October 2010 • Vol. 18, No. 5

AWA

Moraine Lake from , PHOTO: © N. DOUGLAS

The Illusion of Integrity / 4

Alberta’s Proposed New Parks Legislation / 6

Sordid or Welcome? Mountain Bikes in National Parks / 9

Willmore as a World Heritage Site? / 13

From Prairie to Potatoes / 15 Editor: Ian Urquhart COctoONTENTSber 2010 • VOL. 18, NO. 5 Graphic Design: Marni Wilson Features Wilderness Watch Printing: 4 The Illusion of Integrity 23 Updates Colour printing and process is sponsored by Topline Printing 6 What is Happening with the New Provincial Parks epartments Legislation? D 9 Do Mountain Bikes Belong in 26 Gear the Backcountry? Absolutely. 27 Reader’s Corner 10 A Sordid Affair: Mountain Biking in ’s National 28 Recall of the Wild Parks 13 The Willmore: Stronger Events Management… What’s So Evil Wilderness About World Heritage Status? 30 Tuesday Talks; Music for the Association Wild; Awards and Annual “Defending Wild Alberta through Potatogate: Turning 15 Lecture; AGM Awareness and Action” Endangered Species Habitat into Potato Chips 30 In Memoriam: (Nancy) Louise Alberta Wilderness Association is a Guy charitable non-government organization dedicated to the completion of a Association News protected areas network and the conservation of wilderness throughout the province. To support our work 17 Newcomers to Wild Spaces with a tax-deductible donation, call 403-283-2025 or contribute online Sunrise on a Mountain Top 18 at AlbertaWilderness.ca. 21 Peter Lee: I Know Martha Wild Lands Advocate is published Would Approve bi-monthly, 6 times a year, by Alberta Wilderness Association. The opinions expressed by the authors in this Cover Photo publication are not necessarily those Nigel Douglas’s cover photograph of the view from Mount Temple in Banff of AWA. The editor reserves the right National Park might have been labeled “Closer to Heaven.” It powerfully to edit, reject or withdraw articles and represents some of what is so special about Alberta’s Rocky Mountain Parks. letters submitted. Please direct questions and comments to: 403-283-2025 • [email protected] FEATURED ARTIST Subscriptions to the WLA are $30 per year. To subscribe, call 403-283-2025 This issue of the Advocate is very pleased to be able to feature the work or see AlbertaWilderness.ca. of Franco Lo Pinto. Franco lives and works in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, just east of . The land, the animals, the weather and the peoples of this land and their spirit influence Franco’s work. He is blessed and privileged to be creating art with the earth (clay). Franco studied art history, sculpture and ceramics at the University of where he graduated in 1983 with a Fine Arts degree. He primarily works with clay now and creates stoneware fired to 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit. Fire, air, earth and water are part of this creative process. His work is available through the Kingsland and Millarville Farmers’ markets as well as through his studio near Millarville. His intention with anything he creates is to present his vision of Box 6398, Station D, beauty in a simple and elegant way. Calgary, Alberta T2P 2E1 403-283-2025 Toll-free 1-866-313-0713 www.AlbertaWilderness.ca AWA respects the privacy of members. Lists are not sold or traded in any manner. AWA is a federally registered charity [email protected] and functions through member and donor support. Tax-deductible donations may be made to AWA at Box 6398 Station D, Calgary, AB T2P 2E1. Ph: 403-283-2025 Fax: 403-270-2743 E-mail: [email protected] www.AlbertaWilderness.ca Parks for Profit?

Leslie Bella’s 1987 book Parks for Profit was a rude awakening for me. In the late 1980s I had an idealized, perhaps naïve, view of the history of Canada’s national parks. I thought the initial inspiration for establishing Banff National Park, Canada’s first, came from foresight. I thought they bowed in the direction of preserving nature, that they arose from a concern about protecting what we now call “ecological integrity.” Bella told me I could not have been more mistaken. Banff’s establishment was the opening act in a play where governments and business “promoted national parks as a stimulant to profitable tourism.” conservationists battled this orientation for decades. Many may have thought they turned the tables on the commercialization of parks through amendments to the National Parks Act in 1988 and 2001. Those amendments, as Shaun Fluker has argued, failed; stipulating in law that all aspects of parks management must give the first priority to the “maintenance or restoration of ecological integrity” has not meant that either Parks Canada or the courts have interpreted the law that way. “Not only is the preservation of nature not the first priority in the national parks,” Fluker writes, “it isn’t even a presumption in parks decision-making.” What then will the future hold for parks in Alberta? This is the question guiding this issue’s features section. The award- winning writer Jeff Gailus offers you a stinging interpretation of ecological integrity’s place in Banff National Park. In a word, it is an illusion. We live a lie, namely that our environmental track record is admirable. Alison Dinwoodie asks you to consider her concerns about what the new provincial parks legislation may mean. Shaun Fluker’s argument offers a cautionary context for reading Alison’s piece. If the federal legislation unambiguously states that ecological integrity “shall be the first priority of the Minister” little comfort is offered by the province’s words that

“the primary of preservation” will be “balanced” with PHOTO: I. URQUHART other goals. Ursula Wohlfarth and Brian Horesji offer you radically integrity perspective, that Alberta would consider selling 16,000 different views on what sorts of activities we should welcome acres of mainly native prairie in the vicinity of Bow Island to a and allow in our parks. They tackle an activity that should potato farming operation. If the sale proceeds native prairie will be be very familiar to, and often I suspect, highly valued by ploughed up to grow potatoes. AWA members – mountain biking. Ursula’s enthusiam for Finally, I offer some thoughts about the future of the Willmore mountain biking rests on pillars such as greater accessibility Wilderness Park. Alberta’s Parks department is taking a number of to the backcountry, its health benefits, its growing popularity measures to strengthen management of the Park but, unfortunately, and the environmentally responsible message offered by some the initiative to add Willmore to the Rocky Mountain World Heritage mountain bike associations. Site appears stalled. Frankly, I don’t think very much of the various brian’s assessment of mountain biking could not be more arguments I have read about why adding Willmore to that Site is different. In blunt, uncompromising language he first questions dangerous. the democratic and representative pedigree of the consultation I also have the privilege of introducing you to Peter Lee, an process preceding September’s announcement that mountain outstanding environmentalist, who will be receiving a Wilderness biking opportunities are likely to be more numerous in Rocky Defenders Award and delivering this year’s Martha Kostuch Mountain parks in the future. He also believes that mountain Wilderness and Wildlife Lecture. I am sure Peter’s lecture, on biking “assaults” ecological integrity and that aggressive November 19th, will give us much food for thought. Finally, this bikers, “wrapped in body armour,” pose a serious threat to issue sees AWA make a switch in designers. We would like to thank other park users. Ball Creative for their help and support over the years. We welcome Less overtly, Nigel Douglas’s article is a powerful plea Marni Wilson to the AWA family and look forward to working with for why more parks and protected areas should be a significant her! feature of Alberta’s future. It is a travesty, from the ecological - Ian Urquhart, Editor anff’s Banff’s anff Banff … Canada, the economic Canadians can connect Railroad run right through anff Banff management plan, Although he does refer to them “I was surprised to learn as we In his introduction to (and approval see “We a future,” he continues, “in Such a reaction shouldn’t be

well-being of communities and the vitality the and communities of well-being of our society.” as “protected places,” at no point does backcountry permits, the students were utterly shocked at what Canada’s they first and found most famous in national park. barrelled down Highway (TCH) that we were already in the of the students in her the park,” wrote one Canada Trans- final paper. “Evidently the TCH and the Canada Pacific I was Banff. in for another surprise as we The town exited of the highway. weak new management by plan, Parliament adopted in little 2010, which protection that offers die for in and unsustainable grizzly around numbers the in Minister of bears Environment park. Jim Prentice’s More announcement recently, to allow a activities host in of national new parks – zip-lining and canopy tours inexorable and mountain but including slow a in latest the is – biking process to increase the profitable business parks. national our in tourism industrial of of) the new Prentice refers to as our “places of national learning, inspiration parks where recreation and with our past and appreciate the natural, cultural and social forces Canada.” that shaped which these special places will Canadians’ further appreciation, understanding and enjoyment of was full of people bustling in and out of the of out and in bustling people of full was Starbucks, Louis Vuitton and Gap stores that lined the streets. It when park national a was in were we that grasp difficult to surrounded by such a developed environment. The urban only reminder was the 360 degree backdrop of mountains.” surprising. These students read Castle anff, Banff, but they had certainly ity ntegr anff Townsite Banff to Townsite pick-up our I Rockies Field Institute, located in It was the second half of a two- Waterton exploring week a spent We of

ow Valley. None of the Bow students Valley. had but as we passed the park gates and

ever been to it. heard of it and were keen to experience The sense of anticipation was palpable as we left Canmore. drove into Wilderness in southwest Alberta, and then and Alberta, southwest in Wilderness towards north van 15-passenger our turned the month university field Wild course for the Missoula, Montana. When I joined students the in Waterton, they had spent a month in and already around Yellowstone about learning Parks, National Glacier and how these American gems are managed, and experiencing, firsthand, theof legacy integrity: both source of areas for recovering these grizzly bear parks populations that are are literally bursting at the seams. Lakes National Park and the llusion I he

By Jeff Gailus T Rockies to study

Canadian ast summer, my and co-instructor I university students dragged through the six intrepid

southern conservation biology They world. and real the in conservation based community- what at surprised more been have couldn’t they saw. L “If there is a more exquisite pleasure exquisite pleasure more is a “If there than driving into Banff, it must be rear-view in one’s watching it recede Mammon has set up stall all mirror... Bow River almost to the way from the foot of , a hundred identical gift shops dispensing life’s necessities obtainable at duty-free any international airport: cashmere, Caleche.” crystal, Cartier, Watkins, Michael April 1995. , 30 The Sunday Times PHOTO: J. GAILUS PHOTO: Although overpasses prevent wildlife deaths, vehicle collisions, and provide some vehicle collisions, and provide wildlife deaths, Although overpasses prevent also potent they are Highway, the Trans-Canada semblance of connectivity across the way we do business in our national parks. symbols of our unwillingness to change

eatures WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5

F 4 Features WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5 5 By joining The Grizzly The oast storm. Coast International anada’s first Canada’s Canada, it is our . “We are failing ourselves. “The federal government has our of left is what protect not do we If Thus deceived, again and again, we can we again, and again deceived, Thus Manifesto The only way to turn things Canada is to begin paying attention to the around in environmental politics that whirl around East an in snowflakes like us return home and easily (and conveniently) conveniently) (and easily and home return feel good about ourselves: that ignoring despite that our parks; protecting we are the Kyoto Protocol we signed almost 20 years ago, we are responsibly addressing climate change; that the tar sands are, in source “responsible” and “green” the fact, Tory other and Prentice Minister energy of politicians would have us believe, despite the growing scientific evidencecontrary. to the engaged in greenwashing as part search of its for environmental writes legitimacy,” Douglas MacDonald, lecturer at the a University of Toronto, senior in the most recent issue of the Journal of Canadian Studies. “It is very federal the 1990s, early the after that clear government eagerly contributed to construction the of the new norm environmental of coupled with economic environmental growth, for purely anthropocentric reasons. protection business and environmentalists new centre of at mainstream environmental the politics, the federal government helped to of arc the in change fundamental preclude irrevocably is that development” capitalist unraveling the natural world. parks from our insidious industriousness, of words the in lose, will we commissioner of National Parks, James Harkin, “the very thing that distinguishes [our national parks] need a renaissance in world.” We the way from the outside our National Parks and other managed “protected” areas federally are managed. first the made be must integrity Ecological human of forms consumptive with priority, use and enjoyment a distant second. They from immune places, sacred become must the corrupting influences of power. As profit citizens and of responsibility to stand up to the powerful forces of greed that have been unleashed on our parks. “It’s easy enough to blame governments and their course, but ultimately henchmen, it’s not them who of are failing us,” I wrote in the into politics these incorporate must We into way we live our lives and, especially, the way we vote. Chris Canadian? anadians Canadians to of integrity. Empire of Illusion, Empire anadians Canadians and our Bow Valley without illusion via ferrata via (cables and Are our parks not sacred? Are they It is often said, as I have, that we are we that have, I as said, often is It Far from connecting The illusion we have created in

anff’s Banff’s innumerable watering holes. anff Banff National Park is integrity, but not ecological the “the power of love is about sacrifice for the Other … rather than exploitation. It is about honouring the sacred.” not an embodiment of all that is good and be to means it what about right Like molecules of mercury – harmless, each but one accumulation deadly – the tyranny of small decisions is destroying the commons. All the while, too many of us simply stand by with our hands in our bean the while heads our nodding pockets, counters and profiteersthousand a by rubdeath It’s glee. with theirtogether hands cuts, and the wounds are as much ours as the land’s. loving our parks to death, but I no longer think it has anything to do with love. As Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Hedges makes clear in Or are they just profit centres designed to titillate and amuse rather than to honour and protect? visitors a false sense of accomplishment – a kind of blind faith – in the of integrity our environmental track record. “You guys really know how to do it here,” a school right teacher told from Virginia up one at beer impromptu an over day one me of “Those overpasses are amazing.” our national parks and the natural world they are meant to safeguard, Banff a distances visit us to from the realities our ecological leaders choose to responsible are ignore; we that it myth the reinforces environmental stewards, and creates the illusion that we can have our cake and eat it too. Unsuspecting visitors, the assuming federal bureaucracy is mandate, fulfilling its come away that we with can have freeways and the railways and sense ski hills and small cities – and now mountain biking and canopy tours zip and lines and ladders permanently attached to mountain climbing routes) – without compromising the ecological health Parks. of our National our national parks, imaginations by the wire fences and lofty cemented in crossing structures that allow our us to speed smugly through the a care in the world, is strategy to develop part in of a larger anff’s Banff’s Canada Canada is making algary, Calgary, doesn’t share anff, Banff, can be as harmful anada’s National Canada’s Parks: The Canada and the federal court have Kevin van Tighem, These policies are based on a false The claim is ridiculous. There What we are maintaining here in

he refer biodiversity, to or the act ecological of protecting verb!) the plants and (a animals within their integrity, or boundaries. think You’d he was referring to an amusement park or a science centre, not one of the very few places in to ecological integrity and as clear-cuts. strip Increasing this mines visitation places a burden kind on our national of parks that they simply cannot bear. where federal legislation maintenance or restoration makes of ecological “the priority.” integrity” the “first by down handed been has that assumption Ottawa to be flogged by the very people who should know better. Greg superintendent Fenton, of , recently stated that the “very future of the parks depends on getting more people to them.” actually visit and appreciate is no question that we consciousness need to a create shift in a respectful better, relationship more with the world. natural We do need natural provide people with positive experiences. places that However, national parks are supposed to to protection of level pre-eminent the offer a natural world under assault everywhere. already are parks popular most the of Many underfunded and overused, their primary mandate to protect nature undermined by government indifference. Development, especially the to infrastructure facilitate the industrial-scale required tourism that dominates superintendent, told me over a coffee that he believes that Parks ecological integrity the first priority when it comes to managing our National Parks. But Shaun Fluker, a the University law of professor at van Tighem’s optimism. In published a recently journal Integrity in article, “Ecological False Promise of Fluker Law,” concludes national the of strengthening a despite that parks legislation in 1988 prioritize and environmental protection, 2001 both to Parks “read down the priority of the ecological to factor a as simply first priority integrity be taken into account in parks decision- making. Not only is the preservation of nature not the first priority in the national parks, even it a isn’t presumption in parks decision-making.” C Black Lies: Little - Mixed Use and Use Mixed - B ? tion “Although “Although climate change You are not paying attention,

