Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society has teamed up with Mountain Equipment Co-op, Canada's largest retail cooperative dedicated to supporting people in achieving the benefits of self-propelled wilderness and outdoor recreation, to create The Big Wild — a movement for everyone who cares about Canada's wild places.
The Big Wild refers to the part of Canada that is still in its natural state. The large roadless area where rivers flow free, big lakes and oceans lap against wild shores and animals of diverse species roam as they have for thousands of years.
Big Wild Vision
The Big Wild vision is to keep at least half of Canada's public land and water wild forever. CPAWS is realizing this vision by supporting wilderness conservation campaigns across Canada. The Big Wild helps these campaigns by,
· educating people about the urgent need to protect one of the world’s last remaining wilderness areas – which amounts to 20% of all that’s left on the planet
· raising funds for wilderness protection
· enabling people to show decision-makers they support wilderness protection.
Who is the Big Wild?
Well, it’s you and me, and every person across Canada and around the world, who cares about conserving our environment.
Why is the Big Wild Important?
According to conservation science, maintaining a healthy ecosystem in Canada, requires that at least half of our land and water remain in its natural state.
With the pace of human development in Canada accelerating at an exponential rate, we believe there has not been enough consideration put towards preserving large interconnected wilderness areas. This concern is confirmed by the fact that less than 10% of our wilderness is currently protected.
Someone has to raise their hand and demand that we increase our responsibility towards Canada’s environment. Since one person is seldom heard in our hectic world, The Big Wild is a collective voice that will be heard across the country and hopefully around the world.
Providing this voice for our wilderness is one of the most important things we can do in our lifetime.
To learn more and get involved today in critical initiatives to protect Canada’s wilderness, please visit the Big Wild website.
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CPAWS Member Completes Canoe Journey across Canada
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| Jay Morrison - 2008 | |
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This Spring CPAWS-OV board member Jay Morrison finished his 8,000 km solo canoe trip from the Atlantic to the Arctic Ocean. When he set out in April 2006 in the salt water of Les Escoumins, Quebec, Jay intended to attempt to paddle the entire country in one season to promote wilderness conservation on behalf of CPAWS. In the early days he realized that the value in this once in a lifetime opportunity was not in setting a paddling record, instead, the focus included meeting Canadians of diverse experiences and learning about social, political and economic issues as well as raising awareness of the need to conserve our landscapes and rivers.
Jay followed the traditional fur trade route up the Ottawa River and past the Dumoine River where the Quebec Government has recently announced interim protection of nearly 1,500 km², a CPAWS-OV campaign Jay has been most involved in for the past five years. The route turns west up the Mattawa River, across Lake Nipissing and down the French to Georgian Bay and on to Lake Superior. Winding through a chain of small lakes and rivers into the Hudson Bay watershed, Jay arrived at Lake of the Woods and paddled the Winnipeg River to Lake Winnipeg. He ended the 2006 journey in front of the Manitoba Legislature at a press conference with Minister of Conservation Stan Struthers who expressed support for the idea of protecting the Boreal forest on the east side of Lake Winnipeg, a prime objective of CPAWS Manitoba.In 2007, Jay paddled the Arctic watershed from Northern Saskatchewan to Inuvik in the Northwest Territories taking the time to stop at the many Native communities. A memorable event was 8 days in Fort Simpson for the annual assembly of the Deh Cho Dene and a conference of youth and elders intended to pass down traditional knowledge, skills and values. Talking with the elders was the highlight of the entire trip. CPAWS has been working with the Deh Cho Dene for many years to expand Nahanni River National Park and an announcement to that effect was made this past year.
After reaching Inuvik, Jay returned to Northern Saskatchewan and paddled the beautiful Churchill River east and south intending to end the journey in Winnipeg. With the impending birth of his first child back home, Jay decided to end the trip a couple of weeks short on the Saskatchewan River at The Pas. As it turned out a healthy and happy Baby Jamie did not arrive early and not until December. A window before Fathers Day 2008 allowed Dad time off from diaper duty to zip out to The Pas on the train and finish the journey to Winnipeg.
During his trip and between times Jay has given 80 interviews to newspapers, radio and television as well as many presentations to groups ranging from grade fours in Fort McMurray to seniors at Queens University. Says Jay, “The trip was tremendously enjoyable from a personal point of view and I hope it has helped to raise awareness that we must do something right now to conserve our shrinking wilderness. Canada has far more than its share of the world’s fresh water and intact forests and we have a global responsibility to ensure that they are conserved. The reason that I volunteer for CPAWS is that it we have a great record of success across the country and we have the big vision that Canada needs now: to protect at least 50% of our remaining wilderness”.
You can read Jay’s blog at www.cpaws.org/canoe.
Jay will speak about his adventures in the Ottawa area this Fall so watch our website for the announcement. In the meantime, log on to www.thebigwild.org and become a supporter or launch your own challenge.