Summary Document Fred Cheverie Roland Michener Award Organizations, clubs, volunteer presence Dates Organization/Institution Description 1975 - Souris Consolidated Developed curriculum for Grades 7 and 8 called “Ecology”. This was taught for over 20 years 76 School until subject was absorbed into broader science curriculum. Developed “Jackrabbit” cross country ski program. Early Souris Striders Ski Club Involved in the formation of the club and the development of groomed trails in coordination 1980s with PEI Forestry. 1970s, Various Organizations Certified coach in cross country skiing, orienteering, baseball and hockey. Organized provincial 1980s competitions. and 1990s 1980s Canadian Wildlife Engaged countless students in the CWF Poster Contest. Many of Fred’s students received and Federation national awards. 1990s 1993 Atlantic Salmon Federation Represented PEI as one of three teachers to develop inaugural curriculum for “Fish Friends” program, which is still used in classrooms today 2005 to Souris and Area Branch of Watershed Coordinator. Taken SAB from a small organization without full time coordination 2020 the PEI Wildlife and 2 summer staff to a large, influential organization with funding exceeding $500k in typical Federation (SAB) year and average of 15 staff per year, with 4 full time. Led of variety of projects including, to name a few, ground-breaking agricultural programs, pioneering in-stream work, land securement for conservation purposes and pilot Living Shoreline projects. 2000s Souris and Area Branch of Fred spearheaded a pilot project on Ecological Goods and Services in the Souris Area soon the PEI Wildlife after starting with the Souris and Area Branch. The success of this program (now called Federation (SAB) Alternative Land Use Services) led to the expansion of the program to the entire Island. 2000s Souris and Area Branch of Very involved in the establishment of the Basin Head Marine Protected Area by Fisheries and the PEI Wildlife Oceans Canada. Federation (SAB Past achievements, awards, academic distinctions 1987 Province of PEI Presented with Environmental Award of Excellence in the Education Sector 2012 Department of Fisheries SAB is presented with Canada’s Recreational Fisheries Award by DFO and Oceans/SAB 2014 Senate of Canada Presented a Canada 150 Medal for his leadership in conservation. See Senator Diane Griffin’s letter of support. Memberships, service on boards and councils 1973 Rural Municipality of Chairman of Steering Committee that led to formation of the municipality Eastern Kings 1980s, Souris and Area Branch of Served on the Board and as President 1990s the PEI Wildlife and Federation (SAB) 2000s 2012 - Rural Municipality of Served on committee to make changes to the Official Plan, including extending buffer zones 2013 Eastern Kings to 60 metres when adjacent to waterways 2000s PEI Watershed Alliance Involved in formation of PEI Watershed Alliance and served on Board until 2020. Served on committee to develop the “PEI Watershed Strategy” in 2015. Currently serves on the sub- committee reviewing the Watershed Management Fund. 2000s PEI Wildlife Conservation Served on committee to develop WCF, including creating PEI Conservation Plates, where Fund (WCF) money from license renewals go to a conservation fund. Served as Director for 6 years and 1 term as chairperson. Letters of Support: Senator Diane Griffin, Atlantic Salmon Federation, University of Prince Edward Island, Agriculture and Agri- Foods Canada, Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation, PEI Wildlife Federation, PEI Watershed Alliance, Province of PEI representatives, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, a protégé, fellow teachers, the Cheverie family and the Town of Souris. Articles and Clippings: There are countless articles, clippings and videos that would fill our 10-page limit alone. A quick google search will lead you to countless articles, images and videos that will give you a sense of the leadership Fred has provided on so many levels over the more recent years. January 28, 2021 Canadian Wildlife Federation 350 Michael Cowpland Drive Kanata, Ontario K2M 2W1 Re: Letter of support for the nomination of Fred Cheverie for the Roland Michener Award for Conservation Dear Awards Committee: In my 30 years of experience with conservation practitioners and conservation research in two countries, Fred Cheverie stands as a giant. I believe he epitomizes the spirit behind the Roland Michener Award for Conservation. Fred’s was a school teacher on PEI for 30 years before becoming highly active as the watershed coordinator for the Souris and Area Branch of the PEI Wildlife Federation in 2005. While most of us look forward to a peaceful retirement, Fred transitioned into a full-time conservation role with the vigor of a very young man. For the last 15 years Fred has worked tirelessly, managing staff, securing funding, and planning and executing conservation activities. Freds achievement were more than just a full-time job, it was his