There may be advantages to the One Man’s Search for Truth in the Tar Sands Propaganda be , will War Books Mountain published by Rocky in 2011. captures captures most of the headlines these days, the grizzly bear is trying to tell us there are other problems Our afoot. governments to are corporate have interests, beholden and become unaccountable beasts.” they unresponsive and Alberta’s beleaguered grizzly bear population is telling us. You are not taking up. care. It Wake is time for a revolution. is an award-winning Gailus Jeff Calgary. and author from writer book, His next

egisla onservation). Conservation). It is difficult to see how ostensible reason for this new legislation is to simplify the Parks system so that the public has a more realistic expectation of what conservation values and recreation activities are supported in each park. merger of these Acts confusing, as with they few can But, if the legislation be is clear to be effective, it definitions. must make clear that the primary purpose of the Act is to ensure the protection of Alberta’s natural heritage and biological diversity for future generations, with any goal, this with consistent being use human depending on the ecological sensitivity of three the define also should It area. given a Recreation, (A- zones - changes in nomenclature or within variations zones will accurately the help very different roles to of the distinguish current mix of parks and protected areas. For example, a different very a conveys ‘Park’ Ecological Wilderness ‘Park’ or message from a Wilderness ‘Area’ or an Ecological ‘Reserve’! L arks P Heritage . Heritage Provincial Provincial Ecological Black Creek Black Creek Provincial Parks Provincial rovincial , and the P , Areas Natural and , Areas Wilderness ew The new legislation seeks N

, the Heritage Rangeland Trails Act Trails Rangeland Heritage Rangelands will be given a new specific Act, and the Willmore Wilderness retains its own separate three types of Act. parks under the The remaining Parks Act and the three types of protected areas under the RNA WAE Act will be all classified ‘Provincial Parks.’ The Reserves, Act Rangelands and processes environmental diversity of the representative province.” of Today government the says: goal “the of primary preservation three is other balanced goals: heritage with appreciation, outdoor recreation and heritage tourism.” It may suggest that the primary goal preservation of really is not after all if it has to be balanced with other that primary goals. to rationalize consolidating and streamlining three the laws Parks into one Act. ‘Provincial The Parks’ laws system by to be merged are: the Act the

with

“Alberta’s “Alberta’s appening H Cindy Ady. This resulted is

t Plan for Parks, which was arlier this year, a questionnaire from Tourism, Recreation (TPR) was circulated Parks and ha , and enjoy the natural world and

The consequent outcry from many Compare this with the previous

By Dr. Alison Dinwoodie By Dr. W

sectors led to a full day public discussion with Minister in a new vision statement which was still protection with people-oriented, primarily just one of several value, people to discover, parks inspire actions: protect the benefits it provides forcurrent generations.” future and vision statement from 2004: “Alberta’s parks and protected areas perpetuity preserve landscapes, in natural features introduced last year. This Plan originally bore no relation to previous proposals. It was focused almost entirely on recreation people, and tourism – which conservation, previously had always was not mentioned at all. priority, been the to ask for opinions on new provincial Parks provincial new on opinions for ask to legislation. This is the next development of the E Backcountry experiences, far from the madding crowds and luxury shops found in any the madding crowds Backcountry experiences, far from what makes Banff such a special place. airport, help visitors better understand J. GAILUS PHOTO:

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F 6 Features WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5 7 But if they iver, River, which, Clyde Fen NA, onservation areas. Conservation Provincial Parks Act, Provincial Recently a county bulldozed Rocky Mountain National Parks. There is an opportunity under the And what about the larger lands

become re-classified as Wildland Parks, there will be immediate pressure to open them up to more such recreation as activities, horse use activities have and greater hunting. physical impacts Wildland The disturbance. Such ecological and Parks concept is pressure to allow more also use of motorized coming vehicles, a use under obviously contrary to the idea of non-intrusive, sustainable, nature- based backcountry recreation. along with the Willmore, fill in the gaps in the They are the most highly protected lands in the province, under the protected areas RNA) (WAE Act. Wildland Provincial Parks, the corresponding areas under larger the wild may sound similar in intent to the WAs, but WPPs allow significantly and more intensive activities. In WAs, the different only foot traffic is permitted, to maintain their undisturbed natural state. some some NAs in exchange for a similar area of at least equal value by established adding to park. an For example, Astotin NA was exchanged for some land increased area in an adjacent Provincial Park. ecological more of usually are areas Larger value than small piecemeal bits but variety of species the found Area in a Natural like Astotin is not necessarily duplicated in the new reserve. Some feel that Parks would like to get rid of the the majority NAs of or turn them over to counties, as Alberta’s it is increasingly difficult for Parks to look after them even properly, if they were given more legal protection. In the of presence the only is it cases, several Volunteer Stewards keeping a watchful kept them alive. eye on them that has in Areas Natural include to legislation new protected legally their It should also include most of 100 the NAs over which only have a Notation Term (PNT). Protective The PNT is a flag to indicate the it NA’s does significance, not even but outline the boundaries. NA’s legal a road right through the destroying the fenland drainage that was vital to maintaining several rare species. The county claimed they were unaware that the fen was even considered a special area! at the other end of the spectrum? There are three large Wilderness Areas, White Goat, Siffleur and Ghost Race). So But, there are 18 29 3.7 336 541 (sq.Km) (sq.Km) 3 (without 6 Rangelands) large Heritage Average Area Average Area Average Birkebeiner Ski 3 15 32 75 137 229 No. No. The second largest category of Cooking Lake-Blackfoot (home of

how do you distinguish between types of Areas? Provincial Recreation Areas (28 percent of the is Natural ‘parks’ total), which are the least well known and also the least They protected. too are very small in area and many were originally unallocated school allowances in section of land. They are widely scattered each around the province. They were intended to ‘protect sensitive and sites local significance of from regional disturbance and provide education and opportunities nature appreciation, for with limited low-impact recreation local activities.’ legal of lack the of because Unfortunately, adequate provide to money and protection support, many have them made that attributes very the abused; been increasingly significant have been under attacksometimes destroyed. and Parks has delisted also several similarly large areas used for more intensive non-motorized recreation e.g. the annual become privatized and under Parks few A supervision. are larger therefore less areas identified for motorized recreation use, to recognize the increasing demand for such ‘playgrounds.’ Crimson Recreational Natural Areas, Natural Areas (NA) Provincial Parks (PP) 3 types under the 3 types under Wilderness Areas (WA) Ecological Reserves (ER) Provincial Parks Act Provincial Wildland Provincial Parks (WPP) Wildland Provincial Parks Provincial Recreation Areas (PRA) Provincial Recreation Areas, Ecological Reserves, Areas, Ecological and Heritage Rangelands Act 3 types under the Wilderness 3 types under the The general public at present poorly Table Table 1 notes there are nearly 500

Table 1: Types of Provincial “Parks” in Alberta in “Parks” of Provincial Types 1: Table Lake, or special tourist destinations like Writing-on-Stone and take for the granted need to maintain ecological the physical characteristics and which makes these places so special. “Parks” in the current what system. are there listed “parks” the Only of percent 15 people commonly think of as Provincial The Parks. majority large (75 percent) are very small, highly developed Provincial Recreation Areas or unprotected Natural Provincial at Looking Areas. Areas (47 percent of the total) first they are easily classified as Zone A, primary use recreation. They are well-developed mostly small, sites that large number cater of people. to facilities They such provide as a campgrounds and day use viewpoints. has Unfortunately, already had Parks to these close wayside a stops recently number because of of lack of funds, or alternatively they have understands the parks system. questionnaire When asked ‘what a did Albertans want in their provincial parks?’ the reply was ‘more campsites and weekend popular the of flushthink usually They toilets.’ as such areas, campsite get-away Beaverhills Conference, I confess to scratching my head One might say that, with the present There are some different initiatives Under the new legislation, how

Preservation, two types of Wildland Demonstrate the limitations or Encourage greater co-operation with strict limits on any industrial development development industrial any on limits strict requiring surface gas wells, access mining, linear pipelines (e.g. disturbances). or Existing other oil/ commitments land-use should be respected phased but, out as soon present. as possible, as at when I try to make sense of Alberta what unknowns many so are There proposing. is to difficult is that proposal whole this about foresee the future of our Parks. In fact, at the aforementioned Stewards one respected individual, who sits on many on sits who individual, respected one international committees for conservation and biodiversity, suggested what Alberta is proposing is a and very demonstrates the retrograde province’s lack step of commitment to conform to any international of the standards biodiversity. for protecting information, Albertans are have unlikely a better understanding of to our parks as just be may It now. do they than system likely that they are more confused! The possibility of confusion aside I think we a develop to opportunity real a missing are Protected and Parks of system world-class Areas here. More? Approaches Offer Do Other of merits the illustrate to used be could that provincial of issue the to approaches other Three of them are: parks legislation. 1. zones. three proposed the of shortcomings For example, the Wildland Park existing Management Plan Whitehorse lists 7 zones: Zone, Natural Management, Access, Environment, and a Special Recreation Provincial Area (not adjacent to it). in the WP but would these to zones ensure more much be to needs There be understood? appropriate re-classified activities explanation given to are the public regard than in I think this the legislation offers us. 2. other conservation/recreation bodies the in region. For example, the Initiative (BHI) has joined other major with bodies including a three National larify, Clarify, C (Mixed Use PHOTO: S. NICHOLS PHOTO: Regional Advisory B and But, the same conditions Recreation Areas. Also be But, it is not clear enough if Conservation), for example, for The legislation should also define I am glad to see that any boundary Park plans ostensibly are being It would also be helpful if the

Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park. Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Councils. TPR will have a real influence it how should deciding for decision final the in have much development will take place in our Parks in a particular region. TPR’s major voice should come from the fact that our parks belong to Albertans, all not just the people who live in a specific region. sure that mentions of always ‘recreation’ distinguish between motorized and non- motorized activities. will Parks Provincial in proposed changes require mandatory advance public notice. This useful condition would be extended to all categories. should also apply to any zoning change – at the moment Ministerial Orders may make changes without any public notice whatsoever. developed to align with Framework the and TPR Land-use will closely be working with the will not be government should seize the opportunity watered down, to increase but protection, for the example, giving formal by legal protection to Natural Areas. general intent of the different areas could also be described more exactly. in other words, Designate permissible Zones activities. and non-motorized recreation activities only. Motorized recreation is in more designated suitable C eserves, identified Reserves, But this designation Conference at Sherwood But, we live in a sea of But the majority fall within B - Mixed Use, (where almost any What, then, must the new legislation new the must then, What, It would be nice to be able to answer to able be to nice be would It onservation. Conservation.

