservation hearings were held throughout Alberta for other points of view, so he was able to Authority (ECA), there were so many and Elmer attended every one of them, be on friendly terms with politicians such issues needing work, public hearings to contributing greatly to the resulting as Ernest Manning and harry Strom and attend and proposed policies to discuss, recommendations that led to a generally 29 his understanding of politicians and the that the President of the AFGA asked good policy – which, unfortunately, was political system has stood him in good Elmer to become the Association’s altered and considerably weakened years stead ever since. Executive director. In 1973 he handed later. he delighted in being out in wild the farm on to his son and took the job The struggle for better protection areas of the Province with his hunting full time - but, at his insistence, at half of the beautiful and biodiversity-rich buddies and his joy in, and respect for, salary because, typically, he thought there Eastern Slopes continues, but we still have the three strongly protected fuelled his strong opposition to game When it was for sale and the government Wilderness Areas for which Elmer fought farming. That such opposition was not would not pay the asking price Elmer and so hard or – one of the achievements of successful is one of his greatest regrets a friend set about raising the money. he which he is most proud and for which we and, of course, it was not long before alone raised $450,000 – no wonder they are very grateful to him. the predicted spreading of disease from gave him a gold-coloured shovel at the his interest in farming encouraged confined operations to wild animals was inauguration. him to support the PAC proposal to site proved correct. The useless slaughter of Elmer’s advice to those who want to drilling rigs in the corners, rather than ungulates on Alberta’s eastern border to bring about changes that will improve the middle of quarter sections and he try to stop the spread of Chronic Wasting protection of the environment is to start encourages the landowners now fighting disease has only recently been stopped at the community level, listen to other over power line routes. however, he and the AFGA and other groups are opinions and be flexible when possible. is not comfortable with those current increasing pressure on the provincial But if you decide something must be farming practices aimed at producing government to close the remaining game opposed, stand up and say “No” and more and more per acre. he thinks the farms before the brain disease spreads mean it. Keep saying no for however cost of depleting the soils so much that further. Elmer firmly believes that long it takes, never back down or just they need increased use of chemical wildlife, alive or dead, should never be give up. The many committees on which fertilizers and the heavy use of pesticides, for sale. Elmer was asked to serve attest to the is too big a price to pay and will One of his pet projects which still respect in which he is held by fellow eventually do more harm than good. brings a big smile of satisfaction to his conservationists and hunters and the When hunting bison in the Slave face was the preservation of the Antelope awards he won reflect their gratitude river lowlands in 1960, Elmer Creek ranch to show how things could for his achievements. his continuing diagnosed anthrax in the herd and be and should be done in a way that dedication inspires us to follow his alerted the government. From that grew sustains the land’s natural values as well advice and never give up. his interest in wildlife diseases which as its economic and recreational ones. D Ass OCIATION NEW S & EVENT S EPA R TMENT S IN MEMO R IAM WilliAm ERnEST FARRingTon Will Farrington appeared on the there, helping set-up, serving coffee, Feb. 4, 2009 at the age of 76 years street in front of our Calgary office and generally doing whatever was one spring day a few years ago required with quiet stealth! As the WLA April 2009 • Vol. 17, Vol. April 2009 • WLA and offered his services. A great years passed, Will would spend part volunteer, Will helped us with any of each year here in Calgary and project we asked him to be part of. A the rest in Montana. We have many graphic designer by trade, he helped fond memories of Will. Just as I was formulate concepts and designs for expecting an email from him this the Alberta Wilderness resource spring, saying he would be back in Centre and was an important part of Calgary soon, instead came the sad the team that pulled together ideas news that he had passed away, a and sought out funding and resources victim of cancer. We miss Will and in No. 2 to make our centre a reality. his his honour and to celebrate his spirit cheerful smile was found in any and penchant for volunteering and number of places. he was a singer giving of himself, we have instituted with choirs and groups at both the an award at this year’s Climb and Unitarian and hillhurst United church run for Wilderness in his name. The 30 congregation. We often encountered Will Farrington Memorial Award each other at events.

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