passion, and the work of two people (and indeed two people now replace him). At the time of Fred’s full-time entry into conservation work, watershed groups were an ad hoc affair on PEI. Fred’s group led the way at a time where most of PEI did not even have watershed groups. It is important to understand that the work that Fred had far-reaching impacts well beyond his immediate area of responsibility. At the time, watershed groups had no mandate, central governance, or public funding. I was not until a public consultation was held, and a report was released by the Province of PEI in 2007 that this started to change. By this time, Fred had already transformed Souris and Area Branch to the poster child for what our watershed groups are today. This leadership led to public funding for watershed groups that now manage conservation activities in more than 95% of the area of PEI. This also led to an umbrella group representing watershed groups, the PEI Watershed Alliance, and Fred has sat on that board for several years. As another example of how Fred’s leadership influenced the entire evolution of conservation and stewardship on PEI, Fred spearheaded a pilot project on Ecological Goods and Services in the Souris Area soon after starting with the Souris and Area Branch. This program pays farmers for stewardship measures over and above what is required of them. The success of this program (now called Alternative Land Use Services) led to the expansion of the program to the entire Island, where it continues as a success to this day. Fred was also very involved in the establishment of the Basin Head Marine Protected Area by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Basin Head is a small lagoon east of Souris. This area had a unique phenotype of irish moss, a form of this marine plant not found elsewhere in the region. Though the establishment of Basin Head as a Marine Protected Area, and subsequent and ongoing management activities, Fred has contributed to the preservation of this unique plant. Shortly after the establishment of Basin Head, the irish moss was threatened by the invasive green crab. Fred was very active in establishing a program to trap and remove green crab that has helped to preserve the irish moss till this day. In Souris area itself, Fred was soon managing conservation activities in multiple watersheds representing a good chunk of the Island. On PEI, the Atlantic salmon has been decimated, with declines occurring after human colonization, and those declines have continued into the last few decades. Fred took on salmon habitat conservation with a passion. It appears that those declines have halted. It is hard to find good news stories about Atlantic salmon. Due to Fred’s efforts, the Souris area certainly is the only good new story that PEI has had in recent memory. Efforts to maintain and restore salmon habitat in the area, soon led to increases in spawning salmon in local streams. The area remains one of the few healthy regions for wild Atlantic salmon populations on PEI because of Fred’s efforts. As an applied scientist, I can attest that Fred has facilitated researchers working with conservation practitioners in every way possible. He has long recognized the long-term value of science to conservation. For example, Fred participated in a salmon genetics study done by a Quebec group. This group made the interesting discovery that there is a unique strain of salmon genetics in the Souris area, and this may represent the ancestral strain of salmon that was on PEI prior to European colonization. This discovery has huge implications, and it would not have happened without Fred working with scientists. I cannot begin to count the number of research projects that Fred has contributed to within my own laboratory. These range from the ecology of springs, to sediment loading, estuarine plants and eutrophication, salmon smolt tracking, salmon adult tracking, and development of methods to measure salmon recruitment and study conditions in salmon nests. Fred was always quick to volunteer his personal time, provide staff, expertise, and even funding. At least five graduate students would never have completed their degrees without Fred’s assistance. Fred’s accomplishments are not by accident. Every farmer is his neighbor and friend (he probably taught half of them in school). He speaks plainly and honestly, and engenders enormous respect from farmers, community members, civil servants, students, and scientists alike. The no nonsense, ‘lets get it done’ approach is why he has made his mark on PEI conservation practice for some time to come. This ability to communicate have led to Souris and Area farmers being the most responsible and forward- thinking farmers on PEI. Personally, I find Fred’s views on conservation illuminating and insightful. For example, while we still fight against the status quo of put-and-take stocked Atlantic salmon for the benefit of anglers, Fred understands that wild self-reproducing populations can be the only long-term conservation goal.