The two remaining categories may Conservation, (with strictly controlled that question. confusion. For example, I attended recent Stewards the Park on September 12th. Parks staff told us then that they we knew did! no So more much than legislation new the what about “certainty” for staff input (and is likely to offer)! It is supposed to be an Act which is ‘enabling’ likely to mean all the zoning details, etc. will be covered by Regulations (to be discussed later). deliver “on the ground?” The emphasis in the protected areas currently under the RNA WAE Act must place conservation before any recreation activities. have We been assured that the degree of protection What Will the New Parks Legislation the New Parks Will What Mean in Practice? - visitor use). Zone non-motorized outdoor activities may be Ecological permitted). in the protected areas RNA) (WAE Act, should clearly be zoned entirely as Zone C – should come with protection, a higher meaning disturbance, level minimal to of protect natural human in heritage an undisturbed benchmarks for education and research. state and to create be easier to deal Provincial Parks conform with to the familiar as the model of Zone A-Recreation (camp sites, current and facilities etc.), occasionally Zone

eatures WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5

F 8 Features WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5 9 ? PHOTO: K. MIHALCHEON PHOTO: Franco Lo Pinto’s most cherished creation most cherished creation Franco Lo Pinto’s that had grown a piece of tree carved from this rock. around ackcountry B Blue the

in

Recreation Area. The elong River in the vicinity of B ikes B Alison Dinwoodie has been a has been Dinwoodie Alison A A recent local initiative to resolve . Mountain bikers on the Moraine Lake Trail, one of the few trails in Mountain bikers on the Moraine Lake Trail, Banff National Park that allows mountain bikers. M. SEKELLA PHOTO: Rapids Provincial recreation bodies involved will look after their facilities and perform maintenance. some A local trail council it manages but Parks still enforcement has and the maintenance authority of for public roads. of and steward for advocate passionate for areas parks and protected Alberta’s than 30 years. more a way towards a Conservancy greater area respect in a for region a under the Framework. Land-use 3. disputes between motorized motorized and users. Two non- parcels of public lands and four NAs along the Drayton North Valley have as been Eagle Point Provincial Park designated and ain ount M Recreation o bsolutely eaverhills Beaverhills Centre, a Creek is one A By Ursula Wohlfarth D Bragg Cooking Lake But hey, at least I avoided Bird Area around

oing up Carnarvon Lake in my the cycling It shoes was a bit of a challenge. headwall to

Mountain biking is for people who Yes, in Yes, my opinion, mountain bikes Carnarvon Lake or Loomis Lake that certain trails lend themselves

because of the wide local buy-in, it Strathcona Strathcona Wilderness

Elk Island National Park, under G have their place in the backcountry. It is another way to access the wild lands and mountain a And love. all we places natural bike is the ideal way to get to destinations like are a bit too long to reach in a day hike. And, adventure. with sport combine to like for people who believe in self-propulsion, as opposed to sitting on top of a horse or on an all-terrain vehicle. Loop Elbow biking. mountain to perfectly in K-Country west of distance 46-kilometre entire The example. drive roads that are is on old four-wheel would have been a whole lot easier in my hiking boots. the long walk in on the old logging road. Getting there on my bike was a lot more fun! Park and several different counties. counties. different and several Park • beaverhills NAs Important and the national Lake (currently dried out). Lake (currently • popular hiking, nature study and cross- country skiing destination that also runs very successful programs education for schools. of outdoor • blackfoot – Area, with an for extensive summer and trail winter recreation. system non-motorized • federal jurisdiction, with it own rules and regulations, but is compatible co-operating other the of with direction general the bodies. also encourages other local landowners to make their conservation property, this co-operation between easements different on bodies, and acceptance particularly by the the counties, indicates anff Banff

s ’ Yes, Yes, it is possible that multi-users Mountain biking is increasing in In closing, I suggest that mountain This transformation of public rights anff Banff Park, for whatever reason, Canada Olympic Park, they will be anada

Superintendent Kevin van Tighem will interpret the new national activities recreational guidelines September in a announced opportunities way for that in responsible will Park. oldest National biking in Canada’s mountain create on trails will result in occasional clashes. But I maintain that of mountain the bikers, like vast the majority hikers equestrians we and share the trails with, are well mannered. Hikers and bikers alike horses! of way to right the yield definitely popularity with many teenagers getting into the sport. Once those young people mature and get over their love of the rush they get from riding downhill at like places riding cross-country like the rest of us. biking on park trails is here should to be. stay. It It is nature at another its finest and the wild lands way that to enjoy we are so lucky to have in our back yard. is a Calgary-based Ursula Wohlfarth consultant, committed community biker. mountain and enthusiastic volunteer riding riding location is Jasper National But Park. has chosen to be more restrictive it when comes to mountain biking. They have cited possible run-ins with bears as one reason for this more yet restrictive it stance, is hard for me to in see bear how territory biking is more dangerous than hiking there. Personally, I hope was nothing short of a brilliant political takeover. As perceptive author one “understand states, the dynamics of power it environmentally and repression at work” in easy something like the to rise of stakeholder politics. And it is the in area of environmental protection and regulation where this subversive process plays a particularly potent process A role. C in

anff Banff Creek iking Resource B Bragg ain oalition Coalition provided algary Calgary Mountain Contrast that ambition ount ountry. Country. Another terrific : M algary-area Calgary-area recreational clubs to Mountain biking on the other hand is hand other the on biking Mountain fortunate are we Alberta, southern In Trails Trails that are sustainable and that

can anyone seriously dispute ir ffa arks National Parks that see heavy horse traffic. horse heavy see that Parks National Horses—historically entitled to access so parks—create mountain our in trails many mud holes and braided trails that are very unpleasant for hikers who have to use the behind, dung leave horses And, trails. same which along with spilled feed, contributes to the introduction of of invasive flora that species are not members of natural mountain and foothills ecosystems. clean, green and healthy for the rider. to have many miles in of Kananaskis trails available parking parking lots. Bike The Alliance and the Moose Mountain Bike Trail Society BTS) (MM have done a lot of work over the last two summers with build and maintain the Moose Mountain trails. Alberta Development approved the Sustainable development Alberta government of these trails and the and the National Trail $70,000 to the project. MMBTS the of mission the not or whether is a good one? The Society’s mission is: “To advocate, develop, mountain and bike maintain trails healthy, active, fun, and and environmentally to responsible community involvement.” promote will require little, if maintenance any, are the goal. Society’s with existing trails in Jasper and government fold because they a given endorse government agenda. In an effort to neutralize, that is “control”, this latent superficially, least at still, and power public mollify those members of the public who take participation seriously, governments degrade and compartmentalize the public into the category of “special The interests.” public is just like another so stakeholder, many commercial and corporate special interests. the Station Flats or West A P

Red ordid tional Club hut a S N By Dr. Brian L. Horejsi By Dr. A B.C. border from Elk Ride the 9-kilometre

anadians have suspicious and long government(s) distrustful of been that exclude

Creek fire road, lock up your bike, Canadians remain, collectively, a

Another top destination is Elk For sport riding, you can’t beat

bike and hike combinations are

anff Banff Park. powerful force that in routinely its opinions, diverges desires and vision that from of the special government interests that or lobby are included in the the public from decision making. While they have rarely done transgressions anything about of right their democratic C Earth or kilometres four remaining the hike then so to the lake where you can take in the stellar views of Mount Ball. Lakes, just over the Pass in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. How special it can be to travel there as I We summer. this day July perfect a on did parked the bikes at the Alpine and hiked the one kilometre over to the Lower Lakes campground to have lunch amidst the tranquil beauty of the lakes. I could not have been there at all without using my mountain bike for transport. the trails on Moose Mountain Calgary, west which of you can access from PHOTO: M. SEKELLA PHOTO: to walk on. not particularly interesting favourite My me. to appealing particularly is the combination trip to Shadow Lake in Mountain bikes are an increasingly popular increasingly an Mountain bikes are backcountry. Alberta’s means to travel in

eatures WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5

F 10 Features WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5 11 . BikesBelong and Wrapped Wrapped in body armour, virtually and BA IM the by claims to contrary that this arrangement actively excludes participation by “low-impact public lands There heard. be to right a have who users,” is no voice for those of us the who expansion of oppose destructive and divisive commercial exploitation in our National Parks. bikers, I think mountain biking is largely driven by competition, speed, aggression, most In gear. of idolatry and seeking thrill cases it has as much to do with being in be would as outdoors the appreciating and claim that they play baseball Yankees’ the because they are outdoor enthusiasts. The mountain biking industry, along with its trade associations (like IMBA), on the other hand, is driven by sales and consumption and it openly fuels biker extremism and aggression. unable to look impaired left or (by right, noise), engrossed hearing in helmets overpowering surviving and the trails and and their “obstacles” – labeled riding in one mountain biker as “whoopdeedos” forum — and pumped with adrenaline and testosterone (75% or more activity an is this males) white are bikers of that negates every one for of me of the being outdoors: benefits enjoying and interacting with the natural world, finding solitude and escaping from noise the and pressures stress, of modern Mountain biking assaults society. the principle of ecological integrity found in section 8 (2) of the National Parks Act Canada held Canada did not commission eflecting a secretive political and political secretive a Reflecting From this very sorry consultation The major problem with this close-

Lilies on the trail in Waterton National Park. Lilies on the trail in Waterton H. UNGER PHOTO: favoured stakeholder status to and ignore scientific studies seem that pointthe to ecological damage mountain biking may cause. They encase themselves these now in closed to the public meetings and discussions. While this process has evolved since the politics 1970s, continue environmentally be to stakeholder may also They erosive. be democratically destructive, as I am convinced bikes mountain of they issue the to respect with are in National Parks, an invaluable resource. public process has oozed has the become latest a in mountain Canada’s what National of threats Parks to biking. — mountain management culture Parks no public hearings on this issue. Let me never about talking are we this; emphasize — and Parks or itself conduct any environmental social impact impact or the widely assessment known and well documented of damages and National the in Nowhere biking. mountain conflicts generatedPark system by is the threat greater than in Banff National Park, disproportionately where influenced policy by special is commercial interests with folksy names deceptively such as of the Mountain Association Parks Enjoyment. for Protection & knit alliance public between lands agencies and big hand environmental picked group business, “stakeholders” is Biking Canada anff Banff and Canada willingly Canadian public at Canadians find themselves anada.” Canada.” These sorry delegates While While this arguably betrays the This is exactly what occurred when

anada’s Canada’s National Parks. They invited hired the former executive director of the Canadian International Mountain Association (IMBA) as National coordinator, who trails no doubt chaired meeting! Having stacked this the consultation deck, it appears Parks followed the recommendations recently Minister the as body questionable of this reaffirmed that mountain bikingactivities of menu the of “could part become soon actually is This Parks.” national in offered a dishonest statement, since biking already has invaded parks like anada held its hand picked, closed held its hand picked, Parks Canada to the public meetings that mountain that biking concluded is, in that could be allowed activity recreational principle, a in provided “delegates,” environmental three they were a “Senior representative of an ENGO whose mandate is in line with that of Parks a “table” stacked with 37 representing other interests such people as “partners, mountain biking groups and associations, equipment suppliers, manage the companies activity”. As if this were not who a sordid enough affair, Parks Jasper. democratic process, what is equally disappointing is the eagerness with which as certain individuals and groups embrace environmental and defend their now that reduces the voices of millions down to a dozen or so representatives maintains control by picking and will choosing be who allowed And as to dishonest, to me, as “play it is evident, the governments game.” appear principles” when to picking stakeholder and “find funding participants, their consequence, a As representation.” “equal insisting on 33 million “represented,” albeit making decision government federal begrudgingly, some in by a handful environmental of groups spokespersons while more invariably from representatives join them commercial at the table. In the and interests of “equal democracy representation,” corporate is stakeholder roundtables where arguably three four or environmental denied representatives find themselves in facing eight, commercial/ 10, corporate stakeholders or plus more spokespersons from running the process. the government were to represent the Canadians are slowly Commercial interests, and Canadians just don’t care ather, Rather, we suffer from being too It is increasingly difficult to tell earned a PhD in the Brian L. Horejsi National National Parks and wilderness areas were established partly to counter these threats and to prevent commonly landscape found on degradation private public lands lands and “managed” for exploitation. extractive When constructed to cater new to bikers, or from displaced are public walking the and hikers trails are existing trails by (bikes), high or “trails” become speed roads as accommodate they to vehicles widened and hardened are speed and all escalate will harassment and displacement weather travel, wildlife and habitat security will be damaged and and lost. It is a massive effectiveness distortion to imply, as Minister Prentice did in September, that these activities are somehow compatible with “unique and treasured protected areas”! whether about insuring that our privilege National Parks ecological integrity else. over I don’t all think this many. is the case for blitzed by commercialization and private sector schemes, or from being pounded into a state of numbness by government resistance or from principles and rights to those who laying would down exploit our public public resources consultation. and Whatever into biking mountain the of sweep the be, may corrupt case National Parks will be a not so thin edge of a phalanx of wherein privatization National schemes Park other public managers lands managers in throwing join open the door to ecologically and socially and commercial and behaviour destructive economic interests. One thing is certain; we, the people, have been outfoxed and betrayed by those stakeholders who claim to represent us. letting themselves become “customers,” and customers always pay when using a “product;” National Parks, which we still own and once thought we controlled, are no exception. mountain bikers, are turning our National Parks into Disneyland. mammals of large behavioural ecology He has the University of Calgary. from worked for governments, industry and non-profitorganizations since then. He in maintaining is particularly interested of public ownership and control public lands, wildlife and democratic processes. PHOTO: H. UNGER PHOTO: Fortunately, Fortunately, other voices may be much of The loss of habitat security,

impacts on soils, streams and vegetation are far more significant. Theseare impacts seriously aggravated spinning, cornering, by and jumping, skidding, much of those behaviours deliberate. Yet some researchers and institutes insist that “the available published literature that mountain biking (at indicates least trail-based) is similar disturbance as an anthropogenic forms other as effects environmental its in of summer season trail use” extensive as and though growing mountain biking impacts were only significant ifto related those of traditional legitimate hiking impacts. heard regarding the hazards of mountain biking; it should following be also obvious that applies management, the to and prevention the of impacts science, associated with not biking: assume the lack “we of safety, nor studies should should we implies allow the absence of scientific certaintyway of to stand exercising our common Regulation sense.” in the and protective management is based on extension and inference from existing information, common sense, and conflict elimination and it is irresponsible to keep passing not has gun smoking a that claims dubious the buck because yet been identified. of it due to fragmentation and fracturing of habitat, is a worldwide problem directly responsible for critical declines and in fish wildlife population ominous losses viability of and biological diversity. In the backcountry of Waterton National Park. In the backcountry of Waterton Because ut the reality of their impacts and impacts their of reality the But We We also should be concerned about Mountain bikers and the mountain The incremental and cumulative

mountain bikes in National Parks because of the other threat to pose speeds aggressive high at traveling mountain riders bike trail users and to themselves. A group of and behaviour the with familiar physicians says bikes and bikers mountain of impacts it best: “We as physicians see the shared use of these narrow trails as to both hazardous pedestrians and cyclists. these dangers are as inherently has happened obvious, elsewhere, pedestrians would begin to avoid these shared trails, reducing their options for recreation and exercise.” And that’s have precisely bikers where NP, Jasper what in happening is now taken control of over 200 kilometres of former hiking and walking trails. highly a waged far so have industry biking successful campaign to deny the impacts and conflicts As of Minister their passion. Prentice’s announcement suggests, they have pulled the blinders over of management the agencies eyes and fooled the public. conflicts will inevitably come to light. environmental and social mountain biking should be as obvious as impacts of the schnozzola was on Jimmy Durante’s face, yet management agencies seem to be indifferent or in denial. The physical impacts of bikers that travel as much as 70 kilometres a day are seven to 10 times weight With hiker. average the than greater loadings on tires that are their foot, human the of those than greater 6 to 8 times

eatures WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5

F 12 Features WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5 13 Canada Canada, Canadian Recreation is not

Columbia on such an s ’ Canada communication Rocky Mountain World t Camille Weleschuk, TPR’s Canada recently stated that British ha Rocky Mountain Parks, to the The Parks As much as this situation concerns

