In pictures: Ten years of planting, pulling and birding for conservation
Birders join in on the CV fun in Codroy, NFLD, 2013. (Photo by NCC)
A picture is worth a thousand words. It is a visual representation of a moment in time, captured within a frame, and serves as a memory of an event. In the 10 years of the Conservation Volunteer (CV) program, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has created many of these picturesque moments across Canada.
Far surpassing the word count of a photograph is the number of hours spend by our volunteers on NCC properties coast to coast. In 2015 alone, more 2,500 volunteers helped NCC work on properties across the country.
Volunteer for Nature volunteer John Larose on Clear Creek, ON. 2003 (Photo by Bronwen Smith)
Volunteering has been a quintessential aspect of NCC's work since its inception in 1962; however a formal program was first established in 2001. Referred to as "Volunteer for Nature," NCC established a partnership with Ontario Nature (then known as the Federation of Ontario Naturalists) to create opportunities to connect people in Ontario to nature. Volunteer for Nature expanded westward in 2006 and eventually became Conservation Volunteers, a program now available to nature enthusiasts all over Canada.
The early days of CV saw Canadians from across the country working toward conservation. We've gathered some of our favourite images from the begining of CV (2006-2011):
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Click on the image to enlarge.Smiling CVs from one of Alberta's first CV events '06 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.Palmer CV event in AB, '07 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.By '08 CVs were blooming across Canada. Barachois planting, ATL(Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.Call of Piping Plover event '08, AB (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.Surveying orchids in '08 at Tall Grass Prairie, MB (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.Hiking the Headlands event '09, Gaff Point, NS (Photo by Derek Driver) -
Click on the image to enlarge.CV event at Sandstone Ranch, AB in '09 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.CV events sometimes feature unique transportation. AB '09 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.Our largest CV to date! Bloodroot Survey, '09 in MB (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.CVs on NCC's Kerr property, AB, '10 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.Rain or shine, CVs work toward conservation. Musquash, NB '10 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.Hands of all sizes help keep shorelines clean in NS. '11 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.CVs were all smiles at Fairy Hill, SK in '11 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.Removing invasive species, Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve, BC. '11(Photo by NCC)
As the years went on, more and more Canadians were joining NCC's growing list of CV events. From planting native species to cleaning up shorelines, CVs across the nation have worked hard to ensure a better future for conservation. Below, our favourite moments from 2012 - 2015:
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Click on the image to enlarge.CV events are often surrounded by nature's beauty. AB, 2012 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.Little hands at work on Baie Verte, NB 2012 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.Making new friends on Maymont 4, SK. '12 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.CVs of all ages learn about nature at Baie Verte, NB '12 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.Birders join in on the CV fun. Codroy, NL in 2013 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.CVs shack up on the Conway Sandhills in PEI, '13 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.High-fiving after a great tree planting event in QC! '13 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.The Motley Crew at Sandy Point, NL '13 (Photo by Aiden Mahoney) -
Click on the image to enlarge.CVs keep shorelines clean at the Escuminac Bioblitz, NB. '14 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.Ready, set, canoe at Murray Harbour, PEI. '14 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.CV installing mountain bluebird box at Gambling Lake, AB. '14 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.CV pulls invasive garlic mustard on Oxley, ON. '15 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.CVs working hard on Brossard, QC. '15 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.CV help protect species big and small. Silver River, NS '15 (Photo by NCC) -
Click on the image to enlarge.Working together at the Burrowing Owl Dig, BC '15 (Photo by E R Bramble)
Make sure to keep an eye on our Upcoming Events to sign up for CV opportunity near you.
About the Author
Raechel Wastesicoot is the manager, internal communications and culture at the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
