Op University of Regina Public Relations News Release
Contact: Dr. Alec Paul RELEASE IMMEDIATELY (Geographers) (306) 584-4223
Dr. Dave Gauthier (Grasslands Park) (306) 584-4154
Grasslands National Park, environment discussed at U OF It POLITICIANS JOIN GEOGRAPHERS AT CONFERENCE
REGINA - While geographers discuss the environment, geographic illiteracy and the Palliser Triangle, Environment Minister Herb Swan and Parks Minister Colin Maxwell will take part in a discussion on Saskatchewan's Grasslands National Park, stalemated since 1971.
From September 17 to 20 at the University of Regina, noted Canadian and American geographers will discuss matters of immediate concern to the North American prairies and great plains. Highlights will include problems unique to the Palliser Triangle; the effects of parks and recreation on the prairie and great plains environment; and ways to improve geographic education.
The joint meeting of the Prairie Division, Canadian Association of Geographers (PCAG) and the Great Plains/Rocky Mountain Division, Association of American Geog- raphers (GPRM) will be convened by Dr. Alec Paul of the U of R's geography department. He is chairman of the GPRM.
Simultaneously, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), at the U of R for their annual meeting, will attempt to get the Grasslands initative moving again. If successful, the discussions could lead, eventually, to the long-awaited creation of Grasslands National Park.
Two Saskatchewan cabinet ministers will be featured in the discussion on Friday evening at the Vagabond Motor Inn. The Honorable Herb Swan, minister of the environ- ment, and the Honorable Colin Maxwell, minister of parks, recreation and culture, will present the provincial position on the park.
Two leading experts will then set the stage for the weekend's initiative. They are CPAWS executive director Kevin McNamee and ecologist Dr. J. Stan Rowe, a member of the Canadian Environmental Advisory Council.
September 7, 1987 r University• • of Regina Backgrounder Public Relations
U of R GEOGRAPHERS CONVENTION
The conference theme is Geography of the Western Interior of North America. With participants expected to number 120, this will be a significant gathering of Canadian and American geographers. They will deal with matters of immediate concern to the prairies and great plains. Some major topics will include:
The Palliser Triangle. Dryness brings a unique set of problems - economic and social - to this key area in southern Saskatchewan and Alberta. High-profile speakers will be Frank Jankunis and Mike Wilson of the University of Lethbridge.
Geographic illiteracy. Spurred by the current efforts of the National Geographic So- ciety, participants will examine solutions for improving geographic education in both coun- tries. The keynote speaker will be Charles Gritzner of South Dakota State University.
Environmental concerns. Topics include the geography of recreation, parks and wilder- ness; soils and soil conservation; and agricultural settlement. High-profile speakers will be David Lime of the University of Minnesota, John Wilson of Montana State University and Terry Jordan of the University of Texas.
GRASSLANDS PARK STALEMATE
Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan was first suggested in 1956, and the federal and provincial governments agreed in principle to its creation in 1971.
What prevents the park's creation? The major hurdle is to find a compromise. Parks Canada policy is to own all water rights within a national park, but the Water Corporation of Saskatchewan is unwilling to surrender its rights to the Frenchman River, which would flow through the park. The federal minister of the environment has stated he will listen to any group able to take initiatives to break the stalemate. And that is what the University of Regina and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) will attempt to do.
How will the public benefit from the U of R initiative? A new national park in south- ern Saskatchewan would preserve a unique geographic area, enhance the tourism potential of this vast region and contribute to the province's economic development. The ranchers who own land that will be bought by Parks Canada will also benefit, because they have been held in limbo during the stalemate.
Saturday afternoon will see a joint PCAG/GPRM and CPAWS session on establish- ing the park. Key speakers will be Dr. J. Gordon Nelson of the University of Waterloo and Dr. John Theberge, an executive member of CPAWS and chairman of the task force on park establishment. The session will be chaired by Dr. Dave Gauthier of the U of R's geography department. He is a member of the CPAWS advocacy committee.
If the joint initiative is successful, a news conference may be called for Monday, September 21.
September 7, 1987