? … W … an application has not to been expand submitted the Heritage Site. Although Parks for its part, still claims to in be interested working with Alberta and the governments provinces two the believe they application of “appear to have some other priorities.” confirms an email sentearly in 2010 to Susan Feddema-Leonard of late 2009 or the WWFdn. Public Affairs Officer, stated: Tourism, “Alberta Parks and actively working on submission a to Parks Rocky expand Mountain Parks the World Heritage Site Alberta…The in Parks Division does not have resources allocated addition to of provincial parks to pursue the World Heritage Site at this time.” AWA it must The Foundation’s Foundation. Wilderness delight the Willmore (UNESCO) made an federal government about applying to add overture to the the Willmore, and other areas to adjacent the Rocky Mountain World Heritage Unfortunately, from Site. perspective, AWA’s this possibility appears dead. stalled, Parks if not tus a t Ridgetop view of Eagle’s Nest Pass, Ridgetop view of Eagle’s Park. Wilderness Willmore RASMUSSEN R.V. PHOTO: S age ment anage M erit ill Werry, Bill the Werry, H Cultural Organization orld Recreation (TPR), and tronger W : S Despite this prohibition AWA AWA is pleased that Alberta TPR the of many supports AWA Although

thankfully is recognized in its own piece of legislation, the Act. of the Section Act specifically 4 and wisely prohibits “any industrial activities” the Park. from taking place within AWA has been years that the Park does not have a concerned management plan. This August past for met AWA with Mr. Deputy Minister of Alberta Tourism, Tourism, Alberta of Minister Deputy Parks and reiterated the Association’s that view a management plan is tool that a should key be drafted to guide management actions. While as it has supports for now, the last 40 AWA years, traditional land-use activities in the Park such as outfitting, trapping, hunting and fishing we want to insure two things: (such activities non-traditional no that first, as major recreational developments) ever second, and Willmore the into allowed are that traditional activities are conducted in wilderness, the diminish not do that way a historical and cultural values embodied in vision. Willmore’s Norman is committed to enhanced enforcement activities in patrols the Park. and AWA also agrees with cabins the erected in the Willmore as part government of that secured be will activities patrolling TPR’s and unavailable as routine for destinations park users. The cabins are and use there staff Parks appreciation, historical for emergency situations. These by initiatives the government, along with of surveys visitors, seem to to AWA be essential to fulfilling the promise of the Act to the current and future generations. activities and statements of the Willmore part we (WWFdn) Foundation Wilderness company when it comes to one important possibility for the future of the Willmore: UNESCO World Heritage Site status. In 2006 the United Scientific, Nations Educational, and bout A illmore vil W Cache. E he o By Ian Urquhart T S he Wild “Recall of the Wild” feature has Lands taught me much. Its articles have Advocate’s

The Honourable Norman A. With death came recognition. The

But, as is so wilderness the cripple to demands typical history, of recent Alberta values embodied in Willmore Wilderness Park soon emerged. Through legislative fiat, the boundaries of the park have been reduced on two occasions. Willmore

showed me just how longstanding deeply and felt the appreciation spaces” is for in Alberta. “wild The views current many AWA members have about importance the of wilderness are they not are not new, radical. In fact, their views are traditional inasmuch as they what many citizens before them reflect believed. On the other hand, a feature like “Recall of the Wild” also inspires regret, regret you never had the chance wilderness to Alberta’s of generations earlier hear from advocates. Willmore, who died automobile accident tragically in 1965, in would close be to an the top of my list of those from earlier generations I would to have meet and learn liked from. One of the quotations few of his I am from familiar a with speech he is delivered as a cabinet minister 55 years ago. In my opinion few, if any, ministers he what believe to likely in seem government today’s provincial whether is problem basic broad “The said: and condone should Government the not or encourage the industrialization Alberta of at the expense of the rivers, the air the and countryside of our Province through a lack of policy and foresight, or should industrialization promote to endeavour we in an orderly manner which the will greatest bring possible benefits topeople all in the Alberta without necessitating the improper exploitation of our greatest nature resources – which are the air we breathe and the water and the soil.” name Willmore’s gave Alberta of Province in 1965 to nearly 4,600 square kilometres of wilderness park near Grande T global control global control May I recommend that those So, to conclude, perhaps I should World World Heritage Site designation is

How does an area’s designation as designation does an area’s How current Heritage Site affect World a activities and land use? • commemorative. It does recreational not change activities the permitted land, although on the outstanding status of universal the recognized by values the designation must be being maintained. Wilderness Willmore • For example, if Park were to receive World status, Heritage activities like hiking, horseback riding, backcountry camping, hunting and fishingtrapping Willmore’s would as wouldpermitted, continue and to be commercial operations, as long as they continue to guiding/outfitting be properly managed. http://www.tpr.alberta.ca/ Source: parks/managing/whs.asp of Alberta’s most important democratic institution – the Legislature – that World Heritage Site status Albertans would mean would that “start things over to, say, CO.” UNES Or, how turning these could the MLA who moved the end the at motion say 507) (Motion debated being be not may 507 “Motion that: debate the of popular among certain environmentalists who have urged a greater Alberta lands…” (my emphasis) over MLAs consult their own statement in the government’s text box (a statement not crafted, obviously, by any environmental organization). If they are “commemorative” means I am sure many unsure what of their colleagues in caucus may be of assistance. the government apologize to those who are still reading taking of idea the to object and article this issue with what the Willmore Wilderness Foundation and government of the members legislature have Park to that I say cherish no about less than they a do. But, I won’t. Frankly, I am angry about and distressed by the people extent today, to in which public environmental issues that matter to debates all of about their base and on speak to willing seem us, If quicksand. of foundation a on assertions you think there is little evidence to justify the claims people make - call them and demand they support their argument. Rocky Crown Finally, readers Finally, are told maybe maybe even manipulated, but where does her perspective leave us? Should justifiable concerns about backroom “secretive deals” and valid less- ones about the merits of consulting citizens lead us just not to raise or consider the issue at all. This is what such obviously contradictory positions say to me. that the “Foundation feels a need to stay alert at all times and be aware of foreign threats foreign of aware be and to our western way of life and So the question then becomes: “Is gorgeous the as plain stated, is What

(presumably Ministers record official the in infer actually MLAs) are informed traditions…” On the one hand, unequivocally. I I agree enjoy all-too-rare time in Alberta’s wilder spaces with either a fly rod or a candidate for the “long-gun registry” under my arm. I outfitters also and believe trappers are importantthe meaning and understandings to we have of this place. We would be without them. diminished there anything in World status Heritage that would Site threaten “our western way of life and traditions?” My trusting nature is government confirmedAlberta the what byby convinced the facthas to I am say about this important question. Government officials, after all, probably have spent more time thinking about this Willmore the from anyone or me than issue the see Please has. Foundation Wilderness adjacent text box for Site Heritage the World what of interpretation government’s designation would mean for the activities that both the Foundation and myself think are valuable ones. fall day I have to view from my in that office, text box is what genuinely angers me when I read what some “Progressive” Conservative members of the legislature had to say in an April debate about Willmore the Wilderness Park. mongering engaged in by some members The fear of the governing party in that debate may only be justified, in informed view,my suspicion that few members by their of public global) the shudder, (or, Alberta the would actually read what they said. Lund’s Ty comments (member of for Minister one-time and House Mountain the Environment) stand out for me. How could a former Minister of the But, RASMUSSEN R.V. PHOTO: extensive Canadian headwaters. Persimmon basin, Willmore Wilderness Park. Wilderness Persimmon basin, Willmore When it comes to the application

consultation process to make sure know we what Albertans provincial parks.” (my emphasis) want So, the for Foundation their has a written to commitment extensive public Feddema-Leonard consultation. feels suspicious be to something is consultation that of too. public She writes: “Public consultation can be a manipulation comes in the way questions manipulative process. are phrased, and unsuspecting citizens are The easily duped into agreeing to of questions which they are not Sure, fully informed.” consultations may be massaged, January 2010 newsletter is a great source of information about stands. application expansion where Site Heritage the World Unfortunately, for me, it with is dubious also fears about filled what applying for and actually receiving official World Heritage Site status mean. would The newsletter entail raises and the spectre that mysterious international may be using such interests an application to try to seize control of The spectre is raised when the newsletter asks the questions: interests want control of our headwaters? “Do international Is that what is behind all this sudden need to nominate the rest of Alberta’s eastern slopes?” Where, I wondered in reading this, is there one that scintilla would of make evidence such questions considering? worth process Susan article’s Feddema-Leonard, author, the seems “secretive worried backroom deals” about that cede control to would foreign interests of a Park that matters very much, and I would say rightly so, to members of the Foundation. Why? Weleschuk’s email to her stated: “Any change like a world heritage expansion site would involve an

eatures WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5

F 14 Features WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5 15 t a abit H asked by the government for input on the new sample regulations for the provincial Public Lands Act. comments AWA’s in a September 3 letter to Minister Knight, are particularly an prophetic: obvious “There deficiencyRegulations is in in the Sample regard meaningful public process for notification to definingof plans for sale, trade and disposition of a pecies S d ndangere E The timing of the proposed land urning

hips PHOTO: C. OLSON PHOTO: been going on in Alberta since before it was a province and there never has been public consultation to my How knowledge.” this equals doing business open “in and an transparent manner” was explained. not few a that given ironic, particularly is deal short days earlier, Albertans were being Habitat for numerous species at risk –such as this ferruginous hawk – stands Habitat for numerous Bow Island land sale goes ahead. if the proposed to be destroyed C : T : o t te a But ot oga t P a o Cabinet for Bow Island, ot By Nigel Douglas, AWA Conservation Specialist Conservation AWA Douglas, By Nigel P int Species at Risk Act at Risk Species onnections, it would seem, are everything. If right you contacts within the Alberta have the

At the time of writing the proposed Sustainable of Minister to According In early September 2010, AWA learned AWA 2010, September early In

government and its bureaucracy, it appears it bureaucracy, its and government that Public Land in southern vital is it Alberta if mind never – sale for available is habitat for endangered species, or one of the few remaining large areas of native prairie in the province. And never mind that the land is owned manages government Alberta already: The me. and by you Public Lands on behalf of all Albertans: or at least that is what should be the case. Sadly, the distance between reality and rhetoric seems to be as far away prairie as horizon the on a clear, crisp October day. process, government secret a through that, 25 sections – or 16,000 acres – of public land was about to be sold to SLM Spud Farms Ltd. The land, near is predominantly native prairie known to and be is home federal the for under listed several species (including burrowing owl, hawk, ferruginous Sprague’s pipit, chestnut-collared longspur, McCown’s longspur, eared owl, and short- long-billed curlew).

despite the importance of this habitat to these species, if the sale goes ahead, the grow to used and up ploughed be will land potatoes. public land sale was before leaked been not had details the If approval. then none of out us AWA, by would have been any the wiser: it appears that we, the owners of this land, have no right to any information, let alone any of. disposed consultation, being is land public our when Resource Development speaking in a radio interview on Go Let’s Mel Knight, Outdoors radio, broadcast on September 19, this counts as doing business “in an open and transparent manner.” interview, In Minister that Knight commented: “There never is a requirement for public consultation with respect to the sale public land for of agricultural use. This has C public lands” (see side bar). been saying for more than four decades: Development (SRD) defines the ministry’s The lack of any sort of transparent, Alberta desperately needs a publicly mission as “Stewardship of Alberta’s public process for the disposal of our land developed public lands policy to deal with lands, forests, fish and wildlife that benefits could not have been any better illustrated all aspects of public land, including access, both present and future generations of than by the secretive process which has led sales, management, and conservation. No Albertans.” One of SRD’s stated goals is us to the verge of losing another 16,000 such policy currently exists. AWA opposes “leading Government of Alberta efforts to acres of precious native grassland. There any further destruction of native prairie conserve biological diversity and enable seems little reason to believe that the new grassland and sales of public land until a sound management of Alberta’s natural regulations will fix the current, noxiously public lands policy is developed through a resources on a sustainable basis.” It is high secretive, system of land sales. transparent and democratic public process. time that the ministry started to live up to Recent developments would suggest that these lofty, admirable goals, rather than History Repeating Itself Alberta may be further away from open bowing to the special interests who seek For readers of the Wild Lands and public management of public land to make a killing out of the destruction of Advocate this is a familiar story. In than at any time in the province’s recent our native public lands. an article in the December 2007 WLA history. (“Storm Brewing on the Prairies – Public The Government of Alberta’s 2010 Lands up for Grabs”) Joyce Hildebrand Business Plan for Sustainable Resource detailed previous sales of public land to Louis Ypma, owner of SLM Spud Farms Ltd. “In 2004 Ypma acquired a similar piece of native prairie for potato production – this was also public land, in the same area as the land he is now looking to acquire. He took title of the land in January 2004, but ploughed the land during peak nesting season in spring 2003 – while it still belonged to Albertans.” According to documents acquired at the time through the Freedom of Information F

eatures and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPP), this deal went ahead despite a wildlife survey that found evidence of four at-risk wildlife species on the land that was sold and cultivated, and despite the fact that Fish and Wildlife biologists were opposed to the sale of these public lands. More than anything, the current land sale debacle illustrates what AWA has Franco Lo Pinto’s work often depicts bison and this particular bowl

WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18, was highly sought after at the 2010 Wild West gala. PHOTO: N. DOUGLAS

n September 3 2010, before knowledge of the upcoming opinion of the Minister, adequate compensation is obtained land sale leaked out, AWA wrote to Minister of for the public land” (emphasis added). This provision has Sustainable Resource Development Mel Knight, offering not been well applied in the past when the advice of Fish and recommendationsO to improve the Sample Regulations for the Wildlife staff about the conservation value of a piece of land Public Lands Act. AWA’s comments included: has been ignored. AWA believes that deferring to the “opinion • There is an obvious deficiency in the Sample Regulations in of the Minister” is not adequate; there must be a defined public No. 5 regard to defining a meaningful public process for notification process. of plans for sale, trade and disposition of public lands. • A public process for the disposition of public land should be • The Sample Regulations need to specify a public consultation graded according to the environmental significance of the land: 16 process if public lands are to be sold or traded. Once again we more environmentally significant land should go through a will emphasize that AWA is adamantly opposed to the sale of more stringent process. any public lands. The Sample Regulations propose enabling the Minister to “exchange public land for other land if, in the FAeaturesssociation News WLAWLA OctoberOctober 20102010 •• Vol.Vol. 18,18,No. No. 55 1717 Red Calgary came too soon But the enthusiasm among these iver, we River, set off on a two-hour hike Canadians to get out and explore After a delicious lunch on the Though not everyone made it to

Deer As we hiked, to reach the top of the mesa. stories personal and formed groups smaller were shared between students and AWA members. Diveristies of languages cultures, and our differences, were rendered much smaller as common interests experiences and were found. Throughout the hike local and foreign names and uses for exchanged. were animals and plants, rocks, tea in used be may sage wild how Hearing to alleviate discomfort during pregnancy bentonite that learning but interesting, was belly the to applied paste a in used be may button to alleviate a fever was eyebrow raising to say the least! the top of the mesa, everyone strong sense shared of accomplishment and awe. a Regrettably, the time to return to the bus and head back to for all. new was palpable and they welcomed AWA memberships and MEC gift cards. future The of the landscapes Albertans have loved rest significantlyneighbours – with let’s do as much as ourwe can new to encourage them to environmental legacy to their children. leave a healthy Red Rob and But, I am not sure PHOTO: T. BARRATT T. PHOTO: Participants in AWA’s “Newcomers to Wild Spaces” program Spaces” program “Newcomers to Wild AWA’s Participants in the dramatic landscapes of the able to explore were Dry Island Buffalo Jump. paces S ild Barratt, as tour guides for the day. W River Valley appeared before us. As we approached the Park, there Beck, a founding member of AWA, o hinese food! Such jokes may be, for be, may jokes Such food! Chinese t

and hesitant to ask questions in second their But language. as we left city the behind us and started to see things members AWA many and Albertans take for granted, questions the to flow. Who started knew that hay bails, grain natural and elevators, gas novel wells and exciting. Seeing were what for us are everyday items through the eyes of someone who never has seen allows you to see them anew yourself and them, makes them a little less common place. Tom shared our history Nigel with Douglas the described for students; plight of grizzly them bears. Their information the fascinated the students. Nigel convinced them all that like grizzlies the time being at least as a recent movie title suggests, “lost in translation.” was a strong chorus of “oohs as and ahs” the ground gave Deer way and the The students were captivated by the views instantly from the lookout, scanning along the buffalo jump and across to the mesa. We were fortunate to have residents local and AWA members, Tjarda Their love and knowledge of the area and its history were evident immediately. As they shared details on how the area was formed and how it has been the centuries the interest in the hike used day’s over grew. The highlights for many included hearing about near-by fossil discoveries that created the hope they might stumble across a dinosaur depend bone. on insuring Such that landscape remains intact. hopes that precious Calgary Canadian ers ewcom By Nuno Fragoso By Nuno N lasses (LINC Classes IS’s Language CCIS’s Calgarians were born o-op, partnered with partnered Co-op, Canadians. As an increasingly Canada reported that Alberta’s lberta’s population, due in part to part in due population, lberta’s our strong economy, has grown impressively in recent times. algary Calgary as an example, in 2006

The first half of the road trip was Given immigration’s importance it is it importance immigration’s Given but, without a great deal of recognizing this, AWA sponsored

rather quiet as students were nervous experience and exposure to Alberta, the is landscapes foreign our exploring of idea what of questions basic The daunting. very to do, where to go, how to get there, and what to bring are even more challenging to answer when you know few have people, limited resources and difficulty speaking the language.To may help have with these concerns the invited staff to and join volunteers, students AWA were as part of “Newcomers AWA’s to Wild Spaces” initiative, on a day trip Jump. Island Buffalo to Dry Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) to introduce recent immigrants to Alberta’s natural regions. Part of this introduction was invited AWA came via the classroom. to presentation a give to Newcomers for Instruction Level 4 & 5). The students heard about programs and its AWA mission to defend wilderness through awareness and action. They also learned about the diversity of landscape Alberta’s and were encouraged to get out and explore it. A imperative that organizations like AWA try AWA like organizations that imperative to expand their membership and include these new significant component of the generously with a grant Equipment by Mountain abroad. citizenry they are now, and will be more support of source crucial a future, the in so for our goals. Statistics 23.6 percent of 2006 population Foreign 1996. in was was it than higher percent 3,290,350, 25.2 immigration is an important part of that growth and is changing dramatically the demographic composition of our citizens. To take Crag and start Rock Mountain cast across the We share snacks, take lots of pictures of lots take snacks, share We After more than an hour, the trail After another hour we reach the

Black to feel the warmth of the rising sun. It’s simply magic. of the quickly changing scenery and just enjoy the moment on the top. On our way down, in the high meadows rocks and below scree of the the peak pyramid, we spot some bighorn ewes closely guarded watch we as us to indifferent ram, big a by them through our abundant and lush are meadows the down, binoculars. Further with wildflowers.We hear the whistle of see him and eventually the hoary marmot, to ancient rites and rituals. I’ve enjoyed the experience so much to that introduce I others wanted to such adventure. a beautiful leaves the forest and climbs through steep meadows, below the looming towers of the mountain. We start to see some light in the northeastern sky to and make can out the begin grey silhouettes surrounding of the mountains, and blue hues of the valleys the below us. In the dark slowly brightening light, we climb easily over rocks and through scree up a steep gently and wide the to us leads that gulley rocky the to up reaching meadows sloping peak still far ahead of us. strong cold, A sweat. in soaked we’re peak; wind makes us take shelter in what’s left of the fire lookout structure – rough-hewn planks and wind-battered shingles frame empty windows. Our attention is of shades on glowing horizon: the and sky eastern red, orange and yellow interspersed with darker clouds, while the prairie landscape The black. almost dark, still is us below far valleys, lakes and wetlands are covered by pale, slowly swirling mist. huddle We and shiver, waiting for what seems like hours before the sun finally rises, sending long bright rays high into the sky: a huge orange disk slicing through the Light and clouds. colours change completely the moment the sun is fully up, and the earth, including our small group, is reborn for another day. We watch the giant shadow of Ghost valley onto Phantom Rock iver, River, Calgary is iver. River. It’s Black Road to the op lue Mountain, Blue T ain ount Birds, deer, or… what else could After a quick cup of coffee we My son Kris and I had scouted this M

A

Mountain, in the Don Getty Wildland Park on Provincial the North Ghost is a former fire lookout, right at the edge of the forested foothills. At an elevation of 2,450 metres it offers beautiful views in clear weather, looking out across the foothills, meadows and prairie. a from sunrise a Seeing glow. distant a but I’m and spiritual, is magical, mountaintop sure the practice goes back a long way, Rock Mountain Sunrise Hike”, with me as their “guide”. Over talked dinner about our we different had interests experiences, and and although they all were active in various sports (one of them was a triathlon athlete) and loved nature and the outdoors, none of them had any actual experience. mountain-climbing were off, driving up the Forestry Trunk Road and then the Transalta trailhead on the North Ghost quiet and dark on the drive, the except glimpses for of some large bonfiresrandom campers in the by Ghost. no There’s moon, the sky is clear and the find the trailhead and turn stars We very bright. are off our flashlights, because hiking in the dark makes for a much more aware and connected experience. It takes for our a eyes to adjust to the dark, while and for everyone to become comfortable walking on the forest trail without stumbling. It’s amazing how much we can see with just the stars shining through the treetops: in the few clearings we cross, we even cast faint shadows in the starlight. We don’t talk much, focusing on the our feet trail and the quiet below night noises in the forest. that noise be? Someone wonders whether aloud bears are active during the night ….. Although the early morning cool, we’re starting to air perspire due to the is crisp pace set by the triathlon athlete. night hike a few years ago, after enjoying Jamaica’s of climbs sunrise Egypt’s Mt. Sinai, taking pleasure and from an determinedly unplanned night hike from South Ghost Pass to Lake all- Minnewanka the year before. n O Rockies, unrise algary who Calgary By Heinz Unger, AWA President AWA Unger, By Heinz S

iver. River. At the last Gala AWA

practice I remember youth, from when my mountaineering the in Austrian Alps, was to get up

We’d We’d had a fun evening with four

PHOTO: H. UNGER PHOTO: On top of the world. A in the middle of the night to start a climb. We’d stumble around groggily, get our lights and gear and in the scramble darkness for upwards a few hours. We did this mainly for in safety, order to summit before the sun made the snowy and slopes icy treacherous. The sunrise couldn’t I time, the At bonus. a “just” was on top have imagined that almost 50 years later, the in thing same the doing be I’d had come out to our house overlooking the Ghost they’d won the bidding for the “Black waking at 2 a.m. just for the pleasure of watching a sunrise with new friends. from guests young delightful For the past few years Heinz Unger, Heinz Unger, For the past few years wife and his President, AWA’s a fabulous outing Marilyn, have offered the September as an auction item during their home along Gala - an evening at a hike up Black the Ghost River and the sun rise. Here’s Rock Mountain to see hike. of last year’s account Heinz’s

ssociation ews WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5

A N 18 FAeaturesssociation News WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5 1919 THALINGAM THALINGAM Volunteers, like Ian and Volunteers, the heart Sarah, are we AWA; and soul of possibly put couldn’t on a successful evening West like the Wild Gala without them! AMIR T. PHOTO: Everyone had a great time swinging Everyone had a great by Tim to the entertainment provided and his band the Electro- Williams John Reid and Blaine Hraibi Fires. Our own Nigel opened for Tim. Douglas displayed one of his many talents by offering a song as well. AMIR T. PHOTO: Dawn from the summit. Dawn from K. UNGER PHOTO:

THALINGAM Once we reach the valley bottom, I I bottom, valley the reach we Once ala

G can tell from the faces of my companions companions my of faces the from tell can that this was more workout than for the just new mountaineers – a it good was also a profound nature experience, maybe even something begins in spiritual. the It silence proceeds and to dark, beauty and we and admire the splendour of light life on the where mountain. It happens to me every time I hike Black Rock Mountain. t Our guests joined Executive Director Christyann Olson in a Alberta. toast to Wild AMIR T. PHOTO: es

W d l

i THALINGAM Wild West Gala West Wild 2010 W 2010 s ’ The

A

R AMI T. PHOTO:

auction portion of the evening. the of portion auction

the always-entertaining live live always-entertaining the

Auctions runs the bidding during during bidding the runs Auctions Jesse Starling from Graham Graham from Starling Jesse

W

A is a wonderful evening when we wild spaces, wildlife, celebrate our and the passion we wild water knowing these wild all have from things. It is a tradition where friends, colleagues, members to enjoy a and supporters gather meal and an evening filled great with entertainment, conversation, The auctions and plain good fun. success of this event is entirely spirit dependent on the volunteer that was such an admirable part thank We tradition. of the frontier joining the fun and everyone for Gala West Wild 22nd making our the best one yet!

the trailhead. flora all the way down the mountain to beauty and great variety of the mountain the of variety great and beauty bright sunlight, and we marvel at the the abundant alpine flowers in the now The others admire and want to identify where the braver of us pose for pictures. for pose us of braver the where drop-off drop-off of several hundred metres spot on a vertical, almost overhanging, the view over the valley. There’s a great a There’s valley. the over view the sitting sitting still on a rock outcrop, enjoying Donations Help Create Successes We cannot emphasize enough, as we are in the middle of our fall fundraising campaign, how vital individual and institutional donations are to AWA’s efforts to sustain and restore the ecological integrity of our landscapes. There is an important link between your donations and successes such as the expansion of Sir Winston Churchill Park.

Fiona Mulvena and Karen Thompson of Kinder Morgan present Tom Maccagno, long-time AWA member, along with AWA’s Nigel Douglas with a cheque for $900 to support AWA’s many others hears about the expansion of Sir Winston trail maintenance work in the Bighorn. AWA is very grateful Churchill Provincial Park during September’s designation for Kinder Morgan’s continued support of this work. ceremony. AWA believes Tom’s long-standing passion for PHOTO: C. CAMPBELL the natural jewels in the Lac la Biche area, plus AWA’s commitment, was important to the Park’s expansion. PHOTO: N. RAFFAEL A ssociation N ews

WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18, One way to get Albertans to pay attention to grizzly bears may be to ask the bears to hand out the grub! Diane Mihalcheon holds Calgary PHOTO: T. AMIRTHALINGAM Flames Cory Sarich’s jersey high, while she talks up the guests. PHOTO: K. MIHALCHEON AWA Director Vivian Pharis tempts the crowd with her home-grown organic vegetables. PHOTO: K. MIHALCHEON No. 5

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AWA member Lee Tymchuk’s The Red and White Club was turned briefly into a homemade bread was farmers’ market as the tables overflowed with a wealth of snapped up quickly. freshly-baked goods and produce for sale at the auction. PHOTO: T. AMIRTHALINGAM PHOTO: T. AMIRTHALINGAM Association News WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5 21 Cypress Biological ay, then Bay, known Canadian Shield. The ypress Hills Provincial Park Provincial Hills Cypress

Peter’s Peter’s love of the outdoors, nature These interests led Peter, after his The nearly 20 years Peter spent

man then, came west to work on the rigs. He soon found himself in the offices of Syncrude as part of the team that wrote the company’s 1970s. assessment in the early initial environmental of the Outdoors – the Need for The Love Protected Areas up, grew he where from came wildlife and on the north shore of Lake Superior in the boreal forest of the pulp mill town he grew up in truly in was a wilderness setting; only the railway connected it to Thunder as Fort William and Port Arthur, the major the Arthur, Port and William Fort as Ontario. northwestern of centre population Family, especially his father who was an avid hunter and fisherman, nurtured this love of nature and also encouraged Peter to get the best education he could. stint with Syncrude, to the University of Alberta’s Master’s program in Sciences. He recounted how his Master’s island “terrestrial, the to him took research of paradise” between competition the studied he where elk and cattle. Even then pressures, from ranching and tourism, were in the being Park. “I think felt because of Park,” he recalled, “I started to connect the extraordinary importance of protected areas to insure beautiful areas or that…either naturally wildlife rich naturally areas were maintained in the longterm.” Life Thereafter and Years The Government working in the Alberta government may have been pre-ordained by the fact that the government, to to its fund his credit, Master’s helped one research. hand, On the those interesting years ones, filled with opportunities were rich to and visit and study parts of of us get Alberta the chance to few see; and, then, as now, the public service had very talented biologists who he enjoyed working with. But, with the passage of time the public service environment became increasingly frustrating. Part of that frustration arose from the administrative reorganizations pprove A ould W tha ar anada’s Canada’s forests and what M achelor’s Bachelor’s degree in Geography now organization organization dedicated to improving the quality of information we how we have use about the environmental consequences of our activities are. Like a home-run hitter he has touched all the bases that the figure debates in about environmental Alberta. issues in His career is one that has seen him work with government, industry, and non-governmental organizations. graduating After from Lakehead with a University like many a young in the late 1960s Peter, : I K ee L Canada, an eter By Ian Urquhart P eck, receive a Wilderness Wilderness a receive Beck,

aving spoken to more than my fair share of pretentious souls in industry, government and the

Peter is the Executive Director

H

of Global Forest Watch and, with Tom Tom with and, on November 19th. Award Defenders year’s year’s Martha Kostuch annual lecture the conservationist who will deliver this any sane person would use to describe Pretentious is probably the last adjective a real pleasure to interview Peter Lee. academy over the past 23 years it was But, in his As I alluded to above I think the We both agree that our species has The formidable nature of the boreal environmentalists environmentalists face when to it comes political environmentalists as still possessing resources important an edge Peter because over their opponents sees commitment opponents or the passion, “don’t hardly ever.” have The failure to recognize the the fundamental strength that passion, commitment the intelligence and produced by characteristics those bestows two on advocates too often leads them, mistakenly in view, Peter’s to overestimate Lacking their commitment opponents. and opponents of environmentalism passion are more the likely to make mistakes, media age we which live in, often means in letting the media targets. themselves become the About What Now? We are Where Future? first time I saw Peter was at a conference on the boreal forest in the fall He made of a 1991. number of observations then that foreshadowed well the path Alberta was about to take. One of them was that our species was becoming interested increasingly in subduing the boreal, rather ask to wanted I So in. fit to trying just than in changed had what on views his for Peter the thought he what and then since Alberta future held for us. been doing an excellent job of subduing the boreal since As then. Peter noted, “the the in activities industrial of scale and pace boreal forest is jaw-dropping.” least at that, insure to time still is there view, portion significant a globally, or nationally of the boreal may be spared from feeling the bootprint of industrialization. If consider the boreal in we those two contexts, is “there ones, regional or local the from not boreal the of percent 50 over probably still still in its historic pristine state. So…it is one of those conservation size the of because just unparalleled is that opportunities and magnitude of what’s left even though the pace and scale of development is jaw- dropping.” forest is an attribute Peter thinks might,despite our technologies, force us seemingly to in “fit the in” future unstoppable more than we environment formidable a “It’s generation. have for the last and historically and maybe even future man in will just have to the learn to fit in and will never conquer the Amen boreal.” to that. iver. River. The scientist When you ask Peter to look Lee’s outlook on how to measure Despite the money and political Lee prefers to think of our unfortunate, unfortunate, part of the debate then about the future of C’s GFW mandate and Alberta’s the information it boreal provides is forest. a vaccine against exaggerated claims – whether government, made or by think part environmentalists. of industry, our job…is to get the “I facts out, the information out…and we pretend don’t to be the purveyor of truth…but do… to thing right the is that of pursuit the to make sure your fellow citizens have… the information…” How to Measure Success? back over his career and talk accomplishments about his response his is modest and self-deprecating. He is reluctant say that he has made a difference over the to more than 30 years he has been involved in conservation issues or that the “I must make a difference” mindset positive is one. In really part that comes a from his knowledge that today’s successes may be example (one vanish may They short-term. of this that immediately came to my mind was what happened to Lake the wetlands – McClelland with a stroke of their protection from tar sands mining was a pen taken away in 2002). accomplishments in terms behave, of how how we interact we with others. successful life A then is one where we “act try with to integrity, be a role model, have integrity with concern that It’s fun…” some that led Peter and Dr. Kevin Timoney to threaten to launch a defamation against lawsuit a senior scientist Alberta who argued Environment publicly and Timoney that reported data selectively Lee to make their case that oil sands operations pollute the Athabasca apologized. Never Overestimate the Opposition success animates and guides his approach to how we Conservationists should “should “do” always conservation. go the for jugular… but you have to do it tough…because be to have with integrity…You there is so much against you. They have all the money; they have all the political support; they have all the cards.” support industry and Peter politicians has, enjoy what struck some me surprising at advice firstNever for as, advocates: overestimate Despite the your well-known opponent. disadvantage

anada first gave first Canada Canada, provinces PHOTO: N. DOUGLAS PHOTO: Canada C). (GFW Global add dimension to this large piece. large add dimension to this World Wildlife Fund Wildlife World GFWC is a very fitting destination

“The Sun” was created with red clay with red “The Sun” was created from . The clay’s textures textures Medicine Hat. The clay’s from that, like the changing seasons, regularly took place in the resources/environmental province’s renewable bureaus. Those reorganizations diverted staff from attention Frustration their also arose from the fact public and politicians between distance the that substantive servants, mandates. the concept of accountability administrative that existed began when his Peter career, evapourated. textbook on public administration will tell As any you political “interference” at the lower levels of public bureaucracies – whether by Ministers or MLAs – is inappropriate; so too are political appointments levels at the of the occupied by career public servants. “I was administration normally beginning to realize,” Peter said, “that my either usefulness or value or even interest in my job in government was waning… I moved on and tried to that really excited me.” exciting stuff do some more Peter that opportunity, an opportunity he Global with work his through pursues now Forest Watch Forest Watch ca) (www.globalforestwatch. monitors forest development Canada across with sophisticated Geographical and imagery satellite as technologies such Information System Given the fact that, in (GIS) own the software. natural resources on their public lands there was very little national or data national analyses of forest available. This resources niche is one that GFWC has filled very well over the past decade. for Peter to arrive at comments he in made light nearly 20 of years some agoat a conference in community-based Athabasca. During part of boreal his presentation forest on the he noted “boreal that wilds” issue simplification,public even manipulation, was an important,

ssociation ews WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5

A N 22 ilderness atch 23 FWeatures W WLAWLA AugustOctober O 2010 2010 2010 • Vol. • • Vol. Vol. 18, 18, No.18,No. No. 5 4 5 23 River Regional egrettably, Regrettably, RAC sent to Council included tar sands Council (RAC). This multi- Another good concept is to identify concerns major our to turning before released in late August 2010 was drafted by drafted was 2010 August late in released its appointed Lower Athabasca Advisory stakeholder industry, forestry industry, federal municipal, and wetland a from representative a was There aboriginal representation. member no but organization, conservation of the Alberta document Environment Vision Network, The belongs. to AWA which survey “workbook” accompanying an plus were the basis for sessions public and consultation written input September to early October. from early more detailed recommendations, whether unanimous or non-consensus, that were in “letters of advice” that Cabinet, remain secret, fully more assess to means key a of public depriving the what may be in store. with the Outside acknowledged. be should concepts proposals, several existing positive protected areas, there main land are zones proposed, with different five and recreation priority uses: conservation, tourism, population centres, agriculture, and mixed-use mainly forestry and tar sands extraction). resource (the This is a step latter forward compared prevailing to “all the uses, anytime, anywhere” land management system. For example, we should recognize that recreation and tourism further and social important goals but necessarily that compatible economic with conservation they are not goals. Another good concept is to place a cap within the mixed-use resource area on the total footprint of oil sands (mining or in situ) extraction, which could locations shift as reclamation occurs – though percent 15 of cap suggested the believe we of the mixed-use area for sands extraction is too high. intensive oil overlays that cut across other zones and have special management considerations. bundle would theory in corridors Multi-use linear disturbance from pipeline transportation, and minimize utility environmental impacts. infrastructure water maintain would corridors stream and to biodiversity maintain quantity, and quality and provide critical habitat. fish There and is reference wildlife to “equally Canada, Review Panel - Nigel Douglas Coalition comprises algary. Calgary. We are disappointed AWA believes that National Wildlife Wildlife National that believes AWA The Suffield Joint The Suffield The 40 page Vision document Chipewyan, Fort McMurray, Lac La

AWA AWA has both contributed to and grounds when “notorious.” locations was knowledge of their risk. at species for havens be should Areas The decision to overlook critical habitat Suffield in owls burrowing endangered for National Wildlife Area comes while the minister is still deciding whether or not to wells gas new 1,275 drill to plans approve in the area. released its report and recommendations regarding EnCana’s proposed project in the drilling Suffield National Wildlife Area in (NWA) January 2009. The Panel confirmed the primary – role of the NWA believes that the to protect AWA wildlife. minister must act to prohibit any further oil and gas development in and immediately the identify known NWA, critical habitat for species burrowing owls. at risk, including to conclude that significant strengthening of the environmental commitments needed for are this to constitute an approach to cumulative that respects Alberta’s effects commitment maintain biodiversity in the region. to management that Alberta’s new Land-use Secretariat seven groups: Association, Alberta Federation Wildlife Fund Naturalists, World of Wilderness Nature Saskatchewan, Alberta Southern Alberta Group for the Environment, Grasslands Naturalists, and Nature Canada. Athabasca Regional Plan Lower closely watched the provincial Land-use Framework planning evolution of the process. We were promised outcome of better supportive management of of cumulative effects on the landscape. In the first the of principles broad the August, late regional plan were released for the Lower Athabasca, covering northeast In Alberta. September AWA in staff stakeholder participated locales: and four in principles these on public sessions consultation Fort Biche and required Canada broke the law es t Species at Risk Act Species at Risk a d p The case has echoes of the The AWA AWA is baffled by a federal U

the federal government Recovery Strategy for to the burrowing owl produce a by June 2006 and to identify the species’ critical habitat, to the based on extent the best possible, available information. Now four years late, still the fails to do current so. Once again, draft the issue is not one of a lack of data. Environment joint a before testimony own its in Canada, in panel review assessment environmental February 2008, noted that the endangered owls are known to nest in the area’s rare natural prairie environment. successful sage-grouse court 2009, when a case federal court judge in that ruled Environment by refusing to identify in critical its recovery habitat strategy, was stating “unreasonable” that for the it government to claim it could not identify breeding government decision to protection for the endangered limit burrowing habitat owl. In a Minister letter sent Jim to and AWA other Prentice members Environment of the Suffield in Coalition September, voiced his their department’s concern identification of apparently critical habitat overlooks that selective burrowing owls in the Suffield National Area. Wildlife Continuing Failure to Protect to Protect Continuing Failure Owl Habitat in Suffield Burrowing . WALLIS C. PHOTO: Council Conservation Areas. These Another key weakness of the Vision province province needs to act swiftly to designate Conservation Areas there, province just arranged for energy exploration as the AWA earlier. decades lease the of areas on understands that some areas that are not used now by the armed forces could be designated for primary conservation use, still are but used are that areas other while relatively intact, roadless habitat should be designated secondary areas. conservation document is this very weak guidance on a wetlands policy: “implement Alberta’s new wetland policy once it is developed.” wetland a extend to commitment Alberta’s policy to the northern years boreal overdue, and forest the policy is should be the widely-supported compromise policy negotiated at the Alberta Water to maintain wetland areas and functions at a provincial level. We need to protect the exceptional other and Delta Athabasca Peace complex, McClelland wetland highly ecologically-valuable from industrial wetlands development. For wetlands, other in line pay” principle, with industrial the proponents should have strong development incentives “polluter to avoid wetland loss design in their and project wetlands degraded or destroyed. Another compensate huge for concern is the boreal significantly proposal more to destructive allow formsAWA forestry on public and private lands. of strongly rejects the recommendations that would allow forestry practices such plantations, genetically modified as species, thinning, and lands fertilization outside on public A summer evening on Lac La Biche. A A evening on Lac La Biche. summer A to plan intensive recreation approach pro-active the most ecologically sensitive away from areas parts of Lakeland Country could be of positive and economic value for the environmental region. Athabasca southern Lower S. COULSON PHOTO: Range. Conservation PHOTO: G. WIRUN G. PHOTO: Conservation Areas is the The Vision document proposes 20 to 20 proposes document Vision The Periodically the Government Cold Lake Air Weapons

upon which the variable mosaic of boreal forest habitat relies. What is required in the plan is permanent from active energy or legal forestry tenures, as protection well as strictly limited motorized access. This is nowhere to be seen 32 percent of the region as Areas, which would be the progress current situation. from Still, conservation science suggests we need 50 percent of the boreal region at state to a meet pre-disturbance biodiversity at-risk and commitments. species- Missing from the recommended McClelland Lake wetland complex. woodland more be also should There caribou habitat protected and more representative areas in the informed south, by To biodiversity meet urgent needs. woodland caribou habitat needs, in provincial government should move particular, the promptly to areas establish in contiguous protected zones Lower Peace, in Upper Peace, the Upper Athabasca regions. Alberta re-negotiates with federal of officials the termson lands provincially-owned of lease of the federal the In fact, AWA In learned fact, AWA at the end of September that a negotiations new is underway now. The round of iche to Biche Conservation Vision document, would be practically meaningless for protecting ecological integrity. document, would be practically meaningless for protecting Vision This conventional oil and gas installation on the approach to Lakeland Provincial Park is to Lakeland Provincial the approach This conventional oil and gas installation on but a small example of growing linear disturbance fragmenting Alberta’s boreal landscape. boreal Alberta’s linear disturbance fragmenting but a small example of growing These positives notwithstanding, we onservation Areas look useless to us. to useless look Areas Conservation

important” aboriginal and recreation traditional and tourism opportunities use and “secondary intent” for and commercial industrial access in river so corridors, the concern would be to ensure these other uses didn’t in practice undermine the ecological intent. And there is a third overlay in large the south called Lakeland La Lac from extends that Country the Saskatchewan border. Here the stated emphasis of “preservation of the aesthetic and ecological characteristics” must be honoured. It would be wise to an develop array of water-based recreation tourism and opportunities in some that parts region of and expand the backcountry conservation area around the ecologically Provincial Lakeland where lands sensitive Area are now. Park and Recreation cannot support the overall plan because the As proposed, the use priority is stated to ensure ecosystem integrity, yet existing oil sands tenures would be “permitted to continue but will terminate when existing mineral tenures expire.” Active oil sands leases of many decades erode would hugely biodiversity in a Area and render the with area respect to protecting of caribou range. no value Timber harvesting would be allowed in Conservation Areas to “protect the forest from wildfire, insects and disease,”these yet are the natural disturbance regimes Conservation Areas with active forestry and tar sands leases, as proposed in the Lower Athabasca in the Lower and tar sands leases, as proposed with active forestry Areas Conservation

ilderness atch WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5

W W 24 Wilderness Watch WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5 25 Boutin wrote: Species at Risk Act Species at Risk Committee. Dr. Stan Cree, fully supports the Recovery Plan identifiedone Caribou The federal In July 2009, a federal court judge Despite the fact that industrial Beaver Lake

Team’s Team’s recommendations. “The suite of management actions must include: aggressive restoration of seismic lines, well pads and pipelines; no further increase in industrial activity (no further habitat change caused by use; full protection of caribou range); and human land reduction of caribou mortality risk.” is increasingly being seen as push a tool both to the governments to federal begin to live and up to their provincial obligations to endangered species in the province. in Vancouver ruled Canada that broke Environment the law identify critical habitat in a recovery plan by refusing to for the endangered greater sage-grouse Of the seven herds named in the review application, the 2005 Alberta Woodland Caribou herd as at immediate risk of extirpation (Slave Lake Herd), three as declining and stable. just one as expansion in caribou habitat is known to and survival their to threat constant a pose also has government Alberta the recovery, refused to implement a recommendation in its prepared own in 2005. The caribou plan timber and on further mineral moratorium calls for recovery a allocations plan, in certain This call caribou was reiterated ranges. by Landscape the Team’s Alberta 2009 report for Alberta the Boutin, in an expert report prepared for the Species Beaver Lake anada’s Canada’s Cree Nation and - Carolyn Campbell - Carolyn This application supports a similar The federal government has On September 8, 2010, Ecojustice,

at Risk Act. application filedCompany on behalf of by the Cree Woodward Nation, Enoch & Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. caribou national a proposing to committed recovery strategy by summer the meantime, 2011. urgent action is In necessary. Alberta’s assault on caribou habitat continues. assault on caribou Alberta’s SUTHERLAND P. PHOTO: the large tracts of intact caribou habitat needed to sustain government leased those to energy and forestry herds, before extraction industries. We now compensation support for leaseholders, this though is a because regrettably of reactive lack position will government. continue AWA to insist of foresight priorities must be to Alberta’s honour that by our our biodiversity commitments, sustainable and ecosystem-based support forestry, greatly reduce oil sands impacts Athabasca region. Lower in the and First Groups Environmental Caribou Protection Nations File for on behalf of Institute, filed an AWA application for a federal and the judicial Pembina review, asking the court to order Environment Minister Jim issue Prentice emergency to protections for caribou seven herds in The northeastern Alberta. application alleges failed to meet legally-binding that protection Prentice requirements for woodland under species threatened caribou, a ow, Bow, in situ Council Canadian Rivers, we For surface water and groundwater The central problem in the Lower AWA over the decades has called

practices practices would greatly degrade habitat for many species, standards of and Forest Stewardship would violate (FSC) certification currentlyfor the Forest in place Management area Agreement leased by Industries Inc. Alberta (Al-Pac) over much of the Pacific Forest are even concerned We Athabasca. Lower about these proposals applying to private lands because of their harmful to impacts biodiversity. The future of forestry is based management at FSC sustainable, certification standards, not ecosystem- plantations, on the particularly vast tracts of public lands in northern boreal forest. the management, the general concepts forth in put the Vision document are sound and overdue, namely, indicators identifying key for establishing triggers quantity and thresholds, and and implementing strong quality, monitoring. threshold for defining fresh The groundwater should be broadened in line with jurisdictions to other better manage a broader spectrum of this resource, operating and and fresh further of risk reduce to requirements tightened should near-freshwater aquifer be Given contamination. the past precedents on Oldman the and Athabasca question whether quantity thresholds will be set at sufficiently precautionary levels given aquatic ecosystem and groundwater knowledge gaps. whether We there is also political sound will monitoring to question fund and contaminants from actually emissions and tailings reduce these of details actual the However, waste. water and air management frameworks are not yet public. Athabasca region is that the government has over-leased our lands to forestry and energy interests. For forestry, the Vision what confirm to seem proposals document environmentalists loudly warned to avail: that no the current forestry industry’s infrastructure is not ecosystem-based forestry compatible in our with fragile boreal should forest. choose We to curtail industrial forestry rather than the boreal ecosystem. Moreover, the approach laissez-faire to granting of energy is tenures fundamentally sustainable development principles. incompatible with ecologically most the of protection the for significant wilderness areas, including - Nigel Douglas Remember that you often Learn exactly how much rice, Always have a little bit extra just It’s often the extra bits and pieces

• • Many Many species, including sage-grouse and woodland caribou, do not have the luxury their side. of time on the heavy glass bottle! It can be put into a plastic bottle or drinking bag: you can even get special wine carrying bags now! Apparently they help it don’t get keep the plastic taste. These and are also you available at camping stores. Not taking the glass bottle has the added advantage of removing the possibility of it breaking. your carrying than worse nothing is There last night celebratory booze for a and then dropping it on the last day! week granola, dried pasta etc you need meal. Do for this by a tipping the amount you would normally use into the scales checking and the weight. If you do a backpacking lot it’s worth of writing down all your weights in a notebook or the of back a recipe book so you’ve it always to refer got to. want a little bit more when you’ve been exercising in the fresh air all day! in case if you are going 2 for more nights. than I instant soup and usually potato flakes – light but have satisfying if needed. some extra Kitchen Equipment that can really add up where concerned. If you weight are going with a is group it’s worth planning beforehand going who to bring is the things you can like share stove, pots, water don’t filters need one etc. You each. just Think or set whole the – need you pots about many how a and fork a and knife a need you Do one? or spoon? Do you need a bowl and a plate will just a bowl suffice? Don’t take a litre (However, 500ml. need only you if fuel of it’s worth taking fuel in 2 smaller bottles rather than one big one in case it should about think even Don’t over). knocked get taking a washing-up bowl. Below are some tips for It’s It’s well worth spending the time to For things like margarine, oil for If you are taking liquor don’t take Sample list for any length trip but of course AWA would much • remove all unnecessary packaging • • 2 non-cotton t-shirts or long-sleeved 1 pair pants/shorts (convertible pants 1 pair long underwear 2 pairs socks 1 lightweight mid layer (fleece or 1 thicker warmer mid layer (fleece or 1 waterproof breathable outer shell 1 waterproof breathable pair pants Whatever underwear you and mitts (always) Toque deem overnight. Make sure what you do take is the lightest you have. Kitchen scales are a great way to discover which fleeces weighs the least. of your (within limits): • shirts (depending on time of year) • are ideal) • • • similar) • similar) • • • necessary • Food plan your menu carefully before you go. Work out how many breakfasts, lunches and dinners you are going to need, decide what and and how many snacks you’ll you’ve Once day. each going keep to need got your numbers, plan a menu and pack accordingly. anada Wilderness Committee. Wilderness Canada rather see both taking levels positive action of to protect government habitat for endangered being species, dragged kicking rather through and every step than of screaming the legal process. getting it right: – if necessary cooking instructions on outer packaging, cut them are out and put them in with the food. frying, hot sauce, maple syrup and other condiments, use little screw-top Nalgene containers and take just the amount you of range enormous an in come They need. sizes starting at 15ml. can You find these at good camping stores like MEC. ecovery”, Recovery”, ourt Victory Court a Victory Major The first thing to keep in mind is It’s It’s difficult to know what to take

ING LIGHT GEAR - PACK By Jennifer Douglas that you must take enough keep yourself clothing warm and to dry in all types of weather. However, that doesn’t mean you need to take Regardless an of entire the wardrobe. need length about the same of amount of clothes: trip basically, a you set of clothes to wear and a spare set. For example you only need two Nobody trip. five-day a for tops layer base cares if you smell in the t-shirt one wash always can you desperate wilderness! If in a stream and leave it to dry in a tree Clothing with you and what to leave behind when heading out on a multi-day backpacking trip. One considerations is of weight. guideline, As a the pack that a weighs more than rough most one-quarter of your body weight is going important to become uncomfortable very quickly. For example, a person should of top out 150 with a pounds maximum weight of between 35 and 40 pounds. The longer you go for, the heavier your need to be, because of the pack extra food you will will need. If you are only going for take to space “extra” one the use can you night a few luxuries! WLA December 2009). The lawsuit was filed by Ecojusticebehalf of in early AWA, Federation of Naturalists, 2008 on Alberta Nature Grasslands Saskatchewan and the Western Naturalists, Step for Endangered Species (See “Sage-grouse

epartments WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5

D 26 Departments WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5 27 Exit: Well-being Well-being Exit: In a much more positive vein, In his final chapter Victor suggests Canadian economy, power, influence

Salt bowl and spoon created exclusively for created Salt bowl and spoon - The Restaurant. Michael Nobel of NOtaBLE K. MIHALCHEON PHOTO: and wealth are concentrated in just a few hands, many of which borders. These lie powerful players may not outside our see any benefits in slowing growthwould not support such a change. and Meinhard Miegel in , Growth Without published in Germany in 2010, sets out a very appealing vision of human well-being of nature, enjoyment resulting in a greater without learning growth, of pleasure the beauty; and arts the immigration to humanitarian cases, (ii) the the (ii) cases, humanitarian to immigration resource on targets setting by environment, inputs and waste outputs, social combat to measures (iii) of range a poverty, using exclusion, (iv) reducing work time which would also increase the general level of happiness (see below), (v) by imposing investment, a capital tax and favouring productivity, (vi) repairs, and maintenance of consumption (viii) and technology, (vii) depending differentially taxed be to goods, on their durability, and their health and environmental benefits. that the movement without towards growth would have to managing be driven from the grassroots, already weaving together existing strands, ‘simple living’ such or ‘voluntary as simplicity’ movements. the In addition, would governments have widespread on based – above) (see to policies introduce appropriate support – and this is where Victor seems somewhat doubtful whether such or a when major actually happen. He is paradigm concerned that in change the will Canadian Managing Without Growth Growth Without Managing Even though you are trying to cut According to Victor, According achieving to such Victor, If Peter Victor, a York University Douglas has worked at Jennifer

other other toiletry items can also be decanted into smaller containers. Take to care confuse not your mayonnaise! sunscreen and your your weight down, it taking is one or always two worth luxury items: that having little extra thing can really to your trip. make difference a last the Coop for Equipment Mountain gear! two years and loves not only exposes the risks of and continuing failures economic growth but also explores the possibilities, and viability, of a low first or debunks, no-growth using statistical economy. data,mistaken He the belief that will economic eliminate growth unemployment, and poverty income inequality. various He then economic tests computerized scenarios model using of economy, including a the ‘business as usual’ While in the former and ‘no/low growth.’ scenario unemployment and poverty rise and social indicators don’t improve, the latter scenario – when implemented with care and good management – to can stability lead around 2030, with attractive economic, social outcomes: and full environmental elimination of employment, emissions, GHG of poverty, reduction considerable virtual more leisure, and fiscal balance. a suite of policies an outcome will require dealing with (i) population, by limiting population growth but thought that sooner that thought but growth population have will growth consumption this later or an end. He talked about mankind already bumping against the limits of what planet can our sustain because we are failing to acknowledge there are limits to growth in a finite world, and we aren’t ready for a more sustainable way of organizing our economy. professor in environmental studies, were younger he may have had a good chance of winning the Wilberforce Award: 2008 his book Managing Without Managing Without When establishing the award, Dick In August August In 2010 Dick Smith, a famous READER’S CORNER If you only need a few pages of a guide- a of pages few a need only you If Take your pack of cards out of their Find a relatively light book to take You won’t need a large towel. If you and sunscreen foodstuffs, with like Just Other Stuff Other • book, photocopy the relevant parts just take and those along instead of the whole thing. • package and just around them. put an elastic • band along to read. heavy! Those Potters are REALLY hardcover Harry • a or towel small a take towel, a need really lightweight travel towel. • Smith said that he had benefited a lot from lot a benefited had he that said Smith a long period of constant economic and Peter A. Victor, Australian entrepreneur and millionaire, Wilberforce announced the “Dick Smith’s Award”: $1 million will go to person a young under 30 who can by showing impress leadership in communicating him an alternative to consumption growth-obsessed our economy. population Candidates and will need to that believe we can firmly have a viable, strong world economy that is no longer obsessed with growth for its encourages own both a sake, stable population and but the instead sustainable consumption of and resources. energy Growth: Slower by Design, Not Disaster Growth: (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2008) Reviewed by Heinz Unger ridgland, who married her married who Bridgland, Rocky Mountains from the She feels privileged to trace her could this be the message – less

A love of high country and plains is love of A in much of Calgarian reflected life. Marmie Hess’s consult consult a 2007 book written by another Canadian economist, of Happiness: Building The Economics Mark Anielski: . Wealth Genuine Anielski the developed Genuine Progress Indicators that (GPI) measure environmental social sustainability; well-being they a much and are more appropriate healthy ecosystems indicator and of happy humans. Anielski also quotes research that shows once our needs have been met, additional consumption does happiness. not add to economic our growth will happiness bring with us family, community more nature and – that will make Award? Wilberforce Dick Smith’s us eligible for Pacific,through waterways or mountain many know to came also Marmie passes.” Native artists. “They influenced me very much. They know everything and contributes in thing each and spirit, a has nature inter-connects.” love of the influence of masterM.P. surveyor mountaineer and ockies’ Rockies’ iver favoured by favoured River anadian Canadian prairies, Marmie became a capable First Nations communities also It is clear that the right economic

anff, Banff, and saw the Stoney (Nakoda) awareness of that environment: where the to careful how camp, a make to was water be with fire on the prairie.” From a young age, the importance of the high country and the plains became inter-twined. “In the prairies, where there’s water, there’s And food. you knew that the foothills are where the water comes through, starting from the mountain snow and glaciers.” horsewoman. “My Dad was from an era where if you wanted to get somewhere, you either went by horse or by driving a horse. I rode a great deal with him, and from an early age I knew and loved the distinct interaction humans with horses.” From a can Mountie who rode have cavalry in the South then African emigrated to war the and they before people T’ina) (Tsuu Sarcee the Marmie country. the to on continue would sometimes stayed with in family friends people in their wagons driving towards Banff for Indian Days. she studied In pictographs of later the years Eastern slopes for the National Museum. “I was part of a research team trying to figure out how people came from the Marmie learned much about the discipline the about much learned Marmie of horsemanship. She Marmie. on impression lasting a made horses their watered friends young her and Elbow the on place a at capacity for their disposal. This means that means This disposal. their for capacity there are biophysical limits to natural economic as show to starting is it and growth, resources, such as energy and land, of disposal the and costly, more becoming are wastes is using up more energy and land. partly growth, consumption and Economic driven by population growth especially in developing countries, is the major threat to the natural environment and the wild spaces that we want to protect. The only way to reduce the development pressure on our land and on natural resources will be to find the right incentives for society consumption of growth the from switch to of our lives. to a growth in the quality policies alone will not bring about conversion. this This is why we should also Calgary algary. Calgary. WILD THE OF Marmie has had a close connection Her school friends were Why should AWA members be

Calgarian Margaret (Marmie) Hess

RECALL Love of plains and mountains to the lands of southern Alberta from her earliest days. “I was born near the Elbow River opposite Woods Park in Some of my earliest memories are of the sounds of water, seeing the movement of air. fresh the smelling and river the was a lucky city to the grow to mountains and foothills the between up in, placed west, and the prairie to the There east. are the rivers, wetlands and oceans of grass. Southern Alberta has unique sunlight and clear night skies. We have altitude latitude, and and we keenly experience four seasons.” the descendants of those as who explorers, came Mounties, railroad west people and missionaries. “It instilled in you an came to know southern Alberta well twentieth the of decades mid and early the in century. Over the years, Today, life. its her shaped plains and foothills mountains, her breadth of knowledge of this part of the West, its native artists, ranches wild lands, has and few equals. I met with her recently to hear some of her stories and reflections. Marmie Hess – Footprint shaped by our shaped Hess – Footprint Marmie by our Foothills Campbell By Carolyn new things; having time for oneself, for children, family and friends; occasional silence, and a revival be to seems Germany dimension. spiritual of our cultural- much further ahead in thinking about the damages unbridled growth may deliver. In 2009 the then Federal President Horst Koehler said: “Society should try to happy and content with less consumption. be growth: of kind new a for strive should We the growing well-being of mankind and the creation. concerned about this growth issue read what Victor and and others have to say on this topic? explanation: economies are He open systems provides a that rely simple on the provide to and natural energy and materials environment supply to

epartments WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5

D 28 Departments WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,No. 5 29 . Wallace, the University’s University’s the Wallace, R.C. Canadian natural and cultural In 2003, Marmie accepted an She urged graduates to keep part of Today, Marmie remains busy with

people people with disabilities could stay in the really unique.” was mountains, Outlook honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Alberta and delivered the November 20 convocation her address. remarks, In Marmie referred to values Dr. by held president when she studied there in early the 1930s. “President Wallace believed that the measure of a liberal education is what we do with our leisure time, that is the time spent contributing to our family, bounds the beyond nation and community of vocation or profession.” in “walk to unstructured, time leisure their the woods where we can commune with nature, reflect and experience our essence and our connection with rather than the fleeting.” the ‘timeless’ community service. She also takes a keen interest in the latest books published on western history, and keeps up with researchers in these disciplines at Alberta’s universities. your into right get areas natural “Alberta’s personal being. I We them. consider by shaped been have to myself fortunate very have so much here to be curious about.” The plate Franco holds in this picture was The plate Franco holds in this picture made to memorialize his beloved horse. K. MIHALCHEON PHOTO: Committee Committee woman, I Country to help fulfill ut, at the same time, tourism time, same the at But, itizen’s Advisory Citizen’s In 1978, the Peter Lougheed I asked Marmie about the need for In examining options for

Marmie recalls her work on the able to continue eating. the In watch you summer, and you sources, water the watch condition of the grasses. The whole thing is, never to get greedy.” As slopes an land Eastern owner herself, Marmie took her stewardship responsibilities seriously. “From listening to the experience of area that.” ranchers, you learn government Kananaskis decided its to commitment to 70 establish percent maintain of the at natural Eastern and least Slopes wilderness in state. That a the year, government chose Marmie Hess and eight other Albertans to serve on a new Kananaskis to provide advice on the development of public facilities in K Country. protected areas. “We need places where nature is without added controls. wryly, And,” “we she need will it what do cannot public the so places rules in those regret. later in the mountains is very important. This landscape is some of the best we have to show to ourselves and to the rest of the world.” committee as quite varied. “Many people presented their ideas and experiences to their was what find to tried we – group our Kananaskis enjoying of vision personal Country, and then we looked at feasibility the of trying to Lougheed Peter laud to want make I reality. that a for his vision, for he the and the support civil servants gave that to our ideas, and for the tempo with which things were accomplished.” facilities, the where wildlife committee had their established territories. learned “We watering spots and looked trails and tried to possible.” as little as at habitat their upset their Marmie also pointed to Kananaskis’ accessibility as very significant.“We wanted visitors to be able to enjoy the area without much cost to themselves. As the make only to how on perspective a provided outdoor facilities friendly for families and seniors. We suggested trails with a bit of paving close to campsites so that a parent could there. push And it a was important stroller to fit could have wheelchairs that tables picnic under. William Watson Lodge, where BA. anff Banff anff National Banff Bridgland took But there’s still a Columbia. Marmie Canada by famed anff Banff to Jasper was British Marmie’s love of horses and foothills and horses of love Marmie’s Marmie’s Marmie’s father’s work took him At the University of Alberta, Rocky Mountain House, sometimes

led to her forming a Eastern the in country ranching cattle with strong connection Slopes. “Cattle and horse ranches are run as businesses, to produce food people’s and livelihood. for watching constant a nature, of sense strong of conditions. You cannot assume two years will be any the same. Many things affect how many animals are placed in an area, and how a rancher weighs growing or bringing in feed. In the winter, animals have to drift with a winter storm and be mother’s mother’s cousin. “Uncle Morris” worked for the Dominion Lands Survey; nearly every summer for 28 years he ascended, surveyed and photographed Alberta and peaks in following old deepened she adult young a As horseback. explorer her love of the mountains with trail riding routes in Skoki as such areas into on to Rangeland management From Kananaskis Advisory Committee and her family passed many fascinating winter evenings Bridgland’s watching hand coloured photographic shows mountain of stories his hearing and slides, of After he landscapes, wildlife and geology. retired, Marmie was able to spend some summer holidays with her uncle, hiking and observing the alpine him. Marmie country recalls that with as the Icefields Parkway road from constructed in the 1930s, There she enrolled in the first geography classes taught in geographer and explorer who Taylor, had just arrived to found the Dr. Griffith U of T’s geography department. In years to the come, Marmie would teach at a number of post-secondary institutions in Calgary and abroad. “My lectures always connected to themes culture and art of are shaped by the how natural environment.” people, up and down the Eastern Slopes, and she would often accompany him. She became familiar with many areas between and Park, and thrilled to the downhill skiing at Sunshine. early days of her to see how the route was developing along the land contours. Marmie studied years in geology. she transferred to the After her complete to Toronto of University two Run for Club and the Climb and Canada, the latter of which Run for Wilderness. This past Calgary Mountain Club of Louise’s Louise’s connection with AWA When it came to the outdoors and the In 2009, in recognition of her As a sign of our appreciation to AWA AWA is so sorry to say goodbye to

Louise Guy, one of our most cheerful and dedicated supporters. Louise, young, passed 92 away husband her behind on left years she passing September her With 30th. Richard, two sons and a daughter, plus six great-grandchildren. two and grandchildren of legacy tremendous a behind left also She accomplishments. came primarily through her enthusiastic faithful and participation in Climb our and annual April this amazing woman Calgary climbed Tower not the once but contribution she twice! made is to just The AWA one example of a life dedicated to bettering the various communities she belonged to. Her obituary notes that service, to giving the back community, defined hertaught lepers in life. Singapore and the She deaf in Calgary. She delivered meals-on-wheels. Her passion for peace and the health of the global community led to her support organizations such as Project Ploughshares for and Eyesight International. environment Louise took up rock-climbing in her fifties and participated in that sport of section her won She eighty. was she until the Lake Louise the Loppet; supported she she climbed nineties; Ha- her into Peak Ling Friends of Nose Hill and its environmental goals. She was made an Honorary Member of the IN MEMORIAM IN MEMORIAM GUY LOUISE (NANCY) age 2010 at 92 years of Sept. 30, Alpine Award Wheeler A. O. also had bestowed its for service to the club to Louise. She also was a patron of the Mountain Guides Ball. enthusiasm and extensive list of activities, CBC gave Louise Active its Senior” “Most award. Louise’s remarkable life AWA will a add poetry prize, annual the Prize, to AWA’s Louise Guy Poetry Wilderness celebration of Earth Day. We hope Louise would approve. . . Tim’s live . Tim’s THALINGAM Tim Williams Tim Wild the Music for series Saturday November 6, 2010 November Saturday PHOTO: T. AMIR T. PHOTO: Opening act: Robbie & Will Tim Williams performs at AWA’s Wild Wild AWA’s performs at Williams Tim 2010 Gala in September West Lynch Will and Bankes Robbie young hottest two of Calgary’s are Celtic, skilled highly Expect players. folk and pop tunes with a bit of blues on the side. 7:00 – 10:30 PM, AWA Office, 455 Calgary – 12 NW, St. Cost: $15 Pre-registration is required. Phone: 403-283-2025 : 1-866-313-0713 Toll-free Online: www.AlbertaWilderness.ca MUSIC MUSIC THE WILD FOR AWA’s features local artists performing in support of and AWA Alberta’s Wild Spaces. master is proud to present AWA and multi-award player guitar winner the river a trip down solo shows are American music...blues, of North country with ragtime, old-time dashes of Mexican and Hawaiian influence, performed on a variety of string instruments. S T EVEN PHOTO: W. NELSON W. PHOTO: The spectacular sight of a turkey vulture The spectacular sight of a turkey vulture in flight is becoming increasingly Alberta common in southern Tuesday, November 23, 2010 November Tuesday, – VULTURES TURKEY MOTHER NATURE’S CREW CLEANUP Nelson Wayne With Populations of this fascinating bird Alberta. in appear to be expanding work of Learn about the dedicated as they expand and his team Wayne of their habits, their our knowledge range and their future. 7:00 PM, AWA Office, 455 Calgary – 12 NW, St. Tuesday, November 9, 2010 November Tuesday, MANIFESTO THE GRIZZLY Gailus Jeff With new insights shares as he Jeff Join and threatened fabulous the into grizzly bears. Alberta’s world of 7:00 PM, AWA Office, 455 Calgary – 12 NW, St. Pre-registration Pre-registration is advised : 403-283-2025 talks.Phone for all : 1-866-313-0713 Toll-free Online: www.AlbertaWilderness.ca Adults $5, Children $1 19, 2010 October Tuesday, CYCLE THE LYNX Yates Gabriela and Seth With radio new using is Lynx Project analysis and DNA collar technology on lynx in the techniques to understand their in order area unique 10-year population cycle and their movement patterns. 7:00 PM, AWA Office, 455 Calgary – 12 NW, St. TUESDAY TALKS TUESDAY

eaturesvents WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,

No. 5

3030 FE 30 Wild Alberta – A Year in Review Every fall, Alberta Wilderness Association pauses to take a deep breath and to reflect on the past year.

• We celebrate our wild spaces, • We challenge ourselves with wildlife, and wild water and the new ideas in our Martha Kostuch passion we all have from knowing Annual Wilderness and Wildlife these wild things with colleagues, Lecture. friends and family at our Wild West Gala. • We hold our Annual General Meeting and review the past year. • We recognize the enduring commitment of one or more • We make plans to seize the wilderness champions in Alberta days as the next year unfolds and with the Wilderness Defenders we continue our quest for Wild Awards. Alberta.

We invite you to join us this year for the Awards Presentation and Annual Lecture E

Friday November 19, 2010 vents

Alberta Wilderness Defenders Awards Martha Kostuch Annual Wilderness and Wildlife Lecture In recognition of their outstanding Thucydides, Grant MacEwan, Cliff Wallis: conservation achievements, AWA is pleased Environmental Citizenship in a Hostile Jurisdiction to present the 2010 Wilderness Defenders Peter Lee, noted Albertan and Executive Director of Global Forest Awards to Peter Lee and Tom Beck. Their love Watch Canada, will weave together his impressions of Thucydides, of Alberta’s wild lands and their persistence Grant MacEwan and AWA’s own Cliff Wallis to suggest how we in defending them have inspired countless may become better citizens and conservationists. Albertans to take an active role in conservation. WLA October 2010 • Vol. 18,

Location: 455 – 12 St NW, Calgary Reception 6:00 p.m. • Lecture and Awards: 7:00 p.m. • Cost: members - $25; Non-Members - $40 Reservations required, space is limited: 403-283-2025 or 1-866-313-0713 or online at www.AlbertaWilderness.ca No. 5 AWA Annual General Meeting Saturday November 20, 2010 Time: 11:30 a.m. Location 455 12 St NW, Calgary Registration required: 1-866-313-0713 or 403-283-2025 31 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to:

Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: Alberta Wilderness Association Box 6398, Station D Calgary, Alberta T2P 2E1 [email protected] Alberta Wilderness Association Box 6398, Station D Calgary, Alberta T2P 2E1 [email protected]

CCanadiananadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 40065626 ISSN 485535

Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 40065626 ISSN 485535